Copper(II) complexes with N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-iminodiacetic acid and imidazoles: crystal structure,spectroscopic studies and superoxide dismutase activity

Abstract  

Two new copper(II) complexes, [Cu(Hhida)(BenzImH)]·H₂O (1) and [Cu(Hhida)(EtImH)]·2H₂O (2) have been synthesized by the interaction of basic copper carbonate with N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminodiacetic acid (Hhida²⁻) and benzimidazole (BenzImH) or (2-ethylimidazole (EtImH)). The structures of both complexes were studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The geometry around the copper(II) atom can be best described as distorted square pyramidal as indicated by the value of the trigonal index τ = 0.32 for (1) and 0.21 for (2). Spectroscopic and electrochemical studies were performed in order to correlate structural features of the complexes with their superoxide scavenger activity. The ability of the complexes to scavenge superoxide anions was also evaluated.