New tridentate azo-azomethines and their copper(II) complexes: Synthesis, solvent effect on tautomerism, electrochemical and biological studies

In this study, three azo-azomethines and their copper(II) complexes were prepared and characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods. The complexes prepared were found to be mononuclear and the chelation of the ligands to the copper(II) ions occurs through two phenolic oxygens and a nitrogen atom of the azomethine group of the ligand. The tautomeric behaviors of the azo-azomethines in solution were studied by UV-Vis. spectra in three organic solvents with different polarity (CHCl<inf>3</inf>, DMSO and DMF) at room temperature. The redox behaviors of the azo-azomethines and their Cu(II) complexes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in DMSO solution containing 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TBATFB) as supporting electrolyte. Additionally, the antibacterial activity was also evaluated by the broth microdilution methods against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The compounds were found to be less effective against all bacteria tested than two reference antibiotics (ampicillin and gentamicin).