Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Antimicrobial Activity of (E)-ethyl-4-(2-oxoacenaphthylen-1(2H)-ylideneamino) benzoate

A Schiff base, (E)-ethyl-4-(2-oxoacenaphthylen-1(2H)-ylideneamino)benzoate, (E4AB) had been synthesized in good yield by the acid-catalyzed condensation reaction of acenaphthenequinone and ethyl-4-aminobenzoate in methanolic solution. The synthesized compound was elucidated by elemental analysis (CHN), FTIR, H-NMR, C-NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction. E4AB crystallized in the monoclinic crystal system with space group P21/c, Z = 4, V = 1569.3(2) Å and unit cell parameters a = 9.1589(8) Å, b = 21.2003(17) Å, c =8.4502(7) Å, β= 106.972(2) ̊. The crystal structure of the compound is stabilized by intermolecular C-HO hydrogen bonds and weak intermolecular ππ interactions. The title compound had been tested for the antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), Enterobacter and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense (Foc) by disc-diffusion method. E4AB is relatively active against Foc which is a pathogen that cause Wilt disease (also well known as Panama disease) in banana plantation.