1,2-Bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)ethane (bbe) and its transition metal complexes, [Cu(bbe)Cl2]·DMF (1) and [Zn(bbe)Cl2]2(2), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, UV–Vis and IR spectra. X-ray crystal structure analysis revealed that both complexes have four-coordinate, distorted tetrahedral geometries. Complex 2 has two crystallographically independent but chemically identical Zn(bbe)Cl2 units. The cyclic voltammogram of complex 1 shows an irreversible Cu2+/Cu+ couple. In vitro antioxidant tests showed that complex 1 has significant antioxidant activity against superoxide. Photoluminescence investigations showed that complex 2 exhibits light blue (441 nm) photoluminescence. Compared with the free bbe proligand, a redshift of 16 nm was observed for complex 2, which may be attributed to π*–π transitions.

中文翻译：

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铜(II)和锌(II)配合物与1,2-双(苯并咪唑-2-基)乙烷配体的合成、结构和性质

合成了1,2-双(苯并咪唑-2-基)乙烷(bbe)及其过渡金属配合物[Cu(bbe)Cl2]·DMF(1)和[Zn(bbe)Cl2]2(2)并通过元素分析、UV-Vis 和 IR 光谱表征。X 射线晶体结构分析表明，这两种配合物都具有四坐标、扭曲的四面体几何形状。配合物 2 有两个晶体学上独立但化学上相同的 Zn(bbe)Cl2 单元。配合物 1 的循环伏安图显示出不可逆的 Cu2+/Cu+ 对。体外抗氧化试验表明，复合物 1 对超氧化物具有显着的抗氧化活性。光致发光研究表明配合物 2 显示出淡蓝色 (441 nm) 光致发光。与游离的 bbe 前配体相比，复合物 2 的红移为 16 nm，这可能归因于 π*–π 跃迁。