Synthesis and characterization of a Schiff base derived from 2-aminobenzylamine and its Cu(II) complex: electropolymerization of the complex on a platinum electrode

A precursor (H₃A) was synthesized by the mono condensation of 2-aminobenzylamine with salicylaldehyde and then a tetradentade Schiff-base ligand (H₂L) prepared by using H₃A and 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde. The copper(II) complex of this new ligand was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, electronic absorption, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and magnetic susceptibility. For the ligand, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC–MS) spectra were obtained. The tetradentate ligand is coordinated to Cu(II) through the phenolic oxygen and azomethine nitrogen. The use of this metal complex in the preparation of a modified electrode is also described. CuL was electropolymerized on a platinum electrode surface in a 0.1 mol dm^?3 solution of lithium perchlorate in acetonitrile by cyclic voltammetry between 0 and 1.6 V versus Ag/Ag⁺. Electrochemical properties of the electroactive polymeric film have been investigated and a surface confined polymerization mechanism was proposed.