Syntheses,crystal structures,electrochemical studies,and antioxidant activities of zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes with bis(2-benzimidazolyl) aniline derivatives

Two ligands, bis(benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl) aniline (bba) and bis(N-methyl-benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl) aniline (Mebba), and their transition metal complexes [Zn(bba)(Br)₂]·2DMF (1) and [Cu(Mebba)(Br)₂]·2DMF (2) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductivities, UV–vis spectra, IR spectra, NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. The structure around Zn(II) can be described as distorted tetrahedral. Complex 2 can be described as distorted trigonal bipyramidal. Cyclic voltammograms of 2 indicate a quasireversible Cu²⁺/Cu⁺ couple. Additionally, the antioxidant activities of the free ligands and their complexes were determined by the superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging methods in vitro. Complexes 1 and 2 possess potent hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and better than standard antioxidants such as vitamin C and mannitol. Complex 2 possesses excellent superoxide radical activity.