Synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of N′-(2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzylidene)-4-dimethylaminobenzohydra zide and its oxovanadium(V) complex with catalytic property

new benzohydrazone compound N′-(2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzylidene)-4-dimethylaminobenzohydrazide (H 2 L) and its oxovanadium(V) complex [VOL(BHA)] · H 2 O, where HBHA is benzohydroxamic acid, were prepared and structurally characterized by physic-chemical methods and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The benzohydrazone compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C 2/ c with a = 35.5873(12), b = 10.4628(4), c = 18.6059(6) Å, β = 109.499(1)°, V = 6530.4(4) Å 3 , Z = 16, R 1 = 0.0603, and wR 2 = 0.1575. The oxovanadium(V) complex crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1̅ with a = 7.4775(4), b = 9.7837(5), c = 17.7076(8) Å, α = 99.457(2)°, β = 98.699(2)°, γ = 101.429(2)°, V = 1229.7(1) Å 3 , Z = 2, R 1 = 0.0431, and wR 2 = 0.0937. X-ray structural analysis indicates that the benzohydrazone ligand L 2 -coordinates to the V atom through the phenolate O, imino N, and enolic O atoms. The V atom in complex I is coordinated by one benzohydrazone ligand and one BHA ligand, as well as one oxo O atom, forming an octahedral coordination. The crystal structures of H 2 L and I are stabilized by hydrogen bonds. Complex I is an effective catalyst for sulfoxidation.