ARTICLEThis journal is Abstract: Four Cu(II) complexes, namely, [CuL 2 (SO 4 )(DMF)] n 1,[CuL 2 (CH 3 COO) 2 ] 2, [CuL 4 Cl 2 ]•2DMF•4H 2 O 3 and [CuL 4 (ClO 4 ) 2 ]4, (L=(RS)-1-(4-chloro-phenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-3-(1,2,4triazole-1-ylmethyl)pentan-3-ol), tebuconazole) have been synthesized, then their structures were identified by elemental analysis (EA), infrared spectra (IR) and single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). Moreover, the four obtained complexes were screened for antifungal activities against four selected fungi using mycelial growth rate method. The structural analysis indicates that the different coordination modes of the ligands and counter anions contribute to a one-dimensional polymer chain structure in complex 1 and zero-dimensional mononuclear structures in complex 2-4. The results of the antifungal activities show that all the complexes synthesized show better antifungal activities than the ligand L. In addition, the mechanism of the increased antifungal activities of the title complexes in comparison with the ligand was discussed preliminarily and the synergistic interaction between Cu 2+ and tebuconazole was also investigated by the Wadley approach.In an earlier study, we have reported two Cu(II)complexes of triadimefon and found that the copper complexes exhibited potent antifungal activity toward Gibberella nicotiancola, Gibberella saubinetii, Alternaria solani, Physalospora berengeriana, and Glomerella cingulata. 21 To continue our work on the complexes of

Two Cu(II) complexes, [CuL 2 Cl 2 (EtOH)] 1 and [CuL 4 (NO 3 ) 2 ]Á0.5H 2 O 2 (L = 1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3dimethyl-1-H(1,2,4-triazole-1-y)-2-butanone, triadimefon) have been synthesized and their structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). Crystal structural analysis shows that in complex 1, the copper cation lies on a crystallographic inversion center and is coordinated with two triazole groups, two chloride ligands and an ethanol molecule. In each unit cell, two pairs of adjacent [CuL 2 Cl 2 (EtOH)] molecules are linked by O-HÁ Á ÁCl hydrogen bonds to form a 2D plane. Complex 2 is octahedral with the metal cation bound to four triazole groups and two nitrate ligands. The geometry is elongated due to the more distant interactions between connecting nitrate O atoms and the Cu cation.The two complexes were screened for antifungal activities against five selected fungi using the mycelial growth rate method. The synergistic interactions between Cu 2+ and triadimefon were also investigated by the Wadley approach, and the results reveal that the synergy levels for the ratio 1 : 4 of the molecular-level mixture of Cu 2+ and triadimefon are better than that for the ratio 1 : 2. To better understand the structure-activity relationship, theoretical investigation of the electronic structure of the metal complexes has been carried out using density function theoretical (DFT) calculations. The results indicated that the Cu cation and the triazole originating from triadimefon are the active sites, and the decrease of the polarity of Cu 2+ can contribute to the increased biocidal properties after complexation since it is responsible for the enhanced penetration of the metal complexes into the lipid membranes.

A new Co(II) complex of diniconazole, namely diaqua[(E)-(RS)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl-κN(4))pent-1-en-3-ol]cobalt(II) dinitrate dihydrate, [Co(C15H17Cl2N3O)3(H2O)2](NO3)2·2H2O, was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal structural analysis shows that the centrosymmetric Co(II) cation is coordinated by four diniconazole ligands and two water molecules, forming a six-coordinated octahedral structure. There are also two free nitrate counter-anions and two additional solvent water molecules in the structure. Intermolecular O-H...O hydrogen bonds link the complex cations into a one-dimensional chain. In addition, the antifungal activity of the complex against Botryosphaeria ribis, Gibberella nicotiancola, Botryosphaeria berengriana and Alternariasolani was studied. The results indicate that the complex shows a higher antifungal activity for Botryosphaeria ribis and Botryosphaeria berengriana than diniconazole, but a lower antifungal activity for Gibberella nicotiancola and Alternariasolani.