Thermal behaviour and characterisation of new biologically active Cu(II) complexes with benzimidazole as main ligand

Four coordination compounds of copper(II) were synthesised and characterised in solid state by elemental analysis, infrared, electronic and EPR spectroscopy, as well as by thermal analysis (TG/DTA). The complexes were formulated on the basis of experimental data as: Cu(BzIm)₂(H₂O)]·H₂O (1), Cu₂(Acr)₄(HBzIm)₂] (2), Cu(Acr)₂(HBzIm)₂] (3) and Cu(Acr)₂(HBzIm)₂(H₂O)]·H₂O (4). IR data are in accordance with the unidentate nature of benzimidazole, in complexes (2), (3) and (4), and bridge bidentate nature of benzimidazole, in complex (1), while acrylato acts as uni- or bridge/chelate ligand. The electronic spectra display the characteristic pattern of square planar, square pyramidal, or octahedral stereochemistry, also confirmed by EPR spectra. Thermal decomposition evidenced several well-defined steps as dehydration of complexes (1) and (4), benzimidazole molecule releases for all complexes and acrylate decomposition in carbonate for complexes (3) and (4). In all four cases, the final residue after thermal treatment in air flow is copper(II) oxide, formed during the decomposition steps for complexes (3) and (4), and, respectively, after the oxidation of the metallic copper for complexes (1) and (2). Antimicrobial activities of the complexes have been determined by in vitro assays, against various Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial and fungal strains. Copper(II) complexes were also evaluated for their cytotoxicity on eukaryotic cells.