Crystal structure, thermal analyses, and acetate binding properties in Zinc(II) complex of a urea-functionalized pyridyl ligand

Abstract

A zinc(II) acetate complex with a urea-functionalized pyridyl ligand, [ZnL₂(OAc)₂]·2H₂O (1) (L = N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N'-(4-pyridyl)urea), has been synthesized by the reaction of L with Zn(OAc)₂·2H₂O under water-containing condition. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analyses reveal that 2-D sheetlike network structure is formed by the urea N−H×××N_pyridyl interactions and C–H···O interactions in the free ligand L. Complex 1 features 3-D hydrogen bonded network formed by intermolecular N−H×××O hydrogen bonds and O−H×××O hydrogen bonds involving urea groups, acetate anions and bridged water molecules. The hydrogen bonds play an important role in stabilizing the supramolecular structures. Thermal gravity analyses are used to investigate the thermal stabilities of L and 1, and the apparent activation energy (E_a) of the decompositions are also calculated, and the results indicate that the main decomposition of L needs higher apparent activation energy values E_a than that of 1. The acetate binding properties of L in solution are also evaluated by Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. CCDC: 1506202, L; 1506203, 1.