Structures,luminescence, and antibacterial studies of two transition metal complexes involving Schiff bases

Two new transition metal complexes of Schiff bases, [Pd₂(L1)₂Cl₂] (1) and [Zn(L2)₂] (2), [L1?=?N-(4-fluorobenzylidene)-2,6-diisopropylbenzenamine and L2?=?2,4-dibromo-6-((E)(mesitylimino)methyl)phenol], have been synthesized solvothermally and characterized by elemental analysis, IR-spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, UV-vis absorption spectra, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 is a μ-chloro-bridged dinuclear cyclometallated Pd(II) complex, whereas 2 is mononuclear with the Zn^II tetrahedrally coordinated by two L2. Both 1 and 2 display photoluminescence in the solid state at 298?K (fluorescence lifetimes τ?=?22.516?ns at 468?nm for 1, τ?=?3.697?μs at 490?nm for 2). These Schiff bases and their metal compounds have been screened for antibacterial activity against several bacteria, and the results are compared with the activity of penicillin.