Synthesis, spectral characterization, thermal analysis, molecular modeling and antimicrobial activity of new potentially N2O2 azo-dye Schiff base complexes

The azo-dye Schiff’s base of N2O2 dibasic ligand, H2L [N,N′-bis(5-(4-sulfanilamidophenylazosalicylidene)ethylenediamine] was prepared by the condensation of ethylenediamine with [5-(4-sulfanilamidophenylazo-salicylaldehyde] in ethanol. New complexes of with metal ions Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pt(IV), Fe(III) and Cr(III) are synthesized. Elemental, spectroscopic and thermal analyses as well as conductivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements are used to elucidate the structure of the newly prepared metal complexes. The azo-dye Schiff’s base behaves as a di-negative N2O2 tetradentate ligand. The metal complexes exhibited square planar, tetrahedral and octahedral geometrical arrangements, the molar conductivity data indicates that all complexes are neutral. The thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermoanalysis (DTA) of the Cu(II), Mn(II), Cr(III) and Co(II) complexes were carried out in the range of 30–800 °C. The complexes were decomposed in one and two stages of the Cu(II), Mn(II), Cr(III) and Co(II) complexes, respectively. Also, decomposition of the synthesized complexes is related to the Schiff’s base characteristics. The thermal decomposition of the studied reactions was first order. The kinetic parameters for the decomposition steps in Cu(II), Mn(II), Cr(III) and Co(II) complexes thermograms have been calculated using Broido’s method. In molecular modeling the geometries of azo-dye Schiff base ligand H2L and its metal(II/III/IV) complexes were fully optimized with respect to the energy using the 6–31G basis set. Antimicrobial activities of the azo-dye Schiff’s base ligand and its corresponding metal complexes were screened against various organisms. The azo-dye Schiff’s base ligand and some of its complexes were found to be biologically inactive.