2013. 54, 3 – UDC 548.73:541.49:546.47 ZINC(II) COMPLEXES WITH THE TETRADENTATE SCHIFF BASE LIGAND N,N-BIS(1-PYRIDIN-2-YL-ETHYLIDENE)PROPANE-1,3-DIAMINE: SYNTHESIS AND CRYSTAL STRUCTURES H.-Q. Xie, Y. Xiong, Y.-L. Dang Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering College, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, P.R. China E-mail: xiehaiquan0001@163.com Received December, 21, 2011 Two new zinc(II) complexes [ZnL(N3)]BF4 (1) and [ZnBrL]BF4 (2), derived from the tetradentate Schiff base ligand N,N-bis(1-pyridin-2-yl-ethylidene)propane-1,3-diamine (L), are prepared and characterized by physicochemical methods and single crystal X-ray crystallography. <...> The geometries of the penta-coordinated zinc atoms in both complexes are intermediate between the square pyramid and the trigonal bipyramid having the Addison parameters of 0.39 and 0.47 respectively. <...> The syntheses of the complexes show distinct preference for the anions in the order Br– > 3N > > CH3COO–. <...> In the present paper, two new zinc(II) complexes [ZnL(N3)]BF4 (1) and [ZnBrL]BF4 (2) have been prepared and characterized. <...> Sodium azide, ammonium fluoroborate, zinc acetate dihydrate, and zinc bromide were obtained from Beijing Chemical Reagent Company and were used as received. <...> Molar conductance was measured using a Systronics conductivity meter where the cell constant was calibrated with the 0.01 M KCl solution, and anhydrous methanol was used as the solvent. © Xie H.-Q., Xiong Y., Dang Y.-L., 2013 . 533 – 537 534 H.-Q. XIE, Y. XIONG, Y.-L. DANG Caution! <...> Although no problems were encountered in this work, sodium azide and the complexes containing sodium ligands are potentially explosive. <...> Synthesis of L. The Schiff base ligand L was prepared by a reaction of propane-1,3-diamine (0.1 mol, 7.4 g) and 2-acetylpyridine (0.2 mol, 24.2 g) in methanol (500 ml) at ambient temperature. <...> The Schiff base ligand was not isolated and the clear yellow solution was used directly for the synthesis of the complexes. <...> A yellow solution of L (5 ml, 1 mmol) was diluted by 30 ml of methanol, to which was added with stirring an aqueous <...>