Acid Catalyzed Dehydrative Imination of Benzil using 2 Amino 4 chloro 5 nitrophenol, Incorporating it with Metal Ions and Exploring their Biological Environmental Insights

This work details the synthesis and comprehensive structural analysis of a novel SCo(II), and Ni(II) metal ions coordinated with the novel Schiff base ligand 6,6'-((1,2-Diphenylethane-1,2-diylidene)bis(azaneylylidene))bis(4-chloro-3-nitrophenol) (SBE), synthesized during the acid-catalyzed condensation of Benzil and 2-Amino-4-chloro-5-nitrophenol. Structural investigations were conducted using UV-Vis., FT-IR, NMR, mass spectrometry, P-XRD, thermal analysis, and DFT calculations, uncovering distinctive structural features and enhanced thermal stability of the complexes relative to the ligand SBE. Biological assessments demonstrated that the SBE ligand had a better antifungal potency, particularly against Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum, compared to its Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes, although their effectiveness was lower than that of commercial standards. On the other hand, the Ni(II) complex (SBENi) demonstrated the highest photocatalytic efficiency in degrading Methylene Blue dye. These findings underscore the varied potential of the newly synthesized Schiff base ligand and its metal complexes in catalytic and biological uses.