Hydrothermal and sonochemical synthesis of a nano-sized nickel(II) Schiff base complex as a precursor for nano-sized nickel(II) oxide; spectroscopic, catalytic and antibacterial properties

The Ni(II) complexes [Ni(L)(2)](ClO4)(2) (1) and [Ni(L)(2)(NO3)(2)] (2), where L is the Schiff base ligand of 4,5,9,13,14-pentaaza-benzo[b] triphenylene, were synthesized and characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. Nano-sized particles of (1) were prepared both by sonochemistry (3) and solvothermal (4) methods. NiO nanoparticles were obtained by calcination of the nano-structure complexes at 500 A degrees C. The structures of the nano-sized compounds were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The thermal stabilities of the bulk complexes (1-2) and nano-sized particles (3-4) were studied by thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry. The catalytic activities of complexes of (1-4) are reported. The free Schiff base and its Ni(II) complexes have been screened for antibacterial activities against three Gram-positive bacteria. The metal complexes are more active than the free Schiff base. Electrochemical studies show that the Ni complexes undergo irreversible reduction in MeCN solution.