The Preparation and Properties of Some Cyclic β-Diketone Diimines

Abstract

The condensation reaction between a series of aliphatic diamines and a series of five- and six-membered cyclic β-diketones to form Schiff bases was investigated. Mass spectral data show that reaction occurred on the side-chain carbonyl except where steric hindrance forced condensation to occur on the ring carbonyl. N.m.r. studies show that these Schiff bases exist primarily in the ketamine form in solution, irrespective of the solvent. I.r. data confirm this. The preparation of a number of Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes from some of the ligands is also described.