Proton isotropic shifts in pseudo-tetrahedral nickel(II) and cobalt(II) complexes with salicylaldimines

1 H N.m.r. spectra of pseudo-tetrahedral bis(N-alkyl-salicylaldiminato) cobalt(II) complexes have been recorded. Both Fermi-contact shifts and dipolar shifts have been found, by comparison with the analogous nickel(II) complexes, to contribute to the total isotropic shifts. For the latter complexes 1H n.m.r. spectra have been reinterpreted on the basis of magnetic anisotropy data.