Nickel(II) and Copper(II) Complexes of a New Tetradentate Schiff Base Ligand: Synthesis, Characterization, Thermal Studies and Use as Precursors for Preparation of NiO and CuO Nanoparticles

A new tetradentate N2O2 Schiff base ligand (MeO-bph)2bn = N,N¢-bis(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone)-1,4-butanediamine was prepared from the condensation of butane-1,4-diamine with 4-methoxy-2-hydroxybenzophenone and characterized by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Its nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes characterized using elemental analyses (CHN) and IR spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis of the Schiff base ligand and its Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes revealed their thermal stability and decomposition pattern. Finally, the complexes were used for the preparation of NiO and CuO nanoparticles by solid-state thermal decomposition. The nanoparticles were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, and SEM. FT-IR and XRD confirmed the purity of the formed products NiO and CuO.