Mononuclear metal complexes of organic carboxylic acid derivatives: Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, thermal investigation and antimicrobial activity

Two Schiff base ligands bearing organic acid moiety, vis., N-(2-thienylmethylidene)-2-amino-4-chlorobenzoic acid (HL1) and N-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-amino-4-chlorobenzoic acid (H2L2) have been synthesized by the interaction of 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde and 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde with 2-amino-4-chlorobenzoic acid. Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of these ligands have been prepared. They are characterized on the basis of analytical data, molar conductance, IR, 1H NMR, UV–vis, mass spectra, magnetic measurements, thermal analysis and X-ray powder diffraction technique. The molar conductance data reveal that these complexes are non-electrolytes. The ligands are coordinated to the metal ions in a terdentate manner with ONO/ONS donor sites of the carbonyl oxygen, azomethine nitrogen and phenolic oxygen or thiophenic sulphur. An octahedral structure is proposed for the prepared metal complexes and some ligand field parameters (Dq, B and β) in addition to CFSE were calculated. The thermal stability of the metal complexes is evaluated. The Schiff base ligands and their metal complexes have been tested against four species of bacteria as well as four species of fungi and the results have been compared with some known antibiotics.