Structural, spectroscopic, fluorescent, and computational studies of binuclear copper (II) and zinc (II) complexes with an asymmetric salamo‐type ligand

Salamo‐type ligand H 2 L was designed and synthesized and reacted with Cu (II) and Zn (II) acetate, respectively, to obtain two binuclear Cu (II) and Zn (II) complexes: [Cu 2 (L) 2 ]·2CH 3 OH ( 1 ) and [Zn 2 (L) 2 ] ( 2 ) having the same coordination number but distinct geometries. Complex 1 is a Cu (II) complex containing two crystalline ethanol molecules, where two Cu (II) atoms are surrounded by two utterly deprotonated (L) 2− parts, forming slightly twisted tetragonal pyramidal configurations of pentacoordinate. In complex 2 , two utterly deprotonated (L) 2− parts surround two Zn (II) atoms, forming pentadentate twisted triangular bipyramidal configurations. The complexes were elucidated via IR analyses and ultraviolet spectroscopy. Using DFT theoretical calculation, MEPs, IRI, and Hirshfeld surface analysis to investigate further the molecular interactions and reaction sites. Ultimately, the fluorescence characteristics of H 2 L and its complexes 1 and 2 were discussed.