Synthesis, characterization, electrochemical behavior, thermal study and antibacterial/antifungal properties of some new zinc(II) coordination compounds

A novel symmetrical Schiff base ligand was prepared by condensation reaction of 2,2-dimethyl-1.3-diaminopropane and (E)3-(2nitrophenyl)acrylaldehyde. The ligand and its Zn(II) coordination compounds were well characterized by the elemental analysis, FTIR, 1H, 13C NMR, UV–vis spectra and molar conductance. Thermal behaviors of all compounds were investigated from the room temperature to 600 °C with a heating rate of 10 °C/min. Furthermore some decomposition thermo-kinetic parameters were evaluated by Coats–Redfern equation at each decomposition step. Electrochemical properties of ligand and its complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetry technique. Also antibacterial/antifungal activities of the ligand and its complexes were tested against three Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Salmonella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 9027) and two Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) and Corynebacterium renale and also three fungi (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum and Candida albicans). The results exhibited suitable antibacterial/antifungal properties for ligand and Zn(II) complexes. The study has shown that the complexation of ligand to zinc center lead to enhancement of antibacterial/antifungal activity.