Tetradentate Schiff-base ruthenium(III) complexes containing triphenylphosphine/arsine as coligands: study of physico-chemical, spectrometric, catalytic, and biocidal activities

Abstract

A series of air-stable, low-spin Ru(III) octahedral complexes [RuX(EPh₃)L] (where X = Cl/Br; E = P/As; and L = dibasic tetradentate Schiff base derived by condensation of ethylenediamine with acetoacetanilide/acetoacetotoluidide/ethylacetoacetate in 1 : 2 molar ratio in ethanol) have been synthesized from RuX₃(EPh₃)₃ (where X = Cl/Br and E = P/As) with Schiff bases in 1 : 1 molar ratio in benzene for 6 h. These complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, spectral methods (Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV-Vis, ¹H- and ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for the ligands, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)), and are examined electrochemically. The complexes were efficient catalysts for oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols in their corresponding aldehydes and ketones in the presence of molecular oxygen. These complexes were also tested for their antibacterial and antifungal activities.

Keywords:

• Octahedral
• Electrochemical
• Molecular oxygen
• Antibacterial
• Antifungal

Acknowledgements

N. Padma Priya expresses her sincere thanks to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi [Senior Research Fellowship No. 08/539/(0001)/2009-EMR-I] for their financial support.