Synthesis, structure, and properties of Cd(II) complexes generated from 2-phenylquinoline derivatives

• Two dinuclear Cd(II) complexes are assembled from quinoline-based carboxylic acids.
• They show hydrogen-bonding driven 3D framework with dia topology.
• Luminescent and antibacterial properties of all compounds were investigated.
• Complexes show higher activities due to the increased lipotropism on complexation.

Carboxyl functionalized 2-phenylquinoline derivatives, 2-(4-fluorophenyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acid (HL1) and 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)quinoline-4-carboxylic acid (HL2) were synthesized. Further reaction of these ligands with Cd(CH3COO)2 afforded new cadmium complexes, [Cd2(L1)4(CH3OH)4]⋅1.5H2O (1) and [Cd2(L2)4(CH3OH)4] (2), respectively. These complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectra, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The fluorescent behavior and antibacterial (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) activities of these compounds have been studied.