Rearrangement and co-ordination of 1-[(4-methylphenyl)-sulfonamido]-2-[1-(2-pyridylmethylidene)amino]benzene

Two different compounds, L-1 {3-[ethoxy(2-pyridyl)methyl]-1-[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-2-(2-pyridyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole} and L-2 {1-[(4-methylphenyl)Sulfonyl]-2-(2-pyridyl)-2,3-dihdro-1H-benzo[d]imiadazole} have been synthesised by the reaction of 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde with N-tosyl-1,2-diaminobenzene. L-1 was crystallographically characterised. The interaction of L-1 with a nickel centre was checked. Electrochemical interaction of Ni with L-1 and N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)salicylidenimine (H2L4) produces (NiLL4)-L-1 . 2H(2)O 1. Its recrystallisation in dichloromethane leads to the isolation of single crystals of NiL23 . 0.75H(2)O 2 (HL3 = l-[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonamido]-2-[1-(2-pyridylmethylidene)amino]benzene), where L-1 underwent a rearrangement. In the reaction of L1 with Ni and p-toluenesulfonic acid in an electrochemical cell, complex 2 is isolated as the bulk product. Nickel complexes have been characterised by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. The molecular structure of 2 has been determined by single X-ray diffraction studies.