Synthesis, spectroscopic, thermal, and antimicrobial studies of tetradentate 12 and 14 member Schiff bases and their complexes with Fe(III), Co(II), and Cu(II)

Two Schiff bases, L1 (5,6;11,12-dibenzophenone-2,3,8,9-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododeca-1,3,7,9-tetraene) and L2 (6,7;13,14-dibenzophenone-2,4,9,11-tetramethyl-1,5,8,12-tetraazacyclotetradeca-1,4,8,11-tetraene), bearing functionalized pendant arms have been synthesized by cyclocondensation of 3,4-diaminobenzophenone with 2,3-butanedione and 2,4-pentanedione, respectively. Mononuclear macrocyclic complexes [FeL1Cl2]Cl, [FeL2Cl2]Cl, [ML1Cl2], and [ML2Cl2] (where M = Co(II) and Cu(II)) have been prepared by reacting iron(III), cobalt(II), and copper(II) with the preformed Schiff base. The ligands and their corresponding metal complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, ESI-mass spectra, conductivity, magnetic moments, UV-Vis, EPR, IR, 1H-, and 13C-NMR spectral studies, and TGA-DTA/DSC data. The TGA profiles exhibit a two-step pyrolysis, although the iron complexes decompose in three steps, leaving behind metal oxides as the final product. The ligands and complexes were screened invitro against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi.