Mono and Dinuclear Cu(II) Carboxylate Complexes with Pyridine and 1-methylimidazole as Co-Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, Antibacterial Activity and Catalytic Nitroaldol Reactions

A new series of Cu(II) carboxylate complexes [Cu-2(RCOO)(4)(Py)(2)] (1 & 2) and [Cu(RCOO)(2)(MIm)(2)] (3 & 4) {RCOO=p-FBA (p-fluorobenzoic acid), BA (benzoic acid), Py (Pyridine), MIm (1-methylimidazole)} have been synthesized. The composition of complexes (1-4) has been established by spectral (FTIR, UV/Vis & EPR) methods and elemental analysis. Molecular structures of copper(II) carboxylate complexes [Cu-2(p-FBA)(4)(Py)(2)] (1) and [Cu(p-FBA)(2)(MIm)(2)] (3) were established by X-ray diffraction. These copper(II) carboxylate complexes 1-4 exhibit a very good catalytic activity towards nitroaldol (Henry) reaction of various aldehydes with nitromethane. The ligands and copper(II) complexes were also screened for their antibacterial activity against microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli