Solvent-induced synthesis and crystal structures of copper(II) complexes derived from 4-chloro-2-[(2-hydroxymethylphenylimino)methyl]phenol with antibacterial activity

Abstract

Two new polynuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu2L2] (1) and [Cu4L4]CH2Cl2 (2), where L is 4-chloro-2-[(2-hydroxymethylphenylimino)methyl]phenolate, were synthesized and characterized by IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The molecular structures of the complexes were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray determination. The Cu ions in dinuclear complex 1 are in square planar coordination, while those in tetranuclear complex 2 are in square pyramidal coordination. The solvents used in the synthesis and crystallization play an important role for the formation of the final structures of the complexes. The Schiff base and two copper complexes were assayed for antibacterial activities by the MTT method.