Synthesis, Characterization and Anti-Microbial Screening of Iron (II) and Cobalt (II) Complexes

Abstract

Metal complexes of Iron and Cobalt were synthesized and characterized using IR and UV Visible spectroscopy. Their decomposition temperatures and solubility in different solvents were also investigated.  Both complexes were found to be soluble in Methanol, Ethanol, Chloroform, Ether, ammonia, DMSO, ethyl acetate, benzene, nitrobenzene and distilled water but insoluble in n-hexane. The decomposition temperatures of the synthesized Iron and cobalt complexes were in the range of 276⁰C - 262⁰C and 263⁰ C- 253⁰ C respectively. The IR spectra observed in all the complexes for v(C-O) and (C-O) showed a band at 1590 cm^-1- 1700cm^-1 and around 1200cm^-1 -  1700cm^-1 respectively ; (M-O) and (N-M) bands also ranged from 800cm^-1 – 800cm^-1 and 1000cm^-1 -7500cm^-1 respectively. The Uv-Vis result for the complexes showed Iron complex to have peaks at 400nm and a shoulder at 290nm; Cobalt (II) complex at 360nm and a shoulder at 400nm. Both the synthesized complexes showed the highest antimicrobial activity against E. Coli and Aspergilus at their highest concentrations.  The synthesized Iron complex however, had the best anti-microbial potential than the Cobalt complex and penicillin put together when used in the highest prepared concentration: 0.20cm for the iron complex, 0.40cm and 0.3cm for the cobalt complex and penicillin respectively against E-coli and the same trend was observed for aspergillus.

Keywords: synthesis, characterization, complexes, anti-microbial, Uv-visible spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy.