Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, computational studies, theoretical investigation of NLO properties and antibacterial activities of mixed ligand complexes of Co(II) and Cu(II)

The reaction of Schiff base 2-(4-(dimethylamino)benzylideneamino)phenol (DBAP) and diethylenetriamine/ethylenediamine with cobalt(II) and copper(II) metal ion in equimolar ratio afforded mixed ligand complexes [M(DBAP)(L)Cl(H2O)(n)] (1-4), where M = Co(II) 1, 2; Cu(II) 3, 4; L = diethylenetriamine (1, 3); n = 0 and ethylenediamine (2, 4); n = 1. All the newly synthesized complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic techniques viz., UV-vis, FT-IR, ESR, PXRD and mass spectrometry. The influence of chelation of cobalt(II) and copper(II) ion on nonlinear optical properties of Schiff base (DBAP) were examined with DFT study. The polarizability (alpha(0)) and first-order hyperpolarizability (beta) of ligand and their metal complexes were calculated and compared with reference molecule p-nitroaniline. The hyperpolarizability of Schiff base and their metal complexes show a good nonlinear optical behavior. Theoretical investigation of the complexes was performed by DFT using B3LYP level of theory on the basis set 6-31 G (d, p)/LanL2DZ. On the basis of spectroscopic data and DFT computation, a six-coordinate geometry is tentatively proposed around the metal ion. In vitro antibacterial activities of these complexes were also screened against V. cholerae and E. coli, and found to have good antibacterial activity.