Synthesis, crystal structure and electroluminescent properties of a Schiff base zinc complex

A new complex of zinc with a Schiff base, zinc(N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-3, 6-dioxa-1, 8-diaminooctane monohydrate) (ZnBSO · H2O), was synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analyses, IR spectra and DTA-TG. Its structure was determined by X-ray single crystal analysis. It was demonstrated that the zinc atom is coordinated by the two oxygen atoms in phenolate and two nitrogen atoms in imine of the ligand in a slightly distorted tetrahedral geometry, while the two oxygen atoms from the oxa-alkyl chain are not coordinated to Zn(II) atom. The energy levels of the HOMO, LUMO and the electrochemical band gap were determined by cyclic voltammeter. The electroluminescent devices with the complex as the emitter showed bright blue emission with a peak at 450 nm, which is same as the fluorescence of the complex in both solution and solid states.