Synthesis and characterization of binary and ternary complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions based on 4-aminotoluene-3-sulfonic acid.

Salicylidene (4-aminotoluene-3-sulfonic acid) Schiff base ligand H(2)L, and its binary and ternary Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes using 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HOqu) and 2-aminopyridine (2-Ampy) as secondary ligands have been synthesised and characterized via elemental analysis, spectral data (IR, (1)H NMR, mass and solid reflectance), molar conductance, magnetic moment, TG-DSC measurements and XRPD analysis. Correlation of all spectroscopic data suggest that H(2)L ligand acts as monoanionic terdentate ligand with ONO sites coordinating to the metal ions via deprotonated phenolic-O, azomethine-N and sulfonate-O while 2-Ampy behaves as a neutral monodentate ligand via amino group-N and 8-HOqu behaves as a monoanionic bidentate ligand through the ring-N and deprotonated phenolic-O. The thermal behavior of these complexes shows that the coordinated water molecules were eliminated from the complexes at relatively higher temperatures than the hydrated water and there are two routes in removal of coordinated water molecules. All complexes have mononuclear structure and the tetrahedral, square planar or an octahedral geometry have been proposed. The ligand and its complexes have been screened for their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. Among the synthesised compounds, the binary and ternary Ni(II) complexes, (2, 8 and 10) and ternary Zn(II) complex, (12) were found to be very effective against Candida albicans and Bacillus subtilis than all other complexes with MICs of 2 and 8 μg/mL, respectively.