LAUSR

Abstract Two Cu(II) metal complexes, {[Cu(bmem)(CH3OH)(CH3O)](ClO4)}n (1) and {[Cu(bmem)(CH3O)(SCN)](CH3OH)0.75}n (2) based on 1-(benzotriazole-1-methyl) -1-(2-ethylimidazole) (bmem) were synthesized. The X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis reveals that complexes 1 and 2 both display 1D chain structure containing binuclear copper units. Then the ligand and complexes 1 and 2 were examined for hypoglycemic activity against α-amylase and antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and found that two Cu(II) complexes showed more activity than the ligand bmem. Both complexes 1 and 2 have strong inhibitory effects on α-amylase, and the IC50 values of complexes 1 (1.97 mg/mL) and 2 (1.83 mg/mL) are lower than that of acarbose (2.3 mg/mL) and ligand (10.89 mg/mL). The scavenging rates on DPPH radical of complexes 1 (80.46%, 150 μg/mL) and 2 (63.08%, 150 μg/mL) are significantly higher than that of ligand (6.92%, 150 μg/mL). In addition, the fluorescence properties and thermal stability of metal complexes were determined.