Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II) Schiff base complexes of 3-hydroxy-4-[N-(2-hydroxynaphthylidene)-amino]-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid: Synthesis, Spectroscopic, thermal, and antimicrobial studies

Five divalent transition metals Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II) complexes have been synthesized using 3-hydroxy-4-[N-(2-hydroxynaphthylidene)-amino]-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (H₃L) Schiff base as a ligand derived from the condensation reaction between 4-amino-3-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthalde-hyde. The synthesized complexes were characterized using microanalytical, conductivity, FTIR, electronic, magnetic, ESR, thermal, and SEM studies. The microanalytical values revealed that the metal-to-ligand stoichiometry is 1:1 with molecular formula [M²⁺(NaL)(H₂O)x].nH₂O (where x = 3 for all metal ions except of Zn(II) equal x = 1; n = 4, 10, 7, 4, and 6 for Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II), respectively). The molar conductivity result indicates that all these complexes are neutral in nature with non-electrolytic behavior. Dependently on the magnetic, electronic, and ESR spectral data, octahedral geometry is proposed for all the complexes except to zinc(II) complex is tetrahedral. Thermal assignments of the synthesized complexes indicates the coordinated and lattice water molecules are present in the complexes. SEM micrographs of the synthesized complexes have a different surface morphologies. The antimicrobial activity data show that metal complexes are more potent than the parent ligand.