Synthesis, X-ray, Hirshfeld, and AIM Studies on Zn(II) and Cd(II) Complexes with Pyridine Ligands

The synthesis and crystal structures of three heteroleptic complexes of Zn(II) and Cd(II) with pyridine ligands (ethyl nicotinate (EtNic), N,N-diethylnicotinamide (DiEtNA), and 2-amino-5-picoline (2Ampic) are presented. The complex [Zn(EtNic)₂Cl₂] (1) showed a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry with two EtNic ligand units and two chloride ions as monodentate ligands. Complexes [Zn(DiEtNA)(H₂O)₄(SO₄)]·H₂O (2) and [Cd(OAc)₂(2Ampic)₂] (3) had hexa-coordinated Zn(II) and Cd(II) centers. In the former, the Zn(II) was coordinated with three different monodentate ligands, which were DiEtNA, H₂O, and SO₄²⁻. In 3, the Cd(II) ion was coordinated with two bidentate acetate ions and two monodentate 2Ampic ligand units. The supramolecular structures of the three complexes were elucidated using Hirshfeld analysis. In 1, the most important interactions that governed the molecular packing were O···H (15.5–15.6%), Cl···H (13.6–13.8%), Cl···C (6.3%), and C···H (10.3–10.6%) contacts. For complexes 2 and 3, the H···H, O···H, and C···H contacts dominated. Their percentages were 50.2%, 41.2%, and 7.1%, respectively, for 2 and 57.1%, 19.6%, and 15.2%, respectively, for 3. Only in complex 3, weak π-π stacking interactions between the stacked pyridines were found. The Zn(II) natural charges were calculated using the DFT method to be 0.8775, 1.0559, and 1.2193 for complexes 1–3, respectively. A predominant closed-shell character for the Zn–Cl, Zn–N, Zn–O, Cd–O, and Cd–N bonds was also concluded from an atoms in molecules (AIM) study.