Synthesis, characterization and antioxidant activities of dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes of new Schiff bases derived from substituted benzophenones

Five novel ONS donor Schiff base ligands were synthesized by the reaction of 2-hydroxybenzophenone (L1), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (L2), 2-hydroxy-4-octyloxybenzophenone (L3), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4′-methylbenzophenone (L4), and 2-hydroxy-4-allyloxybenzophenone (L5) with thiocarbohydrazide. Neutral solvate dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes with the general formula [MoO₂L(ROH)], [C1–C5] (L = L1, L2, L3, L4, L5 and R = CH₃, C₂H₅, or C₄H₉), were prepared from these Schiff bases. Characterization of all compounds was carried out by means of elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, ¹H-NMR, FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (for L1, C2, and C4) techniques. The crystal structures of ligand (L5) and complex (C1) were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Spectroscopic data and X-ray diffraction studies confirmed that the ligand is coordinated to the cis-MoO₂ ²⁺ core through ONS, while the sixth coordination site is occupied by solvent (ROH). The ligands and complexes were tested for in vitro antioxidant capacities. The TEAC coefficients of the ligands and complexes were found higher than reference compound. DPPH radical scavenging activities of these compounds were also investigated.