Tuning up superoxide dismutase activity of copper complex of salicylaldehyde semicarbazone by heterocyclic bases pyridine and N-methyl imidazole

The copper(II) complexes of the Schiff base salicylaldehyde semicarbazone (SALSC) have been prepared and structurally characterized. The compound possesses a distorted square planar geometry where the metal atom lies slightly below the ligand donor atom plane and exhibits a longer Cu–Cl bond distance (2.226 Å). The superoxide dismutase activity of the compound can be synergistically enhanced by the addition of heterocyclic bases.