Synthesis, characterization and biological activities of 2-((E)-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-6-ylimino)methyl)-6-ethoxyphenol and its metal complexes

•Schiff base and its metal complexes have been synthesized.•The synthesized compounds were characterized by spectral and thermal analysis.•All the compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activities.

Metal complexes of Zn(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Fe(III) have been synthesized from the Schiff base ligand derived by the condensation of 3,4-(methylenedioxy)aniline and 3-ethoxy salicylaldehyde. The compounds have been characterized by using elemental analysis, molar conductance, IR, UV–Visible, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass spectra and thermal analysis (TG/DTA). The elemental analysis suggests the stoichiometry to be 1:1 (metal:ligand). The IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and UV–Visible spectral data suggest that the ligand coordinate to the metal atom by imino nitrogen and phenolic oxygen as bidentate manner. The mass spectral data also strengthen the formation of the metal complexes. The thermal behaviors of the complexes prove the presence of lattice as well as coordinated water molecules in the complexes. The in vitro biological screening effects of the synthesized compounds are tested against five bacterial species and three fungal species by well diffusion method. Antioxidant activities have also been performed for all the compounds. Metal complexes show more pronounced biological activity than the free ligand.

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