Niobium(V) and Tantalum(V) Derivatives of Schiff Bases Derived from β-Hydroxynaphthaldehyde and Acetylacetone with n-Hydroxy-alkylamines

Abstract

Schiff base derivatives of niobium and tantalum of the types, M(OPri)3SB, M(OPri)(SB)2 and M(SB)2(SBH) have been synthesized by the reactions of the metal isopropoxides with the Schiff bases in 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 molar ratios (where M=Nb or Ta, SBH⊖ and SB2⊖ represent the corresponding anions of the Schiff bases). Except the triisopropoxy acetylacetone-2-hydroxy-alkylimine derivatives of these metals which are distillable, all the remaining complexes decompose when an attempt is made to distil them. The triisopropoxy mono - Schiff base and the tris - Schiff base derivatives of these metals are essentially monomeric in boiling benzene and probably possess hexa- and octa-coordinated metal atoms, while the monoisopropoxy bis-Schiff base complexes show slight tendency of polymerization.