Investigation of Some Novel Schiff Base Copper(II) Complexes of 2-aminophenol and ortho Substituted Benzaldehydes as Potential Antiseptic Agents

Abstract

The increasing microbial resistance to existing antiseptics and disinfectants has necessitated the search for new compounds with potential effects against pathogenic organisms. Schiff bases and their metal complexes are important class of compounds for the search of new antibacterial agents. In line with this, novel copper (II) complexes with Schiff bases derived from ortho substituted benzaldehydes and 2-aminophenol have been synthesized. The compounds were fully characterized using elemental analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, 1H NMR, electronic absorption spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements and thermal gravimetry analysis. The Schiff bases and their metal complexes were screened for in-vitro antibacterial activities against 6 human pathogenic bacteria; Escheriachia coli (ATCC 8739), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 19582), Bacillus cereus (10702), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) and Kribsella pneumonia (ATCC 10031). Ampicillin was used as a reference compound. The result showed that methoxy and chloro substituted Schiff base metal complexes exhibited higher antibacterial activity compared to ampicillin. Our results show that these complexes can be employed as active ingredients in development of broad-spectrum antiseptics agents. Further research on mechanism and cytotoxicity would provide understanding of key biological entities to identify drug targets.