Synthesis, Characterization, Crystal Structures, and Urease Inhibition of Copper(II) and Zinc(II) Complexes Derived from Benzohydrazones.

A new copper(II) complex [Cu(L1)(NCS)(CH3OH)] (1) and a new zinc(II) complex [ZnCl2(HL2)]·CH3OH (2), derived from 4-bromo-N'-(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)benzohydrazide (HL1) and 4-methoxy-N'-(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)benzohydrazide (HL2), were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The hydrazone HL1 coordinates to the Cu atom in enolate form, while the hydrazone HL2 coordinates to the Zn atom in carbonyl form. Single crystal structural analyses indicate that the hydrazones coordinate to the metal atoms through the pyridine N, imino N, and enolate/carbonyl O atoms. The Cu atom in complex 1 is in square pyramidal coordination, and the Zn atom in complex 2 is in trigonal-bipyramidal coordination. The inhibitory effects of the complexes on Jack bean urease were studied, which show that the copper complex has strong activity on urease.