Synthesis, crystal structure, and antibacterial activity of two new mononuclear nickel(II) complexes of a NNS Schiff base

Two new mononuclear nickel(II) complexes, [Ni(L)(N3)] (1) and [Ni(L)2(NCS)2] (2), where HL = 2-{[phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methylidene]amino}benzenethiol, a tridentate Schiff base derived from 2-aminothiophenol and 2-benzoylpyridine, have been prepared and characterized. The syntheses of 1 and 2 have been achieved by the reaction of equimolar amounts of nickel perchlorate and HL in the presence of azide and thiocyanate, respectively. The complexes have been characterized by microanalytical, spectroscopic, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and other physicochemical studies. Structural studies reveal that 1 and 2 adopt two different geometries, distorted square planar in 1 and octahedral in 2. The two mononuclear complex units are held together by π…π or C–H…π weak intermolecular interactions to develop supramolecular networks in their solid states. The antibacterial activity of 1, 2 and their constituent Schiff base has been tested against some gram(+) and gram(−) bacteria.