Metal complexes of schiff bases derived from dicinnamoylmethane and aromatic amines

two new schiff bases containing olefinic linkages have been synthesized by condensing ortho-substituted aromatic amines with dicinnamoylmethane under specified conditions. the existence of these compounds predominantly in the intramolecularly hydrogen bonded keto-enamine form has been well demonstrated from their ir, 1h nmr and mass spectral data. details on the formation of their complexes with ni(ii), cu(ii) and zn(ii) and their nature of bonding are discussed on the basis of analytical and spectral data.