Coordination properties of two new Schiff-base phenoxy-carboxylates and comparative study of their antioxidant activities

•The nature of solvent influences the dimensionality of the complexes.•H3L1 is tri-deprotonated in C1, however, H3L2 is bis-deprotonated in C2, C3.•Antioxidant activities of free ligands and their complexes has been investigated.•H3L2 and its complex C3 have the most potent antioxidants capacities.•Complex C1 presents quasi-isolated chains with alternate magnetic interactions.