Synthesis, crystal structures, and antibacterial activities of Schiff base nickel(II) and cadmium(II) complexes with tridentate Schiff bases

Abstract

Reaction of tridentate Schiff bases with nickel and cadmium salts in methanol afforded two new mononuclear complexes, [Ni(L¹)₂] (I) and [Cd(L²)₂] (II), where L¹ and L² are the anions of 2-bromo-4-chloro-6-[(3-dimethylaminopropylimino)methyl]phenol (HL¹) and 2-bromo-4-chloro-6-[(3-morpholin-4-ylpropylimino)methyl]phenol (HL²), respectively. The complexes were characterized by singlecrystal X-ray diffraction (CIF files CCDC nos. 1428653 (I) and 1428654 for (II)), FT-IR, and elemental analysis. Complex I crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c, with a = 8.8216(8), b = 14.0424(8), c = 11.8687(12) Å, β = 111.238(2)°, V = 1370.4(2) ų, Z = 2. Complex II crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n, with a = 9.6774(4), b = 15.8970(6), c = 20.3144(7) Å, β = 90.408(2)°, V = 3125.1(2) ų, Z = 4. The metal atoms in the complexes are coordinated by two tridentate Schiff base ligands, forming octahedral coordination. The free Schiff bases and the complexes were assayed for antibacterial activities. Both complexes are more active against the bacteria than the free Schiff bases. Complex II has the MIC value of 0.39 μg mL^–1 against Bacillus subtilis.