Synthesis, X-ray crystal structures and biological activity of oxidovanadium(V) and dioxidomolybdenum complexes derived from 2-bromo-N’-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzylidene)benzohydrazide

A new aroylhydrazone compound 2-bromo-N’-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzylidene)benzohydrazide (H2L), was prepared and characterized by IR, UV-Vis and 1H NMR spectra. Reaction of H2L with bis(acetylacetonato)oxovanadium(IV) and bis(acetylacetonato)dioxomolybdenum(VI), respectively, in methanol afforded two new complexes [VOL(OMe)(MeOH)] (1) and [MoO2L(MeOH)] (2). Both complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV-Vis spectra. Molecular structures of H2L and the complexes have been determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. In both complexes, the aroylhydrazone ligands coordinated to the metal atoms through phenolate oxygen, imino nitrogen and enolate oxygen atoms. The octahedral coordination of the V atom is furnished by one oxido oxygen, one methanol oxygen, and one methanolate oxygen atoms. The octahedral coordination of the Mo atom is furnished by two oxido oxygen and one methanol oxygen atoms. The complexes were assayed for antibacterial activities on Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescens, and antifungal activities on Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, and gave interesting results.