A new series of heterocyclic azo compounds have been synthesised by co
upling diazotised 2-aminothiazol with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds-acetyla
cetone, benzoylacetone, trifluoroacetylacetone, thenoyltrifluoroactone
, methyl acetoacetate and acetoacetailide. The compounds are exist in
the azo-enol tauomeric form: Neutral complexes of these ligands with C
o-II, Ni-II, Cu-II and Zn-II have been synthesised and characterised.
Monobasic tridentate coordination of the ligands is established.