Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial studies of zinc(II) complexes with hexamethyl-tetraazacyclotetradecadiene Me6[14]diene and C-chiral isomers of its reduced analogue

Abstract

The ligand salt, Me6[14]diene·2HClO4 (L·2HClO4) was prepared by condensation of acetone and ethylene diamine in the presence of perchloric acid. On reduction of this diene ligand salt, L·2HClO4 with sodium borohydride, the two isomeric ligands, ‘tet-a’ and ‘tet-b’ were produced. The ligands, on reaction with ZnX2 (X=Cl, ClO4, NO3 or CH3COO) and ZnSO4 produced the corresponding complexes. These complexes have been characterized on the basis of elemental analyses; IR, UV–Vis and 1H-NMR spectroscopies; magnetic and conductance data. Based on these data, all of the complexes of the diene ligand L, as well as the perchlorate complexes of all of the ligands attained a square-pyramidal arrangement, whereas the complexes of ‘tet-a’ and ‘tet-b’, with X=NO3, Cl or CH3COO and with ZnSO4 salt, were octahedral. Moreover, all complexes were monometallic except the nitrato complex, [(ZnL)2(µ-NO3)](ClO4)3 which is bimetallic. The structure of [(ZnL)2(µ-NO3)](ClO4)3 has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. In this complex the zinc centres lie within a N4O donor set, with the four nitrogen donors from L and one of the oxygen atom stemming from the bridging NO3. The complexes show different electrolytic behavior in different solvents. The antibacterial activities of the ligands and complexes towards different phytopathogenic bacteria have been investigated.