Synthesis of a heteroleptic copper(II) complex of 1,10-phenanthroline and 1,2-diaminoethane: structural characterization, thermal, and antimicrobial studies

The mixed ligand monomeric complex [Cu(en)(phen)(Cl)]·Cl·2H₂O was synthesized by the reaction of cupric chloride dihydrate, 1,2-diaminoethane (en), and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) in equimolar ratios. It was then characterized <i>via</i> elemental analysis, UV-visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis (TGA), and single-crystal X-Ray diffraction analysis. The central copper(II) ion in the complex is bonded to a Cl atom and chelating 1,2-diaminoethane and 1,10-phenanthroline molecules thus having a square pyramidal coordination environment, in which the Cl atom occupies apical position of the square pyramid. Throughout the crystal, hydrogen atoms of the water molecules of crystallization are involved in O − H···O type hydrogen bonding, which result in a 3D supramolecular network. Thermal studies were consistent with the structure. Significant antimicrobial activity of this copper(II) complex, against the strains <i>Escherichia coli, Bacillus spizizenii, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Aspergillus niger</i>, <i>Aspergillus flasvus</i>, <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>, and <i>Fusarium Oxysporum</i> is also reported.