Salen ligand
Salen refers to a tetradentate C2-symmetric ligand synthesized from salicylaldehyde and ethylenediamine. It may also refer to a class of compounds, which are structurally related to the classical salen ligand, primarily bis-Schiff bases. Salen ligands are notable for coordinating a wide range of different metals, which they can often stabilise in various oxidation states. For this reason salen-type compounds are used as metal deactivators. Metal salen complexes also find use as catalysts.
Synthesis and complexation
H2salen may be synthesized by the condensation of ethylenediamine and salicylaldehyde.Complexes of salen with metal cations can often be made in situ, i.e., without isolating the H2salen.