Nickel(II), palladium(II), and copper(II) acetates undertake exchange reaction with the
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
-enaminodiones (MeOCO)(RCO)CC(R')NH
2 (R = Me, OMe; R' = Et, EtOCO) in ethanol to give the neutral complexes [M((MeOCO)(RCO)CC(R')NH)
2] (
1-
8) [R = Me, R' = Et: M = Ni (
1), Pd (
2a,
b), Cu (
3); R = Me, R' = EtOCO: M = Ni(
4), Pd (
5), Cu (
6); R = MeO, R' = Et, M = Pd (
7a,
b); R = MeO, R' = EtOCO, M = Pd (
8a,
b)]. The trifunctionalN,O,O ligands act in all cases as bidentate through the imino and one carbonyl group. Complexes
1-
8 are allmonomers with a square planar geometry. Nickel and palladium complexes show more than one form in the solidstate. For example the palladium complex
2 has been synthesized in two forms
a and
b, which differ in theconformation of the methoxy carbonyl substituent of the chelate ring, while the third isomer or conformer isobtained by thermal treatment at 120
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
C. Complexes
7 and
8 also exhibit two forms which differ in the degreeof intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Both
7b and
8b crystallize in monoclinic unit cells [
7b: space group
P2
1/
n,
a = 11.963(2),
b = 8.438(1),
c = 19.637(2) Å,
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
= 94.2(1)
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
.
8b:
P2
1/
c,
a = 10.698(2),
b = 14.902(2),
c =13.918(2) Å,
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
= 95.2(1)
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
] containing four molecules linked by intermolecular hydrogen bonding [N-H···O=C,2.14-2.36 Å]. All complexes are thermally stable and volatile. Their mass spectra exhibit intense molecular ionpeaks under EI mass conditions.