Syntheses, characterizations, crystal structures, and biological activities of two new mixed ligand Ni(II) and Cu(II) Schiff base complexes

Abstract

Two mixed-ligand complexes, [Cu(L)(2imi)] (1) and [Ni(L)(2imi)]·MeOH (2) [L = 2-(((5-chloro-2-oxyphenyl)imino)methyl)phenolato) and 2imi = 2-methyl imidazole], have been prepared by the reaction of appropriate metal salts with H₂L and 2-methyl imidazole. Their structures were characterized by microanalysis, FT-IR, UV–vis, molar conductivity, and ¹H NMR for [Ni(L)(2imi)]·MeOH. The structures were determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction. Each four-coordinate metal center, Cu(II) in 1 and Ni(II) in 2, is surrounded by donors of Schiff base (L²⁻) and N of 2-methyl imidazole in square planar geometries. α-Amylase activities of these compounds have also been investigated. The experimental data showed that α-amylase was inhibited by Ni(II) complex while the Cu(II) complex causes a 1.3-fold decrease in K_m value. Antimicrobial results show that these compounds, especially the Cu(II) complex, have potential for antibacterial activity against Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria and antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus.

Keywords:

• Schiff base
• Ni(II) complex
• Cu(II) complex
• Anti-microbial activity
• α-Amylase activity
• Enzyme inhibitory

Acknowledgements

Authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided for this work by the Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman. We thank the University of Messina for provision of the diffractometer.