Synthesis, characterization, antibacterial and anthelmentic activities of copper(II) complexes with benzofuran Schiff bases

Copper(II)chloride reacts with Schiff bases derived from benzaldehydes/acetophenone with 3-amino-2-benzofuran carboxamide/ethyl-3-amino-2-benzofuran carboxylate to yield polymeric complexes of general composition CuLCl2 (L = Schiff base). The authenticity of the ligands and their complexes has been established by micro analysis, magnetic susceptibility, IR, electronic, ESR spectral studies and electrical conductance measurements. The ligands act as bidentate, with azomethane nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen atom as donor sites. It is proposed that Cu(II) complexes are polymeric with octahedral geometries. All the ligands and their metal complexes have been screened for antibacterial activity against two bacteria, viz. S.aureus and E.coli. The complexes of ligands 1b. 1f. 1g and 1h show promising results against S.ailreils. Anthelmentic activity of the ligands and the complexes has been tested on earthworms. The activity is enhanced significantly on complexation.