Synthesis, X-ray crystal structures, spectroscopic and cyclic voltammetric studies of Cu(II) Schiff base complexes of pyridoxal

Two mononuclear Cu(II) complexes, [Cu(L¹H₂)](ClO₄)_1.25Cl_0.75·1.25H₂O (1) and [Cu(L²H₂)](ClO₄)₂ (2), of the pyridoxal Schiff base ligands N,N′-dipyridoxylethylenediimine (L¹H₂) and N,N′-dipyridoxyl-1,3-propanediimine (L²H₂) are reported. X-ray crystal structures of both complexes are also reported. In both complexes the pyridoxal nitrogen atoms remain protonated. In the solid state, the tetradentate Schiff base ligand is virtually planar in 1, while in 2 the ligand conformation is like an inverted umbrella. In cyclic voltammetry experiments it is found that in these complexes the Cu(III) and Cu(I) states are more easily accessible than in their salen type analogs. The pyridoxal Schiff base complexes are also found to be resistant to oxidative electro-polymerization, unlike their corresponding salicyl aldehyde Schiff base complexes.     

Synthesis,characterization and cytotoxicity of platinum(II) complexes containing reduced amino acid ester Schiff bases

Nine platinum(II) complexes containing reduced amino acid ester Schiff bases were synthesized and characterized using spectroscopy (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, infrared), elemental analysis and molar conductivity. The interaction of these complexes with salmon sperm DNA was investigated by means of ultraviolet and circular dichroism spectroscopies. The potential antitumor activity of all compounds was tested in vitro on HeLa and A549 tumor cell lines. Almost all the complexes exhibited better cytotoxic activity than cisplatin against these cell lines.     

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.     

Synthesis,coordination behavior,and investigations of pharmacological effects of some transition metal complexes with isoniazid Schiff bases

Two isoniazid Schiff bases, N-isonicotinamido-2-furanketimine (INH-F¹) and N-isonicotinamido-5-methyl-2-furanketimine (INH-F²), possessing potential N and O coordination sites have been prepared by the reaction of isoniazid with 2-acetylfuran and 2-acetyl-5-methylfuran, respectively. Complexes of Pd(II) and Pt(II) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, melting point determinations and electronic, infrared, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR spectral studies, and X-ray powder diffraction studies. In all the complexes, the monobasic bidentate nature of the ligand is evident. Antibacterial and antifungal studies of these compounds against various pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains have been carried out. Both the ligands and their metal chelates were active against all the microbial strains investigated. However, the chelates were found to be more active than the ligands. The antimycobacterial activity of the ligands and their metal complexes has been evaluated against Mycobacterium smegmatis, which showed clear enhancement in this activity upon metal complexation with Schiff bases.     

Syntheses,characterization and X-ray crystal structures of Ni(II) complexes of tridentate monocondensed and tetradentate dicondensed Schiff bases

Two octahedral complexes [Ni(HL¹)₂](ClO₄)₂ (1) and [Ni(HL²)₂](ClO₄)₂ (2) and a square planar complex [Ni(HL³)]ClO₄ (3) have been prepared, where [HL¹ = 3-(2-amino-ethylimino)-butan-2-one oxime, HL² = 3-(2-amino-propylimino)butan-2-one oxime] and H₂L³ = 3-[2-(3-hydroxy-1-methyl-but-2-enylideneamino)-1-methyl-ethylimino]-butan-2-one oxime. All the complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, spectral studies and room temperature magnetic moment measurements. The molecular structures of all three compounds were elucidated on the basis of X-ray crystallography; complexes 1 and 2 are seen to be the mer isomers.     

Studies on DNA binding behavior of biologically active Cu(II) complexes of Schiff bases containing acyl pyrazolones and 2-ethanolamine

Pyrazolone derivatives (Z)-4-((2-hydroxyethylimino)(p-tolyl)methyl)-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one [PMP-EA] (1), (Z)-1-(3-chlorophenyl)-4-((2-hydroxyethylimino)(p-tolyl)methyl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one [MCPMP-EA] (2), and (Z)-4-((2-hydroxyethylimino)(p-tolyl)methyl)-3-methyl-1-p-tolyl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one [PTPMP-EA] (3) have been synthesized and characterized. The molecular geometry of 2 has been determined by single-crystal X-ray study. These ligands exist in amine-one tautomeric form in the solid state. Three copper(II) complexes, [Cu(PMP-EA)(H₂O)₂] (4), [Cu(MCPMP-EA)(H₂O)₂] (5), and [Cu(PTPMP-EA)(H₂O)₂] (6), respectively, have been synthesized using these ligands and characterized by microanalytical data, molar conductivity, IR, UV–Visible, FAB-Mass, magnetic measurement, TG-DTA studies, and ESR spectral studies; Cu(II) is five-coordinated with [ML(H₂O)₂] composition. The interaction of the complexes with CT-DNA (calfthymus) was investigated using different methods. The results suggest that the copper complexes bind to DNA via intercalation and can quench the fluorescence intensity of EB bound to DNA.     

Spectroscopic and biological properties of platinum complexes derived from 2-pyridyl Schiff bases

The reactions of a range of aromatic primary amines with pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde were reported, highlighting the effect of the substituents of the amine on the outcomes of the Schiff base reactions. The variant products of the Schiff base reactions were reacted with cis-[PtCl₂(DMSO)₂], generating platinum(II) complexes with PtCl₂(N^N) general formula. The ligands and platinum(II) complexes were identified and characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopic methods. Single crystal XRD offered structural confirmation for three of the organic compounds and two platinum complexes. The spectral, antimicrobial, DNA-binding and molecular docking of the platinum complexes were studied, highlighting the effect of the different functional group in the Schiff base ligands on their properties. In general, introducing the electron-withdrawing group nitro or acetyl in the 2-pyridyl Schiff base ligands, results in a red-shift in the absorption maxima of the platinum complex. In addition, the enhancement in the antimicrobial activities and the increase in the ct-DNA-binding affinity were also observed when the nitro or acetyl functional group is introduced to the Schiff base ligand in the platinum(II) complex.     

The structures and cyclic voltammetry of three copper(II) complexes derived from bulky ortho-hydroxy Schiff bases

Three copper(II) complexes derived from bulky ortho-hydroxy Schiff base ligands, (1)-(3), were synthesized and characterized by chemical analysis, UV-Vis, IR, μ_eff and mass spectrometry. The solid state structures of compounds (1)-(3) were determined. The solid state X-ray diffraction studies of these compounds show that the geometry is intermediate between square planar and tetrahedral. Moreover, EPR studies in DMF solution at 77 K suggest that the geometry of these complexes in solution is different from that observed in the solid state by X-ray crystallography. Furthermore, cyclic voltammetry studies performed for (1)-(3), indicate a dependence of the cathodic potentials upon conformational and electronic effects.     

Synthesis,characterization and biological properties of novel ON donor bidentate Schiff bases and their copper(II) complexes

Four novel ON donor Schiff bases (E)-3-((4-phenoxyphenylimino)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol (HL₁),(E)-3-((4-(4-biphenyloxy)phenyliminomethyl)benzene-1,2-diol (HL₂), (E)-3-((4-naphthoxyphenylimino)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol (HL₃), (E)-3-((4-(2-naphthoxy)phenylimino)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol (HL₄) and their copper(II) complexes bis((E)-3-((4-phenoxyphenylimino)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol) copper(II) (Cu(L₁)₂) bis((E)-3-((4-(4-biphenyloxy)phenylimino)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol) copper(II) (Cu(L₂)₂), bis((E)-3-((4-naphthoxyphenylimino)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol) copper(II) (Cu(L₃)₂), bis((E)-3-((4-(2-naphthoxy)phenylimino)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol) copper(II) (Cu(L₄)₂) have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic (FTIR, NMR, UV–visible) and elemental analysis. The crystal structures of HL₁, HL₂, HL_3, and HL₄ have been determined, which reveal intramolecular N-H?O (HL₁, HL₂, HL_3, and HL₄) hydrogen bonds in the solid state. Keto-amine and enol-imine tautomerism is exhibited by the Schiff bases in solid and solution states. The Schiff bases and their copper(II) complexes have been screened for their biological activities. In antimicrobial assays (antibacterial and antifungal), HL₄ showed promising results against all strains through dual inhibition property while the rest of the compounds showed activity against selective strains. On the other hand, in cytotoxic, DPPH, and inhibition of hydroxyl (OH) free radical-induced DNA damage assays, the results were found significantly correlated with each other, i.e. the ligands HL₁ and HL₂ showed moderate activity while their complexes Cu(L₁)₂ and Cu(L₂)₂ exhibited prominent increase in activity. As the results of these assays are supporting each other, it represents the strong positive correlation and antioxidant nature of investigated compounds.     

Tetradentate asymmetric Schiff bases and their Ni(II) and Fe(III) complexes

Three asymmetric Schiff-base tetradentate diimines H₂L¹, H₂L², and H₂L³ [(2-OH)C₆H₄N=CHC₆H₄2-N=CHC₆H₃(2-OH)(5-X), X?=?H, CH₃, Cl respectively] have been synthesized by a two step process. The reaction of 2-hydroxy aniline with 2-nitro-benzaldehyde in EtOH gave the starting Schiff base, 2-hydroxy-N-(2-nitrobenzylidene)aniline (SB-NO₂), which was reduced into the amino derivative (SB-NH₂) in solution. Reacting SB-NH₂ with 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-5-chlorobenzaldehyde gave the three new ligands H₂L¹, H₂L², and H₂L³ respectively. Their dimeric, binuclear metal complexes with Ni(II) and Fe(III) have also been synthesized. The ligands and their complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, LC–MS, IR, electronic, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR spectra, TGA, conductivity and magnetic measurements. All of the spectroscopic, analytical and other data indicate octahedral geometry M₂L₂(H₂O)X₂ (M: Ni,Co;X: Cl or H₂O), except for NiL² which is monomeric. Antimicrobial activities of the ligands and the complexes were evaluated against five bacteria. While the ligands and the Ni complexes are inactive towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, Fe complexes are active; only Fe complexes are inactive against Escherichia coli. All of the compounds have antimicrobial activities against Bacillus subtilis, and Yersinia enterecolitica.     

Dinuclear and polynuclear transition metal complexes with macrocyclic ligands. 6. New dinuclear copper(ii) complexes with macrocyclic Schiff bases derived from 4-tert-butyl-2,6-diformylphenol

New dinuclear complexes containing Cu^II atoms in the cavity of a macrocyclic Schiff base were prepared by template condensation of 4-tert-butyl-2,6-diformylphenol with 1,3-diaminopropane in the presence of Cu^II trimethylacetate and chloride as well as by extra-ligand exchange. The mononuclear Cu^II complex with two 1,3-diaminopropane molecules can serve as an intermediate in this template synthesis. The reaction of Cu^II trimethylacetate with the unsymmetrical macrocyclic Schiff base synthesized earlier afforded a new dinuclear copper(ii) complex with the amine and imine nitrogen atoms in the coordination sphere. The structures of the new complexes were established by X-ray diffraction analysis and studied by the density functional theory (gradient-corrected PBE functional, TZ2p basis set).     

Cu(II) complexes with 4-amino-3,5-dimethyl isoxazole and substituted aromatic aldehyde Schiff bases: synthesis,crystal structure,antimicrobial activity,DNA binding and cleavage studies

Three isoxazole Schiff bases 2-((E)-(3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-ylimino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol (L¹), 2-((E)-(3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-ylimino)methyl)-4,6-diiodophenol (L²), 2-((E)-(3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-ylimino)methyl)-6-bromo-4-chlorophenol (L³), and their Cu(II) complexes [Cu(L¹)₂] (1), [Cu(L²)₂] (2) and [Cu(L³)₂] (3) were synthesized. All the complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ESI mass, UV-Visible, ESR, TGA, magnetic moments, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Based on analytical data, a square planar geometry is assigned to the Cu(II) complexes with N₂O₂ donors from the Schiff base ligands. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements of 1 and 2 confirmed the square planar geometry. DNA binding studies from electronic absorption titrations, viscosity measurements, and fluorescence quenching studies indicated an intercalation mode of binding of Cu(II) complexes with CT-DNA. DNA cleavage experiments of Cu(II) complexes with supercoiled plasmid pBR322 DNA have also been investigated by agarose gel electrophoresis in the presence of H₂O₂ (oxidative cleavage) and UV light (photolytic cleavage). The synthesized compounds were screened for antibacterial (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtillis and Staphylococcus aureus) and antifungal (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) activities by the paper disk method. The Cu(II) complexes showed better activity than corresponding Schiff bases.     

Spectroscopic characterization and electrochemical studies of ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes containing bidentate Schiff bases and triphenylphosphine or a nitrogen heterocycle

Reactions of ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes of the type [RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂(B)] [B?=?PPh₃, pyridine (py), piperidine (pip) or morpholine (mor)] with bidentate Schiff base ligands derived from the condensation of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with aniline, o-, m- or p-toluidine in a 1?:?1 mol ratio in benzene resulted in the formation of complexes formulated as [RuCl(CO)(L)(PPh₃)(B)] [L?=?bidentate Schiff base anion, B?=?PPh₃, py, pip, mor]. The complexes were characterized by analyses, IR, electronic and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetric studies. In all cases, the Schiff bases replace one molecule of phosphine and a hydride ion from the starting complexes, indicating that Ru–N bonds in the complexes containing heterocyclic nitrogenous bases are stronger than the Ru–P bond to PPh₃. Octahedral geometry is proposed for the complexes.     

Zinc(II) complexes with Schiff bases derived from ethylenediamine and salicylaldehyde: the synthesis and photoluminescent properties

The effect of the nature of organic ligands and complex formation on the photoluminescent characteristics (relative quantum yield, excited-state lifetime) and thermal stability of tetradentate Schiff bases (H₂L), derivatives of salicylaldehyde (H₂(SAL)¹, H₂(SAL)²), o-vanillin (H₂(MO)¹, H₂(MO)²) with ethylenediamine and o-phenylenediamine, and their zinc(II) complexes was studied. Zinc(II) complexes were synthesized by the reaction of H₂L with Zn(AcO)₂·2H₂O in MeOH at room temperature or under reflux. In the case of H₂L = H₂(SAL)², H₂(MO)¹, H₂(MO)², complexes of the composition ZnL·H₂O were isolated irrespective of the temperature. For H₂L = H₂(SAL)¹, the reaction results in Zn(SAL)¹·H₂O at room temperature and in anhydrous dimeric complex [Zn(SAL)¹]₂ under reflux. Density functional calculations of H₂L and ZnL confirmed that (1) luminescence of these compounds is due to the π-π* transition between orbitals of the organic ligand and (2) enhancement of conjugation of the chain and introduction of electron-donating substituents lead to a decrease of the energy gap and, there-fore, to a bathochromic shift of the emission maximum. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1846–1855, September, 2008.     

Synthesis, structural characterization and electrochemical studies of new macrocyclic Schiff base containing pyridine head and its metal complexes

A new macrocyclic ligand, 1,3,5-triaza-2,4:7,8:13,14-tribenzo-9,12-dioksa-cyclopentadeca-1,5-diene was synthesized by reaction of 2,6-diaminopyridine and 1,2-bis(2-carboxyaldehyde phenoxy)ethane. Then, its Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Co(III) and La(III) complexes were synthesized by the template effect by the reaction of 2,6-diaminopyridine and 1,2-bis(2-carboxyaldehyde phenoxy)ethane and Cu(NO₃)₂ · 3H₂O, Ni(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, Pb(NO₃)₂, Co(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, La(NO₃)₃ · 6H₂O, respectively. The ligand and its metal complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, UV-Vis spectra, magnetic susceptibility, thermal gravimetric analysis, conductivity measurements, mass spectra, and cyclic voltammetry. All complexes are diamagnetic and Cu(II) complex is binuclear. The Co(II) was oxidized to Co(III). The comparative electrochemical studies show that the nickel complex exhibited a quasi-reversible one-electron reduction process, while copper and cobalt complexes gave irreversible reduction processes in DMSO solution.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes containing bidentate Schiff bases and triphenylphosphine or triphenylarsine

Reactions of ruthenium(II) complexes [RuHX(CO)(EPh₃)₂(B)] (X = H or Cl; B = EPh₃, pyridine (py) or piperidine (pip); E = P or As) with bidentate Schiff base ligands derived by condensingo- hydroxyacetophenone with aniline,o- orp-methylaniline have been carried out. The products were characterized by analytical, IR, electronic and¹H-NMR spectral studies and are formulated as [Ru(X)(CO) (L)(EPh₃)(B)] (L = Schiff base anion; X = H or Cl; B = EPh₃, py or pip; E = P or As). An octahedral structure has been tentatively proposed for the new complexes. The new complexes were tested for their catalytic activities in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde.     

Synthesis,characterization, and crystal structure of three cobalt(II) complexes with Schiff bases derived from rimantadine

By condensation of rimantadine and substituted salicylaldehyde, three new Schiff bases, HL¹, HL² and HL³, were synthesized. Then, a mixture of one of the new ligands and cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate in ethanol led to 1, 2, and 3, respectively. These complexes were characterized by melting point, elemental analysis, infrared spectra, molar conductance, thermal analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, Pbcn space group; each asymmetric unit consists of one cobalt(II) ion, two deprotonated ligands, and one lattice water. The central cobalt is four coordinate via two nitrogens and two oxygens from the corresponding Schiff base ligand, forming a distorted tetrahedral geometry. Complexes 2 and 3 crystallize in the monoclinic system, P2₁/c space group; each asymmetric unit consists of one cobalt(II), two corresponding deprotonated ligands, one lattice water, and one methanol. The central cobalt is also four-coordinate via two nitrogens and two oxygens from the corresponding Schiff base ligand, forming a distorted tetrahedral geometry.     

Synthesis,characterization and biological studies of oxovanadium(IV) complexes with triazole‐derived Schiff bases

A series of triazole‐derived Schiff bases (L¹–L⁵) and their oxovanadium(IV) complexes have been synthesized. The chemical structures of Schiff bases were characterized by their analytical (CHN analysis) and spectral (IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and mass spectrometry) data, and oxovanadium(IV) complexes were elucidated by their physical (magnetic susceptibility and conductivity), analytical (CHN analysis), conductance measurements and electronic spectral data. The molar conductivity data indicate the oxovanadium(IV) complexes to be non‐electrolyte. The Schiff bases act as bidentate and coordinate with the oxovanadium(IV)‐forming stoichiometry of a complex as [M (L‐H)₂] where M = VO and L = L¹–L⁵ in a square‐pyramidal geometry. The agar well diffusion method was used for in vitro antibacterial screening against E. coli, S. flexenari, P. aeruginosa, S. typhi, S. aureus and B. subtilis and for antifungal activity against T. longifucus, C. albican, A. flavus, M. canis, F. solani and C. glaberata. The biological activity data show the oxovanadium(IV) complexes to be more antibacterial and antifungal than the parent Schiff bases against one or more bacterial and fungal strains. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,characterization, and electrochemical study of two new macroacyclic Schiff bases and their copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes

Two new potentially octadentate N₂O₆ Schiff-base ligands 2-((E)-(2-(2-(2-((E)-2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylideneamino)phenoxy)phenoxy)phenylimino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol H₂L¹ and 2-((E)-(2-(2-(2-((E)-2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylideneamino)phenoxy)-4-tert-butylphenoxy)phenylimino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol H₂L² were prepared from the reaction of O-Vaniline with 1,2-bis(2′-aminophenoxy)benzene or 1,2-bis(2′-aminophenoxy)-4-t-butylbenzene, respectively. Reactions of H₂L¹ and H₂L² with copper(II) and zinc(II) salts in methanol in the presence of N(Et)₃ gave neutral [CuL¹]?·?0.5CH₂Cl₂, [CuL²], [ZnL¹]?·?0.5CH₂Cl₂, and [ZnL²] complexes. The complexes were characterized by IR spectra, elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, ESI–MS spectra, molar conductance (Λ_m), UV-Vis spectra and, in the case of [ZnL¹]?·?0.5CH₂Cl₂ and [ZnL²], with ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR. The crystal structure of [ZnL¹]?·?0.5CH₂Cl₂ has also been determined showing the metal ion in a highly distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. The electrochemical behavior of H₂L² and its Cu(II) complex, [CuL²], was studied and the formation constant of [CuL²] was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry. The logarithm value of formation constant of [CuL²] is 21.9.     

Synthesis,structural characterization,antimicrobial, DNA-binding,and photo-induced DNA cleavage activity of some bio-sensitive Schiff base copper(II) complexes

Schiff base mixed-ligand copper complexes [CuL¹(phen)Cl₂], [CuL¹(bipy)Cl₂], [Cu(L¹)₂Cl₂], [Cu(L²)₂Cl₂], [CuL²(bipy)Cl₂], and [CuL²(phen)Cl₂] (where L^1?=?4-[3,4-dimethoxy-benzylidene]-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-pyrazole-3-one; L^2?=?4-[3-hydroxy-4-nitro-benzylidene]-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-pyrazole-3-one; phen?=?1,10-phenanthroline; and bipy?=?2,2′-bipyridine) have been synthesized and characterized. Their DNA-binding properties have been studied by electronic absorption spectra, viscosity, and electrochemical measurements. The absorption spectral and viscosity results suggest that the copper(II) complexes bind to DNA via partial intercalation. The addition of DNA resulting in the decrease of the peak current of the copper(II) complexes indicates their interaction. Interaction between the complexes and DNA has also been investigated by submarine gel electrophoresis. The copper complexes cleave supercoiled pUC19 DNA to nicked and linear forms through hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid as the reducing agent. These copper complexes promote the photocleavage of pUC19 DNA under irradiation at 360?nm. Mechanistic study reveals that singlet oxygen is likely to be the reactive species responsible for the cleavage of plasmid DNA by the synthesized complexes. The in vitro antimicrobial study indicates that the metal chelates have higher activity against the bacterial and fungal strains than the free ligands.