Synthesis, characterization and in vitro antimicrobial activity of a new blue fluorescent Cu(II) metal complex of bis-1,8-naphthalimide

•The synthesis of a new copper complex [Cu2(NI) (NO3)4] has been described.•IR and RAMAN vibrational characteristics of NI and [Cu2(NI) (NO3)4] are presented.•[Cu2(NI) (NO3)4] possessed good antimicrobial activity.

A new blue fluorescent copper complex of bis-(4-N,N-dimetylaminoethoxy-N-ethyl-1,8- naphthalimidyl) amine has been synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, Raman and Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Absorption and fluorescence spectral characteristics have been also used for the characterization of the copper complex. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the new complex have been investigated and the minimum inhibitory concentrations have been determined. The metal complex has a good antibacterial and antifungal potential suggesting its prospective application in biomedicine for designing new effective antimicrobial preparations.

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