The synthesis and characterization on four rhodium(II) complexes with the formula [Rh2(CH3COO)2(AMUH)2(dcda)2](CH3COO)2(1),[Rh2(CH3COO)2(AEUH)2(dcda)2](CH3COO)2(2),[Rh2(CH3COO)2(APrnUH)2(dcda)2](CH3COO)2(3),[Rh2(CH3COO)2(ABnUH)2(dcda)2](CH3COO)2(4), where AMUH = 1-amidino-O-methylurea, AEUH = 1-amidino-O-ethylurea, APrnUH = 1-amidino-O-n-propylurea, ABnUH = 1-amidino-O-n-butylurea, dcda = dicyandiamide are reported. The complexes were prepared by the reaction of dicyandiamide with rhodium(II) acetate in methanol (1), ethanol (2), n-propanol (3) and n-butanol (4) respectively and characterized by various techniques such as C, H, N analysis, FTIR, UV-Visible, EPR, conductance, SEM, EDX, powder XRD pattern and mass spectral studies. The interaction studies of the complexes with CT-DNA suggested the non-intercalative mode of binding for these complexes. The antimicrobial activity of the complexes against the tested microorganisms viz. Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, using the standard antibiotics streptomycin as positive control is also reported.
Keywords: 1-amidino-O-alkylurea; EPR; Rhodium(II) complex; SEM; antimicrobial activity; dicyandiamide.