A modern technique for preparation of zinc(II) and nickel(II) nanometric oxides using Schiff base compounds: synthesis,characterization, and antibacterial properties

The purpose of the work reported in this paper was the preparation and characterization of Zn(II) and Ni(II) nanometric oxides by using a simple Schiff compound as precursor for complexation then thermal degradation at 600 °C. Metal complexes Ni(L)₂(Cl)₂] and Zn(L)₂](NO₃)₂, where L is the Schiff base formed by condensation of 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde with phenylhydrazine, were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis and by magnetic and spectroscopic measurements (infrared, Raman, X-ray powder diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy). Elemental analysis of the chelates suggests the stoichiometry is 1:2 (metal–ligand). Infrared spectra of the complexes are indicative of coordination of the nitrogen of the phenylhydrazine (–Ph–NH–) group and the sulfur atom of the thiophene ring with the central metal atom. Magnetic susceptibility data and electronic and ESR spectra suggest a distorted octahedral structure for the Ni(II) complex and tetrahedral geometry for the Zn(II) complex. The Schiff base and its metal chelates were screened for in-vitro activity against four bacteria, two Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and two strains of fungus (Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans). The metal chelates were shown to have greater antibacterial activity than the free Schiff-base chelate.