Syntheses, crystal structures and antibacterial activities of M(II) benzene-1,2,3-triyltris(oxy)triacetic acid complexes

Four metal(II) complexes with benzene-1,2,3-triyltris(oxy)triacetic acid (H3L), {[Co1.5(L)(H2O)6]·6H2O}n (1), {[Co1.5(L)(4,4′-bipy)1.5(H2O)4]·4H2O}n (2), {[Co(HL)(2,2′-bipy)(H2O)2]·1.5H2O}n (3), and {[Cu(HL)(phen)(H2O)2]·H2O}n (4) (4,4′-bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine; 2,2′-bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine; phen = phenanthroline), were prepared and structurally characterized. Complex 2 displays a 1-D structure, while 1, 3, and 4 reveal 0-D structures, which further extend to 3-D supramolecular networks by hydrogen bonding interactions, of which 1 and 4 contain double-helical chains, 2 includes meso-helices, and 3 comprises single-helices. Furthermore, the thermal stabilities and antibacterial activities of the complexes were studied.