Two coordination polymers based on semicarbazone Schiff base and azide: synthesis, crystal structure, electrochemistry, magnetic properties and biological activity

[Mn(L)((1,1)-N-3)(2)](2) (n) [Mn(H2O)(2)((1,1)-N-3)(2)] (n) (1) and [Cd(HL)((1,1)-N-3)(2)] (n) (2) have been synthesized from HL (HL: pyridine-2-carbaldehyde semicarbazone) and azide ligands, characterized by FT-IR, UV-vis spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Single crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that 1 is a coordination polymer consisting of two infinite 1-D chains: chain A with [Mn(L)((1,1)-N-3)(2)](2) (n) and chain B with [Mn(H2O)(2)((1,1)-N-3)(2)] (n) . In both chains, Mn centers are connected via two double end-on (EO) azide bridges. 2 is a coordination polymer consisting of a 1-D infinite chain, where Cd centers are connected via two double EO azide bridges. The electrochemistry of HL, 1 and 2 were studied by cyclic voltammetry. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate bulk ferromagnetic coupling for 1 below 5K. Antimicrobial activities of both compounds 1 and 2 were greater than HL, with the strongest effect for 2 consistent with its larger radius and electronegativity of Cd(II) ions.