| Salen ligand | |
|---|---|
|
Other names
2,2'-Ethylenebis(nitrilomethylidene)diphenol, N,N'-Ethylenebis(salicylimine) |
|
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 94-93-9 |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C16H16N2O2 |
| Molar mass | 268.31 |
| Appearance | yellow solid |
| Melting point |
125-129 °C, 269 K, -75 °F |
| Solubility in water | organic solvents |
| (verify) (what is: /?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
|
| Infobox references | |
Salen is the abbreviation for a popular chelating ligand used in coordination chemistry and homogeneous catalysis. The name salen is a contraction for salicylaldehyde and ethylenediamine. The ligand is a bright yellow micaceous solid that is soluble in polar organic solvents.
The diphenol H2salen is the conjugate acid of the ligand that logically is salen2-. But the terminology is used loosely. As an anionic tetradendate ligand, salen2- resembles tetradentate ligands including those that are macrocyclic, such as porphyrinate, corrin, bis(dimethylglyoximate), and some Schiff bases.
SalenH2 is commercially available. It was first prepared by Pfeiffer.[1] It is often generated in situ followed by the addition of the metal salt, but the ligand is also easily prepared as a pure organic compound by the condensation of ethylenediamine and salicylaldehyde.[2]