Synthesis, crystal structures, and selected properties of Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes with in situ formed 2-hydroxy-N′-(propan-2-ylidene)benzohydrazide

Cu(C10H11O2N2)2 (1) and [Zn(C10H12O2N2)2(H2O)2](NO3)2 (2) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectra, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Both complexes show distorted octahedral geometry. In 1, Cu(II) is coordinated by four oxygen atoms from four ligands and two nitrogen atoms from two ligands. In 2, Zn(II) is coordinated by two oxygen atoms and two nitrogen atoms from two ligands, and two water molecules. The crystal structures suggest that original ligand o-carboxybenzaldehyde salicyloylhydrazone (C15H12O4N2) changed into acetone salicyloylhydrazone (C10H12O2N2). The TG-DTG curves of these complexes indicate two different decomposition processes. 1 and 2 display catalytic activities to decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. Interaction between the complexes and DNA studied by UV-Vis titration shows the insert interaction.