Synthesis, characterization, crystal structure and toxicity evaluation of Co (II), Cu (II), Mn (II), Ni (II), Pd (II) and Pt (II) complexes with Schiff base derived from 2‐chloro‐5‐(trifluoromethyl)aniline

A bidentate NO donor Schiff base, 2‐(((2‐chloro‐5‐ (trifluoromethyl)phenyl)imino)methyl) phenol (HL1) and its complexes [Co(L1)2(H2O)2] (1), [Cu(L1)2] (2), [Mn(L1)2(H2O)2] (3), [Ni(L1)2(H2O)2] (4), [Pd2(L1)2(OAc)2·1.16H2O] (5), [Pt(L1)2] (6) were synthesized and characterized by different physico‐chemical techniques including elemental and thermal analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurements, molar electric conductivity, IR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, UV–Vis, mass spectroscopies and X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD). The molecular structures of ligand HL1 and two complexes (2 and 5) were confirmed by X‐ray crystallography analysis on the monocrystal. In this complexes, the metal ions are in distorted square‐planar environments. The copper (II) complex is mononuclear and crystallized in a monoclinic space group P21/c, whereas palladium (II) complex is dinuclear and crystallized in the trigonal crystal system R‐3. The toxicity of the ligand and complexes was evaluated on both plant and animal cells, using the plant species Triticum aestivum L. and the crustacean Artemia franciscana Kellogg. At concentrations up to 100 μM the compounds presented very little toxicity on Artemia franciscana Kellogg. Moreover, the palladium (II) complex was devoid of any toxicity on the plant cells. Co (II), Cu (II), Mn (II), Ni (II), Pd (II) and Pt (II) complexes with Schiff base were synthesized and characterized using various spectroscopic methods. Molecular structures of the ligand, Cu (II) and Pd (II) complexes were determined using single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. The toxicity of the ligand and complexes was evaluated on both plant and animal cells.