Synthesis and characterization of fatty acid copper(II) carboxylates with N,N-diethylnicotinamide

A series of new fatty acid copper(II) carboxylates of the composition [(Cu-2(O2CCnH2n+1)(4)(Et(2)nia)(2))] (Et(2)nia = N,N-diethylnicotinamide; n = 6 to 11) were synthesized, characterized and tested for fungicidal activity. The compounds were synthesized and crystallized from aqueous solution only because their solubility in organic solvents is too high. Dimeric structure for all compounds was proposed (mu (eff) at room temperature = 1.43-1.48 BM; UV-Vis lambda (max) at 350-400 nm; IR, Delta nu>(*) over bar * (COO-) = 185-199 cm(-1)). A binuclear paddle-wheel cage structure was found for the compound [(Cu-2(O2CC7H15)(4)(Et(2)nia)(2))] by X-ray diffraction. Screening for fungicidal activity against the wood-rotting fungi Trametes versicolor and Antrodia vaillantii shows that the compounds dissolved in DMSO stop mycelium growth completely at a concentration of 1.0 x 10(-3) mol L-1. Some of them show strong activity also in more diluted solutions; however, stronger retardation for Antrodia vaillantii was noticed for all substances.