Synthesis, crystal structures, and antimicrobial activity of copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes derived from 2-bromo-4-chloro-6-[(2-morpholin-4-ylethylimino)methyl]phenol

An end-to-end azido-bridged dinuclear copper(II) complex [Cu2L2(μ1,3-N3)](NO3) (I) and a mononuclear zinc(II) complex [ZnCl2(HL)] • CH3OH (II), where L is 2-brom-4-chloro-6-[(2-morpholin- 4-ylethylimino)methyl]phenolate, have been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, and single crystal X-ray crystallographic determination (CIF files CCDC nos. 1415217 (I), 1415218 for (II)). The crystal of I is monoclinic: space group C2/c, a = 28.684(2), b = 7.1787(5), c = 18.292(1) Å, β = 117.887(3)°, V = 3329.1(4) Å3, Z = 4. The crystal of II is monoclinic: space group P21/c, a = 10.8207(9), b = 12.3398(7), c = 14.9477(7) Å, β = 93.473(3)°, V = 1992.2(2) Å3, Z = 4. The Schiff base ligand in I coordinates to the Cu atom through the phenolate O, imine N, and morpholine N atoms, while the Schiff base ligand in II coordinates to the Zn atom through the phenolate O and imine N atoms, with the morpholine N atom protonated. The effect of these complexes on the antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans was studied.