Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemical Behaviour of Cobalt(II) and Nickel(II) Complexes with N2O2 Chelating Ligand 4,4′-(Biphenyl-4,4′-diyldinitrilo)dipentan-2-one

4,4′-Diaminobiphenyl reacts with 2,4-pentanedione in absolute ethanol in a molar ratio 1 : 2 to form mainly the product of [1 + 2] condensation, 4,4′-(biphenyl-4,4′-diyldinitrilo)dipentan-2-one (H2L). The Schiff base was used as tetradentate chelating ligand to coordinate CoII and NiII chlorides leading to complexes where the ratio of metal ligand was found to be 2 : 1 or 2 : 2. All the synthesized products were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, electronic, and mass spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and DSC. The electrochemical behaviour of the ligand and its complexes in DMF is also investigated