Synthesis, crystal structure and antibacterial activity of manganese(III) and cobalt(III) complexes containing pentadentate Schiff bases of a common amine and thiocyanate

Abstract

Four new mononuclear Schiff base manganese(III) and cobalt(III) complexes viz. [Mn(L¹)(NCS)] (1), [Mn(L²)(NCS)] (2), [Co(L³)(NCS)] (3), and [Co(L⁴)(NCS)]·0.5CH₃OH·0.5H₂O (4), containing thiocyanate as a common pseudohalide ion are reported. The pentadentate Schiff base ligands H₂L¹, H₂L², H₂L³, and H₂L⁴ were obtained by the condensation of substituted salicylaldehydes with N-(3-aminopropyl)-N-methylpropane-1,3-diamine. The syntheses of the complexes have been achieved by the reaction of manganese(II) perchlorate or cobalt(II) perchlorate with the respective Schiff bases in the presence of thiocyanate in methanol medium. Complexes 1–4 have been characterized by microanalytical, spectroscopic, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and other physicochemical studies. Structural studies reveal that 1–4 adopt nearly similar structures containing the MN₄O₂ (M = Mn, Co) chromophore in which each central M(III) ion adopts a distorted octahedral geometry. Weak intermolecular H-bonding interactions are operative in these complexes to bind the molecular units. The antibacterial activity of 1–4 and their constituent Schiff bases has been tested against some common bacteria.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Manganese(III)
• cobalt(III)
• Schiff base
• crystal structure
• thiocyanate
• antibacterial activity

Acknowledgements

Our thanks are extended to Dr. F. B. Mandal (Principal) of Bankura Christian College for his constant encouragement and valuable suggestions in doing the work. Thanks are due to SAIF, CDRI, Lucknow for doing the IR spectra of some of the compounds.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.