The synthesis, characterization and bioactivities of some copper(II) complexes of the 2-acetylpyridine schiff bases of s-methyl- and s-benzyldithiocarbazate, and the x-ray crystal structure of the nitrato(s-benzyl-β-n-(2-acetylpyridyl) methylenedithiocarbazato)copper(II) complex

Abstract Copper(II) complexes of the general formula [Cu(Ap-SMe)X] or [Cu(Ap-SBz)X] (where HAp-SMe and HAp-SBz, respectively, represent the 2-acetylpyridine Schiff bases of S-methyl- or S-benzyldithiocarbazate; XCl, Br, NO 3 ) have been prepared and characterized by a variety of physico-chemical techniques. Magnetic and spectroscopic evidence support a square-planar structure for the [Cu(Ap-SMe)X] (XCl, Br) complexes and a five-coordinate structure for the [Cu(Ap-SBz)NO 3 ] complex. The structure of [Cu(Ap-SBz)NO 3 ] has been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The geometry of the complex is a distorted square-pyramid with the NNS tridentate ligand and an oxygen atom of the nitrate ion occupying the basal plane. The fifth coordination position is occupied by another oxygen from the nitrate ion. The anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties of the Schiff bases and their copper(II) complexes have been evaluated against the phytopathogenic fungi A. solanyi, F. equisetti and M. phaseolina and the pathogenic bacteria E. coli and S. aureas . The fungitoxicity of the five-coordinated [Cu(Ap-SBz)NO 3 ] complex approaches that of nystatin, whereas the Schiff base HAp-SMe and its copper(II) complex [Cu(Ap-SMe)NO 3 ] display significant antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. auereas .