Synthesis,crystal structure,electrochemistry and antioxidative activity of copper(II), manganese(II) and nickel(II) complexes containing bis(N‐ethylbenzimidazol‐2‐ylmethyl)aniline

Bis(N‐ethylbenzimidazol‐2‐ylmethyl)aniline (Etbba) and its transition metal complexes, Cu(Etbba)(Cl)₂]?DMF ( 1 ), Mn(Etbba)(Cl)₂] ( 2 ) and Ni(Etbba)(Cl)₂] ( 3 ), have been synthesized and characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, molar conductivity, UV–visible, infrared and NMR spectroscopies and X‐ray crystallography. The coordination environment of complex 1 can be described as distorted square‐based pyramidal, while complexes 2 and 3 each have a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. Cyclic voltammograms of complex 1 indicate an electrochemically quasi‐reversible Cu²⁺/Cu⁺ couple. In addition, the antioxidant activities of the free ligand and its complexes were investigated using the superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging methods in vitro. Complexes 1 , 2 , 3 are found to possess potent hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and to be better than standard antioxidants like vitamin C and mannitol. Furthermore, complexes 1 and 2 exhibit significant superoxide radical activity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.