Langmuir-Blodgett Layers from Schiff Base Copper(II) Complexes

Metal complexes of salicylideneamines exhibit very interesting properties and have been well characterized since the late 1920s. Amphiphilic salicylideneamines have been synthesized in order to introduce such complexes in Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers. They do not hydrolyze under the applied experimental conditions and form stable monolayers. On subphases containing transition metal ions, these compounds form square-planar metal complexes by an interfacial reaction. Monolayers of these complexes have been transferred onto solid substrates to prepare Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers. Spectroscopic measurements with polarized light indicate an orientation of the complex plane nearly parallel to the substrate surface. In addition, monolayer experiments with presynthesized amphiphilic metal complexes have been carried out. Available hydroxyl groups in such complexes may be exploited to construct aggregates due to the ability of the molecules to form intermolecular bonds. Monolayers of these aggregates have also been used for the preparation of multilayers.