Synthesis,spectroscopic characterization,biological screening and in vitro cytotoxic studies of 4‐methyl‐3‐thiosemicarbazone derived Schiff bases and their Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II) and Zn (II) complexes

A series of twenty compounds inclusive of bidentate Schiff bases derived from condensation of 4‐methyl‐3‐thiosemicarbazide with substituted derivatives of napthaldehyde/benzaldehyde/salicylaldehyde and their mononuclear Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II) and Zn (II) complexes in molar ratio (1:1) were synthesized and characterized. The coordination behavior, modes of bonding and overall geometry of the compounds was known from the elemental analysis, spectral techniques (IR, UV–Vis, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ESR and ESI‐mass), magnetic moment measurements, molar conductance, thermal and powder XRD studies. The studies revealed octahedral geometry for all the complexes where ligands coordinated in a neutral bidentate manner (NS) via nitrogen atom of azomethine group and sulphur atom of thione group with the metal centre. In vitro biological effects of the compounds were tested against four bacterial species and two fungal strains. The results indicated that the metal complexes showed a marked enhancement in biocidal activity in comparable with the parent Schiff bases. In vitro anticancer activity against the malignant tumor cell lines; human alveolar adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line (A549), human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF7), human prostate cancer cell line (DU145) and human normal lung cell line (MRC‐5) using MTT assay, exposed compound 16 as a leading member with lowest IC₅₀ value of 10.6 ± 0.14 μM against (A549) cell line.     

Novel 7‐Nitro‐1‐(Piperidin‐4‐yl)‐4,5‐Dihydro‐[1,2,4] Triazolo[4,3‐a]Quinoline‐Sulphonamide Derivatives as Antimicrobial Agents: Design,Synthesis, and Bio‐Activity

In attempt to search for more potent antimicrobial agents, a series of 7‐nitro‐1‐(piperidin‐4‐yl)‐4,5‐dihydro‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]quinoline‐derived sulphonamides were synthesized. Their structures were established by elemental analyses, IR, and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectral data. The antibacterial activity of the obtained compounds was investigated against different Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram‐positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria and antifungal activity against two fungal strains (Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus clavatus) using disk diffusion method at various concentrations (20, 40, 60, and 80 μg/mL). The study reveals that most of the title compounds showed significant antibacterial and fungal activity when compared with their respective standards streptomycin and griseofulvin.     

Sulfonamide‐derived compounds and their transition metal complexes: synthesis,biological evaluation and X‐ray structure of 4‐bromo‐2‐[(E)‐{4‐[(3,4‐dimethylisoxazol‐5 yl)sulfamoyl]phenyl} iminiomethyl] phenolate

Sulfonamide‐derived new ligands, 4‐({[(E)‐(5‐bromo‐2‐hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]‐amino}methyl)benzenesulfonamide and 4‐bromo‐2‐((E)‐{4‐[(3,4‐dimethylisoxazol‐5‐yl)sulfamoyl]phenyl}iminiomethyl)phenolate and their transition metal [cobalt(II), copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II)] complexes were synthesized and characterized. The nature of bonding and structure of all the synthesized compounds were deduced from physical (magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements), spectral (IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, electronic, mass spectrometry) and analytical (CHN analysis) data. The structure of the ligand, 4‐bromo‐2‐((E)‐{4‐[(3,4‐dimethylisoxazol‐5‐yl)sulfamoyl]phenyl} iminiomethyl)phenolate was also determined by X‐ray diffraction method. An octahedral geometry was suggested for all the complexes. In order to evaluate the biological activity of the ligands and the effect of metals, the ligands and their metal complexes were screened for in vitro antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic activity. The results of these studies revealed that all compounds showed moderate to significant antibacterial activity against one or more bacterial strains and good antifungal activity against various fungal strains. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Metal‐based sulfonamides: synthesis,characterization, antibacterial,antifungal and cytotoxic properties of pyrrolyl‐ and thienyl‐derived compounds

Pyrrolyl and thienyl derived sulfonamides and their metal [cobalt(II), copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II)] complexes were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductances, magnetic moments, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and electronic spectral data. These compounds were screened for in‐vitro antibacterial activity against four Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli, Shigella flexeneri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi) and two Gram‐positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) bacterial strains, and for in‐vitro antifungal activity against Trichophyton longifusus, Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, Microsporum canis, Fusarium solani and Candida glaberata. The results of these studies revealed that all compounds showed significant to moderate antibacterial activity; however, the zinc complexes were shown to be the most active against various species. The brine shrimp bioassay was also carried out to study their in vitro cytotoxic properties of all the synthesized ligands and their metal complexes. Only two compounds ( 14 and 19 ) displayed potent cytotoxic activity as LD₅₀ = 5.5637 × 10^?4 and 4.4023 × 10^?4 M ml^?1 respectively, against Artemia salina. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,Antimicrobial Studies,and Docking Simulations of New Bis(4,5‐dihydropyrazole) Derivatives

A novel series of bis(3‐thienyl‐4,5‐dihydropyrazoles) has been synthesized by the cyclization reactions of bischalcones with phenyl hydrazine in basic medium. The O‐alkylation reactions of chalcones with suitable 1,ω‐dibromoalkanes in the presence of anhydrous K₂CO₃, dry acetone, and Bu₄N⁺I⁻ as PTC lead to the formation of bischalcones in good yields. The chalcone required was obtained from the Claisen–Schmidt condensation reaction of 2‐acetylthiophene with 3‐hydroxybenzaldehyde. Structures of prepared compounds were elucidated from their IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, and ESI‐MS spectral data. Newly synthesized compounds were screened for their antimicrobial potencies against Gram‐positive, Gram‐negative bacterial strains, and fungal strains using serial tube dilution method. Docking simulations have also been carried out to visualize the possible interaction of synthesized scaffold 2(a – g) and 3(a – g) at the active sites of Escherichia coli .     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Some New N‐substituted‐5‐arylidene‐thiazolidine‐2,4‐diones

A total of 17 new N‐substituted derivatives ( 2b , 2c , 2d , 2e , 2f , 2g , 2h , 2i , 2j , 2k and 3b , 3c , 3d , 3e , 3f , 3g , 3h ) of 5‐((2‐phenylthiazol‐4‐yl)methylene) thiazolidine‐2,4‐dione ( 2a ) and 5‐(2,6‐dichloro‐ benzylidene)thiazolidine‐2,4‐dione ( 3a ) were synthesized. The structural elucidation of the newly synthesized compounds was based on elemental analysis and spectroscopic data (MS, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR), and their antimicrobial activities were assessed in vitro against several strains of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria and one fungal strain (Candida albicans) as growth inhibition diameter. Some of them showed modest to good antibacterial activity against Gram‐negative Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium and Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Enterococcus fecalis bacterial strains, whereas almost all the compounds were inactive against Listeria monocytogenes. All of the synthesized compounds showed moderate to very good activity against C. albicans.     

Synthesis,spectral characterization and biological studies of transition metal(II) complexes with triazole Schiff bases

New metal based triazoles (1–12) have been synthesized by the interaction of novel Schiff base ligands (L¹–L³) with the Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) metal ions. The Schiff base ligands and their all metal(II) complexes have been thoroughly characterized using various physical, analytical and spectroscopic techniques. In vitro bacterial and fungal inhibition studies were carried out to examine the antibacterial and antifungal profile of the Schiff bases in comparison to their metal(II) complexes against two Gram‐positive, four Gram‐negative and six fungal strains. The bioactivity data showed the metal(II) complexes to have more potent antibacterial and antifungal activity than their uncomplexed parent Schiff bases against one or more bacterial and fungal species. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Silver–N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis,Characterization, and Antimicrobial Properties

Six new silver complexes containing symmetrical N ‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC ) ligands were synthesized by the reaction of azolium salts with Ag₂O in CH₂Cl₂ . These complexes were tested against Gram‐negative bacterial strains (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ), Gram‐positive bacterial strains (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus ), and fungal strains (Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis ), and all tested complexes showed good activity against the different microorganisms.     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Some New 4,5′‐Bisthiazoles

Thiazole and bisthiazole derivatives represent a prevalent scaffold in the antimicrobial drug discovery. Therefore, we have decided to synthesize some new series of 4,5′‐bisthiazoles. A total of 17 compounds were synthesized, their structural elucidation being based on elemental analysis (C,H,N,S) and spectroscopic data (MS and ¹H NMR). Their in vitro antimicrobial activities were assessed against several Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria strains and also against one fungal strain (Candida albicans) using the difusimetric method. Some of the compounds showed modest to good antibacterial activity against Gram‐negative Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium and Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus bacterial strains. All of the synthesized compounds showed moderate to very good antifungal activity against C. albicans.     

Novel cytotoxic oxovanadium(IV) complexes: Influence of pyrazole‐incorporated heterocyclic scaffolds on their biological response

Homoleptic VO^IV complexes with bidentate heterocycles, namely bipyrazole/pyrimidin‐2‐amine/triazolopyrimidine derivatives, are novel square pyramidal oxovanadium(IV) complexes. Their identities have been established using physicochemical techniques, namely elemental and spectral (ESI‐MS, IR, UV–visible) analyses. The in vitro antibacterial activities against Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive microorganisms have been studied for all compounds, exhibiting good inhibition as compared to the ligands. In addition, all compounds exhibit significant cytotoxicity towards brine shrimp with LD₅₀ values obtained in the range 8–24 μg ml⁻¹. Cellular level cytotoxicity has been investigated using bioassay of Schizosaccharomyces pombe , the complexes showing inevitable viability as concentration increases. Notably, UV absorption spectral titrations of the synthesized complexes with DNA reveal that the complexes bind to calf thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) through intercalation mode (K _b = 10⁴–10⁵ M⁻¹). Molecular docking reveals that the compounds are stacked between the base pairs of DNA. The results suggest that the complexes show promising binding affinity compared to the ligands towards CT‐DNA.     

Metal‐based antibacterial and antifungal amino acid derived Schiff bases: their synthesis,characterization and in vitro biological activity

A new series of antibacterial and antifungal amino acid derived Schiff bases and their cobalt(II), copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) metal complexes have been synthesized and characterized by their elemental analyses, molar conductances, magnetic moments, IR and electronic spectral measurements. The spectral data indicated the Schiff base ligands ( L ₁– L ₅) derived by condensation of salicylaldehyde with glycine, alanine, phenylalanine, methionine and cysteine, to act as tridentate towards divalent metal ions (cobalt, copper, nickel and zinc) via the azomethine‐N, deprotonated carboxyl group of the respective amino acid and deprotonated oxygen atom of salicylaldehyde by a stoichiometric reaction of M: L (1:2) to form complexes of the type K₂[M( L )₂] [where M = Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II)]. The magnetic moments and electronic spectral data suggested that all complexes have an octahedral geometry. Elemental analyses and NMR spectral data of the ligands and their Zn (II) complexes agree with their proposed structures. The synthesized ligands, along with their metal complexes, were screened for their in‐vitro antibacterial activity against four Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli, Shigella flexeneri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi) and two Gram ‐ positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) bacterial strains and for in‐vitro antifungal activity against Trichophyton longifusus, Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, Microsporum canis, Fusarium solani and Candida glaberata. The results of these studies show the metal complexes to be more antibacterial/antifungal against one or more species as compared with the uncomplexed Schiff base ligands. The brine shrimp bioassay was also carried out to study their in‐vitro cytotoxic properties. Only three compounds ( 2, 11 and 17 ) displayed potent cytotoxic activity as LD₅₀ = 8.196 × 10^?4, 7.315 × 10^?4 and 5.599 × 10^?4 M /ml respectively, against Artemia salina. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel 5‐cyclohexyl‐2‐(4″‐substitutedphenyl)‐3‐(2″‐substitutedphenyl)4H‐2,3,3a,5,6,6a‐hexahydropyrrolo[3,4‐d]isoxazole‐4,6‐dione Derivatives for Their In Vitro Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities

1,3‐Dipolar cycloaddition reactions of N‐cyclohexyl maleimide ( 1 ) with azomethine N‐oxide ( 2 ) have afforded novel isoxazolidine ( 3 ) in excellent yield. Their structures have been characterized from their IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, ¹H,¹H‐COSY, MS(ESI), and elemental analysis techniques. In vitro antibacterial activity of the synthesized compounds were investigated against a representative panel of pathogenic strains specifically two Gram‐positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes ) and two Gram‐negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli ) using agar‐well diffusion assay. Some of the compounds ( 3a , 3k , 3n , and 3o ) exhibited promising antibacterial activities. All the synthesized compounds have also been screened for their antioxidant activities and were found to be significantly active.     

Design,synthesis, characterization and antibacterial properties of copper(II) complexes with chromone‐derived compounds

A new series of six chromone‐derived compounds and their Cu(II) complexes was synthesized and characterized by their physical, spectral and analytical data The elemental analysis data of the complexes agree well with the proposed composition of the compounds, which were found to be dimeric in nature with two hydrazine molecules bridging the two copper atoms through coordination. The ligands and their Cu(II) complexes were screened for their in‐vitro antibacterial activity against four Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri) and two Gram‐positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) bacterial strains by the agar‐well diffusion method. The ligands were found to exhibit either no or low to moderate activities against one or more of the bacterial species, whereas all the metal complexes exhibited moderate to high activities against different bacterial species. The ligands which were inactive before complexation turned active and less active ones became more active upon coordination with copper ions. Overall, the complexes 7–12 showed comparatively much higher activities than the ligands. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

DNA interaction,free radical scavenging and in‐vitro antibacterial activity of drug‐based copper(II) complexes

The Cu(II) complexes of type [Cu(cpf)(Aⁿ)Cl] (Aⁿ = terpyridines, cpf = ciprofloxacin) were synthesized and characterized using IR, mass and reflectance spectra. The free ligands and their complexes were evaluated for their in‐vitro antimicrobial activity against a panel of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. The complexes exhibit better or equal inhibition in comparison to free fluoroquinolones. Binding interactions of the complexes with calf thymus (CT DNA) were investigated by absorption titration, viscosity studies and DNA melting temperature experiment. The cleavage reaction on pUC19 DNA was monitored by agarose gel electrophoresis. The lower concentration of the complexes was catalysed the dismutation of superoxide radical at biological pH, which indicates that the complexes can act as a possible model for superoxide dismutase. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Efficient Synthesis of Novel 3‐Phenyl‐5‐thioxo‐3,4,5,6‐tetrahydroimidazo[4,5‐c]pyrazole‐2(1H)‐carbothioamide Derivatives Using a CeO2–MgO Catalyst and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity

Imidazo[4,5‐c ]pyrazole derivatives ( 3a–f , 4a–f , and 5a–f ) were efficiently synthesized by one‐pot three‐component reactions using CeO₂–MgO as the catalyst. The synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectroscopic analyses. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the synthesized compounds against various bacterial and fungal strains was screened. Compound 3b was highly active [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 0.5 μg/mL] against Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus , and compounds 3b , 3f , 4d , and 4e were highly active (MIC: 0.5, 2, 2, and 0.5 μg/mL, respectively) against Gram‐negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae , relative to standard ciprofloxacin in the antibacterial activity screening. Compounds 3b and 4f were highly active (MIC: 4 and 0.5 μg/mL, respectively) against Aspergillus fumigatus and Microsporum audouinii in the antifungal activity screening compared with the clotrimazole standard.     

Silica‐gel‐supported Phosphorus Pentoxide:a Simple and Efficient Solid‐supported Reagent for Esterification of Long‐ Chain Carboxylic Acids and Their Antimicrobial Screening

A silica-gel-supported heterogeneous phosphorus pentoxide reagent has been developed for the esterification of various long-chain carboxylic acids with aromatic alcohols. The reactions occurred under relatively mild conditions and afforded the desired products in good yields. All the compounds 3a—3x were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activity, which showed good activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and also good results against almost all fungal strains. The structures of the synthesized compounds were elucidated by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis.     

Coordination behaviour,molecular docking,density functional theory calculations and biological activity studies of some transition metal complexes of bis‐Schiff base ligand

Coordination compounds of Mn (II), Fe (III), Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II) and Cd (II) ions were synthesized from reaction with Schiff base ligand 4,6‐bis((E)‐(2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)ethylidene)amino)pyrimidine‐2‐thiol (HL) derived from the condensation of 4,6‐diaminopyrimidine‐2‐thiol and 2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)acetaldehyde. Microanalytical data, magnetic susceptibility, infrared and ¹H NMR spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, molar conductance, powder X‐ray diffraction and thermal decomposition measurements were used to determine the structure of the prepared complexes. It was found that the coordination between metal ions and bis‐Schiff base ligand was in a molar ratio of 1:1, with formula [M (HL)(H₂O)₂] X_n (M = Mn (II), Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II) and Cd (II), n = 2; Fe (III), n = 3). Diffuse reflectance spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements suggested an octahedral geometry for the complexes. The coordination between bis‐Schiff base ligand and metal ions was through NNNN donor sites in a tetradentate manner. After preparation of the complexes, biological studies were conducted using Gram‐positive (B. subtilis and S. aureus) and Gram‐negative (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) organisms. Metal complexes and ligand displayed acceptable microbial activity against both types of bacteria.     

Synthesis,characterization, density functional theory,X‐ray study,thermal stability,and biological and MOE relevance of metal complexes of griseofulvin

Metal(II) and metal(III) coordination compounds of griseofulvin (GFV) drug were synthesized. The structure of the ligand was determined on the basis of elemental analyses, infrared and ¹H NMR spectroscopies and thermal studies. GFV behaved as a neutral tridentate chelating agent and coordinated to metal ions through three oxygen atoms: two methoxy groups and oxygen atom of furan ring. Metal complexes were characterized by means of elemental analyses and molar conductance, spectral (infrared, electron spin resonance) and thermal studies. All the complexes showed molar conductance behaviour corresponding to an electrolytic nature. All the complexes showed octahedral geometry, except [Zn(GFV)Cl]Cl that showed tetrahedral geometry. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to understand and estimate the contribution of each interaction in the formation of the assembly using several theoretical models. The computed parameters from DFT calculations for structure optimizations and vibrational frequencies were in good agreement with the experimental data. Newly synthesized metal complexes in addition to GFV were examined against opportunistic pathogens. The biological applications of complexes were studied with two Gram‐positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Neisseria gonorrhoeae) as well as their antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Results suggested that metal complexes were more biologically sensitive than free ligand. The complexes showed a moderate inhibition of MCF7 breast cancer cell line growth. Molecular docking studies further helped in understanding the mode of action of the compounds through their various interactions with the crystal structures of: human serum albumin (PDB: 5FUO), Staphylococcus aureus nucleoside (PDB: 3Q8U), human acetylcholinesterase (PDB: 1B41) and the human DNA–Topo I complex (PDB: 1SC7).     

Preparation,characterization, biological activity,density functional theory calculations and molecular docking of chelates of diazo ligand derived from m‐phenylenediamine and p‐chlorophenol

A novel azo dye ligand, 2,2′‐(1,3‐phenylenebis(diazene‐2,1‐diyl))bis(4‐chlorophenol), was synthesized from the diazotization of m ‐phenelyenediamine and coupling with p ‐chlorophenol in alkaline medium. Mononuclear Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes of the azo ligand (H₂L) were prepared and characterized using elemental analyses, infrared spectroscopy, electron spin resonance, magnetic susceptibility, conductance measurements and thermal analyses. The UV–visible, ¹H NMR and mass spectra of the ligand and its chelates were also recorded. The analytical data showed that the metal‐to‐ligand ratio in the mononuclear azo complexes was 1:1. Diffuse reflectance and magnetic moment measurements revealed the complexes to have octahedral geometry. The infrared spectral data showed that the chelation behaviour of the ligand towards transition metal ions was through phenolic oxygen and azo nitrogen atoms. The electronic spectral results indicated the existence of π → π* (phenyl rings) and n → π* (─N═N) and confirmed the mentioned structure. Molar conductivity revealed the non‐electrolytic nature of all chelates. The presence of water molecules in all complexes was supported by thermal studies. Molecular docking was used to predict the binding between H₂L and the receptors of breast cancer mutant 3hb5‐oxidoreductase, crystal structure of Escherichia coli (3 t88) and crystal structure of Staphylococcus aureus (3q8u). The molecular and electronic structure of H₂L was optimized theoretically and the quantum chemical parameters were calculated. In addition, the effects of the H₂L azo ligand and its complexes on the inhibition of bacterial or fungal growth were evaluated. The prepared complexes had enhanced activity against bacterial or fungal growth compared to the H₂L azo ligand.     

Biological screening and DNA nuclease activity of transition metal complexes of N2O2 type of Knoevenagel condensate Schiff base

A novel tetradentate N₂O₂ type of Knoevenagel condensate Schiff base, synthesized from 4‐amino‐2,3‐dimethyl‐1‐phenyl‐3‐pyrazolin‐5‐one (4‐aminoantipyrine) and 3‐(cinnamyl)‐pentane‐2,4‐dione, forms stable complexes with transition metal ions such as Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II). The structural features were derived from elemental analysis, molar conductance measurements, infrared, UV–visible, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies. These complexes show high conductance values, supporting their electrolytic nature. Spectroscopic and other analytical data of the complexes suggest square planar geometry. In vitro calf thymus DNA binding studies were performed by employing UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, viscometry and cyclic voltammetry. These techniques indicate that all the metal complexes bind to DNA via intercalation mode. Antimicrobial screening of the synthesized ligand and complexes was conducted against Gram‐positive bacteria, Gram‐negative bacteria and fungi. These complexes exhibit higher antimicrobial activities than the free Schiff base, as investigated using the minimum inhibitory concentration method. Gel electrophoresis reveals that these complexes also promote the cleavage of pUC18 plasmid DNA in the presence of activators. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.