Synthesis, structure, electrochemical properties, and antioxidant activities of copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes with <i>N,N</i>-bis(<i>N</i>-ethyl-2-ylmethylbenzimidazol)allylamine ligand

Abstract

N,N-bis(N-methyl-2-ylmethylbenzimidazole)aniline (EtAIDB) and its transition metal complexes, [Cu(EtAIDB)Br2]·EtOH {dibromo[N,N-bis(N-methyl-2-ylmethylbenzimidazole)aniline] copper(II) ethanol} (1) and [Zn(EtAIDB)Br2] {dibromo[N,N-bis(N-methyl-2-ylmethylbenzimidazole)aniline] zinc(II)} (2), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, UV–visible, and IR spectroscopy. The X-ray crystallographic studies of 1 and 2 have shown two different arrangements: 1 is distorted square-based pyramidal, while 2 can be treated as distorted tetrahedral. The cyclic voltammogram of 1 represents quasi-reversible Cu2+/Cu+ pairs. In vitro antioxidant tests showed that 1 had significant antioxidant activity against superoxide and hydroxy radicals.