Synthesis, structural characterisation and electrochemical and antibacterial studies of Schiff base copper complexes

Neutral complexes of Cu-II have been synthesised from the Schiff bases derived from salicylidene-4-aminoantipyrine and PhNH2/substituted anilines. The structural features have been determined from their microanalytical, i.r., u.v.-vis., H-1-, C-13-n.m.r., mass and e.s.r. spectral data. All the complexes exhibit square-planar geometry. Their magnetic susceptibility measurements and low conductance data provide evidence for the monomeric and non-electrolytic natures of the complexes respectively. The electrochemical behaviour of the complexes in MeCN at 298 K was studied. The kinetic parameters were determined and are discussed. The X-band e.s.r. spectra of the complexes in DMSO at 300 and 77 K were recorded and their salient features are reported. The powder XRD diffraction patterns for all the complexes are found to be similar. The antimicrobial activity of the ligands and their copper complexes against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aerugenosa and Bacillus subtilis are also reported. The complexes have higher activities than those of the free Schiff bases. Moreover, they have higher activity than the control (ampicillin) except for Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aerugenosa.