Formation of a tetranuclear supramolecule via non-covalent Pb⋯Cl tetrel bonding interaction in a hemidirected lead(ii) complex with a nickel(ii) containing metaloligand

Abstract

A hetero-dinuclear nickel(II)/lead(II) complex with a compartmental ‘reduced Schiff base’ ligand (having inner N₂O₂ and outer O₂O₂′ compartments) has been prepared and characterized by elemental and spectral analysis. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirms its structure. Nickel(II) is placed in the inner N₂O₂ compartment and lead(II) is placed in the outer O₂O₂′ compartment of the compartmental reduced Schiff base. The complex forms a tetranuclear supramolecule via non-covalent Pb⋯Cl tetrel bonding interactions. The DFT study is devoted to analyze these tetrel bonding interactions that involve the σ-hole at the hemicoordinated Pb(II) atom. The tetrel bonding interactions have been characterized using Bader's theory of atoms in molecules (AIM).