Cyclam-based iron(iii) and copper(ii) complexes: synthesis, characterization and application as antifungal agents

New cyclam-based complexes of formulae [{H-2(4-CF3PhCH2)(2)Cyclam}FeCl2]Cl and [{H-2(4-CF3PhCH2)(2)Cyclam}Cu](CH3COO)(2)center dot 2H(2)O were synthesized, in very high yields, by the reaction of H-2(4-CF3PhCH2)(2)Cyclam with the corresponding metal salts in methanol. [{H-2(4-CF3PhCH2)(2)Cyclam}FeCl2]Cl was also prepared, quantitatively, in the solid state by mechanochemistry. The Mossbauer spectra of [{H-2(4-CF3PhCH2)(2)Cyclam}FeCl2]Cl show that the high-spin cis complex is the major product of both reactions. The EPR data of [{H-2(4-CF3PhCH2)(2)Cyclam}Cu](CH3COO)(2)center dot 2H(2)O are consistent with two distinct Cu2+ species, whose solid state molecular structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction and correspond to complexes displaying octahedral and square-pyramidal geometries. The screening of the antifungal activity of both metal complexes revealed the higher activity of [{H-2(4-CF3PhCH2)(2)Cyclam}FeCl2]Cl to inhibit the growth of unicellular and multicellular fungal species with described pathogenic potential.