Development of a dipodal Schiff base ligand with N-imine and O-naphtholate donors: A potential chelator towards Cu(II) metal ion established through potentiometric and spectrophotometric studies

A novel hydroxynaphthaldehyde derived Schiff base ligand N,N'-bis-[2-[(2-hydroxy-1-naphthyl)methyleneamino]ethyl]propanediamide (DOTA2HNAP) containing nitrogen and oxygen donor atoms has been developed. The lowest energy molecular structure of DOTA2HNAP and its complexes with Cu (II) metal ion were examined by molecular mechanics using MM+ force which later was re-optimized by semi-empirical method. The theoretical IR and UV spectra of the ligand were obtained using semi empirical/ZINDO/PM3 and were compared with the experimental ones. The coordinating ability of DOTA2HNAP with H⁺ and Cu(II) ions was investigated in 1:99 (DMSO: water) binary solvent mixture at 25±1°C by potentiometric and spectrophotometric method. The electronic spectra of the ligand show three distinct peaks (253nm, 320nm and 360nm) implicating existence of the Schiff base in quinone form that was well supported by theoretical spectral studies. Out of various complex species forming in solution, all the metal ions show higher stability of complexes when in 1:1 metal-ligand stoichiometry, binding through two N-imine and two O-naphtholate groups