Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Theoretical Analysis of Nonconventional Bonding in Dinuclear Zinc(II) Complexes with Tridentate Schiff Bases

Two tridentate N,N,O-donor ligands, HL1 = 4-chloro-2-(((2-(methylamino)ethyl)amino)methyl)phenol and HL2 = 4-chloro-2-(((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)amino)methyl)phenol, have been used to synthesize phenolate-bridged dinuclear complexes [Zn2(L1)2Cl2] (1) and [Zn2(L2)2(N3)2] (2). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed their structures. Both complexes form assemblies in the solid state. Moreover, the existence of nonconventional spodium bonds in 1 and tetrel bonds in 2 has been explored using theoretical calculations, including MEP surface plots and QTAIM and NCIplot analyses.