Binuclear Ru(III) Schiff base complexes: synthesis,spectral characterization,oxidation, C?C coupling reactions and antibacterial activities

New hexa‐coordinated binuclear Ru(III) Schiff base complexes of the type {[(B)₂X₂Ru]₂L} (where B = PPh₃ or AsPh₃; X = Cl or Br; L = binucleating N₂O₂ Schiff bases) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurement, FT‐IR, UV–vis, ¹³C{¹H}‐NMR, ESR at 300 and 77 K, cyclic voltammetric technique, powder X‐ray diffraction pattern and SEM. The new complexes were used as catalysts in phenyl–phenyl coupling reaction and the oxidation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyl compounds using molecular oxygen atmosphere at room temperature. Further, the new Schiff base ligands and their Ru(III) complexes were also screened for their antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae, Shigella sp., M. luteus, E. coli and S. typhi. From this study, it was found that the activity of the ruthenium(III) Schiff base complexes almost reaches the effectiveness of the conventional bacteriocide standards. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,spectral characterization,C?C coupling,oxidation reactions and antibacterial activities of new ruthenium(III) Schiff base complexes

A new series of hexa‐coordinated stable Ru(III) Schiff base complexes of the type [RuX(EPh₃)(L)] (where X = Cl/Br; E = P/As; L = tetradentate N₂O₂ donor Schiff ligands) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurement, FT‐IR, UV–vis, ¹³C{¹H}‐NMR, ESR spectra, electrochemical and powder X‐ray diffraction pattern studies. The selective oxidation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyl compounds occurred in the presence of N‐methylmorpholin‐N‐oxide (NMO), H₂O₂ and O₂ atmosphere at ambient temperature as co‐oxidants and C? C coupling reactions. Further, these new Schiff base ligands and their Ru(III) complexes were also screened for their antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae, Shigella sp., M. luteus, E. coli and S. typhi. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Syntheses,Characterization and Crystal Structures of Three Structurally Similar Dinuclear Schiff Base Cadmium(II) Complexes with Bridging Azide or Thiocyanate Ligands

Three novel Schiff base cadmium(II) complexes, derived from the end‐on (μ‐1,1‐N₃) azide or end‐to‐end (μ‐1,3‐NCS) thio cyanate bridges and similar tridentate Schiff base ligands, have been synthesized under similar synthetic procedures and their crystal structures determined by X‐ray diffraction methods. They are the dinuclear double end‐on azide‐bridged [Cd₂(L1)₂(N₃)₂(μ‐1,1‐N₃)₂] ( 1 ), the dinuclear double end‐on azide‐bridged [Cd₂(L2)₂(N₃)₂(μ‐1,1‐N₃)₂] ( 2 ), and the dinuclear double end‐to‐end thiocyanate‐bridged [Cd₂(L3)₂(NCS)₂(μ_1,3‐NCS)₂] ( 3 ), where L1, L2 and L3 are three similar tridentate Schiff bases obtained by condensation of 2‐pyridylaldehyde with N,N‐diethylethane‐1,2‐diamine, of 2‐pyridylaldehyde with N‐isopropylethane‐1,2‐diamine, and of 2‐pyridylaldehyde with N,N‐dimethylpropane‐1,3‐diamine, respectively. Each cadmium(II) centre in the complexes is in a distorted octahedral coordination. There is a crystallographic inversion centre in each of the complexes. The similar small ligands used as the secondary ligands in the preparation of the cadmium(II) complexes with similar Schiff bases can result in similar structures.     

Novel bidentate ruthenium(III) Schiff base complexes: synthetic,spectral, electrochemical,catalytic and antimicrobial studies

Ru^III complexes of the type [RuX(L)₂(E)] (X = Cl or Br; L = novel bidentate Schiff base ligand; E = PPh₃ or AsPh₃) have been prepared by reacting [RuX₃(E)₃] or [RuBr₃(PPh₃)₂(MeOH)] with two novel bidentate Schiff base ligands derived from 4-(1-methyl-1-mesitylcyclobutane-3-yl)-2-aminothiazole, in a 1:2 molar ratio in benzene, and characterised by analytical, spectral (i.r., electronic, ¹H-, ¹³C- n.m.r., and e.p.r.) and electrochemical data. An octahedral structure has been tentatively proposed for all the new complexes. The thermal properties of the ligands and their complexes have been studied by t.g.a. The new Ru^III complexes are effective catalysts for the oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds but are unable to oxidise alkenes in the presence of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMO) as co-oxidant. The antimicrobial activity of the ligands and complexes have also been tested against six microorganisms.     

Syntheses,Crystal Structures,and Antibacterial Activities of Four Schiff Base Complexes of Copper and Zinc

Four Schiff base complexes, [Cu₂(L1)₂(μ‐NCS)₂] ( 1 ), [Cu₂(L2)₂(μ‐N₃)₂] ( 2 ), Cu[Cu(CH₃COO)(L3)]₂ ( 3 ), and [Zn{Zn(C₃H₄N₂)(L3)}₂(NO₃)](NO₃) ( 4 ) (where L1 = 2‐[(pyridin‐2‐ylmethylimino)methyl]phenol, L2 = 1‐[(pyridin‐2‐ylmethylimino)methyl]naphthalen‐2‐ol, and L3 = bis(salicylidene)‐1, 3‐propanediamine), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, infrared spectroscopy, and single crystal X‐ray determinations. Both 1 and 2 are structurally similar di‐nuclear complexes, which are located at crystallographic inversion centers (with the center of the central Cu₂N₂ ring). In 1 , each copper atom has a slightly distorted square pyramidal configuration, coordinated by two nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom from L1 and another two terminal nitrogen atoms from two bridging thiocyanate anions. The Cu···Cu separation is 3.466(3) Å. The structure of 2 is similar to that of 1 , with Cu···Cu separation of 3.368(2) Å. Both 3 and 4 are linear tri‐nuclear complexes. In 3 , the central Cu²⁺ ion is located on an inversion centre and has a distorted octahedral coordination involving four bridging O atoms from two Schiff base ligands (L3) in the equatorial plane and one O atom from each bridging acetate group in the axial positions. The coordination around the terminal Cu²⁺ ions is irregular‐square pyramidal, with two O and two N atoms of L3 in the basal plane and one O atom from an acetate group in the apical position. The acetate bridges linking the central and terminal Cu²⁺ ions are mutually trans. The Cu···Cu separation is 3.009(3) Å. In 4 , the coordination configuration of the central and the terminal zinc atoms are similar to that of the 3 , with Zn···Zn separation of 3.153(4) Å. The three Schiff bases and the corresponding three copper complexes exhibit good antibacterial properties, while the zinc complex 4 has nearly no.     

Biomolecular docking,antimicrobial and cytotoxic studies on new bidentate schiff base ligand derived metal (II) complexes

Three new metal complexes [Cu(L)₂] (1), [Co(L)₂] (2) and [Zn(L)₂] (3) have been prepared by the reaction of hydrated salts of metal (II) acetate with new Schiff base ligand HL, [2‐((4‐(dimethylamino)phenylimino)methyl)‐4,6‐di‐t‐butylphenol] and characterized by different physico‐chemical analyses such as elemental analysis, single XRD, ¹H NMR, FTIR and UV–Vis spectroscopic techniques. Their biomolecular docking, antimicrobial and cytotoxicity studies have also been demonstrated. The proposed structure of Schiff base ligand HL and complex 2 are confirmed by Single crystal X‐ray crystallography study. This analysis revealed that metal (II) complexes remain in distorted tetrahedral coordination environments. The electronic properties such as HOMO and LUMO energies are carried out by gaseous phase DFT/B3LYP calculations using Gaussian 09 program. Complex 1 showed a good binding propensity to the DNA and HSA, during the assessment of docking studies. Schiff base ligand HL and its metal (II) complexes, 1–3 screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activities using the disc diffusion method against selected microbes. Complex 1 shows higher antimicrobial activity than complexes 2, 3 and Schiff base ligand HL. According to the results obtained from the cytotoxic studies, Schiff base ligand HL and its metal (II) complexes 1–3 have better cytotoxicity against MCF‐7 cell lines with potency higher than the currently used chemotherapeutic agent cyclophosphamide.     

Synthesis,characterization and crystal structures of a pair of azido-bridged polynuclear Schiff base copper(II) complexes with urease inhibitory activity

A pair of azido-bridged Schiff base copper complexes, [CuL1(μ_1,3-N₃)] _n · nClO₄ (1) and [Cu₂(L2)₂(μ _1,1-N₃)₂] · 2ClO₄ (2) (L1 = N,N-diethyl-N′-(1-pyridin-2-ylmethylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine, L2 = N-isopropyl-N′-(1-pyridin-2-ylmethylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine) have been obtained by the same synthetic procedures, but with slightly different Schiff bases. The structures of the complexes have been characterized by IR spectra, elemental analysis, and single crystal X-ray determination. Each Cu atom in the complexes is five-coordinate in a square pyramidal configuration involving the three N atoms of the Schiff base ligand and two N atoms from two bridging azide ligands. The azide ligands adopt end-to-end bridging mode in (1), and end-on bridging mode in (2). The different coordination modes of the azide ligands in the two complexes are assigned to the steric effects of the terminal groups (two ethyl groups for (1) and one isopropyl group for (2)) in the Schiff base ligands. The urease inhibitory activities of the complexes were evaluated. Both of them showed potent inhibition against jack bean urease. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Rhenium(V) complexes with Schiff bases: Synthesis and reaction mechanisms

Summary Some isomers of the ReOX₂LPPh₃ complexes [X = Cl or Br and L =N-methylsalicylideneiminate,N-phenylsalicylideneiminate, halfN,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminate) or 8-hydroxyquinolinate] have been synthesized and characterized. Two different mechanisms for reaction of thetrans-ReOX₃(PPh₃)₂ complexes (X = Cl or Br) with the Schiff bases are supported by qualitative studies on such parameters as the Schiff base ligand form, concentration of free triphenylphosphine ligand, reaction solvent and temperature.     

Preparation,characterization and antifungal properties of nickel(II) complexes of tridentate ONS ligands derived from N-methyl-S-methyldithiocarbazate and the X-ray crystal structure of the [Ni(ONMeS)CN]·H2O complex

Nickel(II) complexes of general empirical formula, NiLX·nH₂O (L = deprotonated form of the Schiff base formed by condensation of N-methyl-S-methyldithiocarbazate with 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde or 5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde; X = Cl^–, Br^–, NCS^–, AcO^– or CN^–; n = 0, 1) have been prepared and characterized by a variety of physico-chemical techniques. Magnetic and spectroscopic data support a square-planar structure for these complexes. The crystal structure of the [Ni(ONMeS)CN]·H₂O complex (ONMeS = anionic form of the 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde Schiff base of N-methyl-S-methyldithiocarbazate) has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The complex has a distorted square-planar structure in which the Schiff base is coordinated to the nickel(II) ion as a uninegatively charged anion coordinating via the phenolic oxygen atom, the azomethine nitrogen atom and the thione sulfur atom. The fourth coordination position is occupied by a cayano ligand. The antifungal properties of the Schiff bases and their nickel(II) complexes were studied against three plant pathogenic fungi. The ligands display moderate fungitoxicities against these organisms but their nickel(II) complexes are less active than the free ligands.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Crystal Structure of Mononuclear and Dinuclear Dioxomolybdenum(VI) Complexes with Tridentate Schiff‐base Ligands. Part 2

Mononuclear [MoO₂LD], and dinuclear [MoO₂L]₂ or [MoO₂L]₂ · D dixomolybdenum(VI) complexes have been prepared by the reaction of tridentate Schiff‐base ligands L with [MoO₂(acac)₂]. The Schiff‐base ligands have been synthesized from salicylaldehyde ( 1 , 1a , 1c , 1d ), 2‐hydroxy‐1‐naphthaldehyde ( 2 , 2c ) and 2‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxybenzaldehyde ( 3a , 3b , 3c , 3d , 3e ) with 2‐amino‐p‐cresol. All prepared complexes consist of cis‐MoO₂²⁺core coordinated by Schiff‐base ligand through two deprotonated hydroxyl groups and one imino nitrogen atom. The usual octahedral coordination around the molybdenum atoms is completed by the neutral ligand D (methanol, ethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, imidazole or 4, 4′‐bipyridine). All compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy and some of them by X‐ray crystallography ( 1a , 2c , 3a , 3b , 3c and 3e ).     

Preparation,spectral characterization,electrochemistry, EXAFS,antibacterial and catalytic activity of new ruthenium (III) complexes containing ONS donor ligands with triphenylphosphine/arsine

New hexa‐coordinated ruthenium (III) complexes of the type [RuX(EPh₃)₂(L)] (X = Cl or Br; L = dibasic tridentate Schiff base ligand; E = P or As) have been synthesized by the reactions of [RuCl₃(PPh₃)₃], [RuCl₃(AsPh₃)₃] or [RuBr₃(AsPh₃)₃] with the appropriate Schiff base ligands derived by the condensation of salicylaldehyde and 2‐hydroxy‐1‐naphthaldehyde with N(4) substituted thiosemicarbazones. All the new complexes were characterized using various physico‐chemical methods such as elemental analyses, infrared, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, magnetic moment and cyclic voltammetry. Based on the extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis, an octahedral structure has been confirmed for the complexes. The new complexes have been subjected to the catalytic activity and antibacterial studies. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Schiff base supported mononuclear organotin(IV) complexes: Syntheses,structures and fluorescence cell imaging

Three mononuclear organotin(IV) complexes supported by Schiff bases have been synthesized. The complexes [(C₆H₅)₂Sn(L)] ( 1 ), [(t‐Bu)₂Sn(L)] ( 2 ) and [(t‐Bu)₂Sn(L')] ( 3 ) (L, L' = deprotonated Schiff bases) were obtained in good yield by the reaction of Schiff bases H ₂ L or H ₂ L′ with corresponding diorganotin dichlorides respectively. All newly synthesized complexes were characterized by means of FT‐IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) NMR spectroscopy. In addition, single crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses were employed to establish the solid state molecular structures of these complexes. The structures of 1 – 3 reveal that all complexes are mononuclear with a five‐coordinated tin(IV) centre in it. The absorption and emission properties of all complexes have been investigated. Moreover, cytotoxicity and fluorescence cell imaging studies of theses complexes have been performed.     

Catalytic and antimicrobial activities of new ruthenium(II) unsymmetrical Schiff base complexes

Hexa-coordinated ruthenium(II) complexes of the type [Ru(CO)(PPh₃)(Z)(L)] [Z = PPh₃, pyridine (py) or piperidine (pip); L = anion of the Schiff base] have been prepared by reacting [RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂(Z)] with tridentate Schiff bases derived by condensing anthranilic acid with acetylacetone, salicylaldehyde, o-vanillin and o-hydroxyacetophenone. The complexes were characterised by analytical and spectral (i.r., electronic, ¹H- and ³¹P-n.m.r.) data, and were found to be effective catalysts for oxidising primary alcohols to aldehydes in the presence of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMO) as co-oxidant. The Schiff bases and their ruthenium(II) complexes show growth inhibitory activity against pathogenic fungi Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporium and Rhizoctonia solani.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes incorporating tridentate Schiff base ligands: synthesis,spectroscopic, redox,catalytic and biological properties

A series of new diamagnetic ruthenium(II) complexes of the type [RuCl(CO)(B)(L)] (where B = PPh₃, AsPh₃ or Py; L = monobasic tridentate Schiff base ligands derived from o‐aminophenol or o‐aminothiophenol with ethylacetoacetate or ethylbenzoylacetate) have been synthesized and these complexes were characterized by physico‐chemical and spectroscopic methods. Cyclic voltammograms of all the complexes show quasi‐reversible oxidation in the range 0.24–1.05 V and the quasi‐reversible reduction in the range ? 0.14 to ? 0.51 V. The observed redox potentials show little variation with respect to the replacement of triphenyl phosphine/arsine by pyridine. The complexes were tested as catalysts in the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols using molecular oxygen at room temperature and also in C? C coupling reactions. Further, the antibacterial properties of the free ligands and their metal complexes were evaluated against certain bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New diorganotin(IV) complexes of Schiff base derived from 4‐amino‐3‐hydrazino‐5‐mercapto‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole: Synthesis,structural characterization,density functional theory studies,atoms‐in‐molecules analysis and antifungal activity

New diorganotin(IV) complexes of a Schiff base (HL) having general formula R₂Sn(L)Cl (where L is the monoanion of HL and R = n‐Bu or Ph) have been synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, infrared, NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) and UV–visible spectroscopies and mass spectrometry. These investigations suggest that in these 1:1 monomeric derivatives the Schiff base ligand acts in a monoanionic bidentate manner coordinating through the O_phenolic and N_azomethine, with proposed distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry around tin with O_phenolic and two organic groups in the equatorial plane and the N_azomethine and the third organic group in axial positions. The proposed structures have been validated by density functional theory (DFT)‐based quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p)/Def2‐SVP (Sn) level of theory. The simulated UV–visible spectrum was obtained with the time‐dependent DFT method in the gas phase and in the solvent field with the integral equation formalism–polarizable continuum model. A comparative analysis of the experimental vibrational frequencies and simulated harmonic frequencies indicates a good correlation between them. An insight into the intramolecular bonding and interactions among bonds in organotin(IV) complexes of HL was obtained by means of natural bond orbital analysis. The topological and energetic properties of the electron density distribution for the tin–ligand interaction in R₂Sn(L)Cl have been theoretically calculated at the bonds around the central tin atom in terms of atoms‐in‐molecules theory. The R₂Sn(L)Cl complexes were screened for their in vitro antifungal activity against chosen fungal strains.     

Syntheses,crystal structures,and antibacterial activities of manganese(III), nickel(II), and copper(II) complexes containing a tetradentate Schiff base

Three new mononuclear Schiff-base complexes, namely [Mn(L)Cl] (1), [Ni(L)] (2), and [Cu(L)] (3), where L?=?anion of [N,N′-bis(2-hydroxybenzophenylidene)]propane-1,2-diamine, have been synthesized by reacting equimolar amounts of the respective metal chloride and the tetradentate Schiff base, H₂L, in methanol. The complexes have been characterized by microanalytical, spectroscopic, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and other physicochemical studies. Structural studies reveal that 1 adopts a distorted square-pyramidal geometry whereas 2 and 3 are isotypic with distorted square-planar geometries. The antibacterial activities of 1–3 along with their Schiff base have been tested against some Gram(+) and Gram(?) bacteria.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes containing bidentate Schiff bases and their antifungal activity

The reactions of ruthenium(II) complexes, [RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂(B)] [B = PPh₃, pyridine (py) or piperidine (pip)], with bidentate Schiff base ligands derived by condensing salicylaldehyde with aniline, o-, m- or p-toluidine have been carried out. The products were characterised by analytical, i.r., electronic, ¹H-n.m.r. and ³¹P-n.m.r. spectral studies and are formulated as [RuCl(CO)(L)(PPh₃)(B)] (L = Schiff base anion; B = PPh₃, py or pip). An octahedral structure has been tentatively proposed for the new complexes. The Schiff bases and the new complexes were tested in vitro to evaluate their activity against the fungus Aspergillus flavus.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Crystal Structures of Four Dinuclear Schiff Base Nickel(II) and Copper(II) Complexes with Versatile Bridging Groups

Four novel Schiff base nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes, derived from the end‐on (μ_1,1‐N₃) azide, end‐to‐end (μ_1,3‐NCS) thiocyanate, or phenolate oxygen bridges, have been synthesized and their crystal structures determined by X‐ray diffraction methods. They are the dinuclear double end‐on azide‐bridged [Ni₂(L1)₂(MeCN)₂(μ_1,1‐N₃)₂]·MeOH ( 1 ), the dinuclear double end‐on azide‐bridged [Ni₂(L2)₂(MeOH)₂(μ_1,1‐N₃)₂][Ni₂(L2)₂(OH₂)₂(μ_1,1‐N₃)₂]·MeOH ( 2 ), the dinuclear double end‐to‐end thiocyanate‐bridged [Cu₂(L3)₂(μ_1,3‐NCS)₂] ( 3 ), and the dinuclear double phenolate O‐bridged [Cu₂(L4)₂(NCS)₂] ( 4 ), where HL1, HL2, HL3 and HL4 are four tridentate Schiff bases obtained by the condensation of 3,5‐dibromosalicylaldehyde with N‐ethylethane‐1,2‐diamine, of 3,5‐dichlorosalicylaldehyde with N‐methylpropane‐1,3‐diamine, of 3‐bromo‐5‐chlorosalicylaldehyde with 2‐aminomethylpyridine, and of 5‐nitrosalicylaldehyde with 2‐aminomethylpyridine, respectively. Each nickel(II) atom in 1 and 2 is in an octahedral coordination, while each copper(II) atom in 3 and 4 is in a square pyramidal coordination. There exists crystallographic inversion centre symmetry in each of the complexes.     

Synthesis,Structures and Magnetic Properties of Cyano‐bridged FeIII/MnIII Heterobimetallic 1D Chain Complexes

Using the tricyanometalate building block, (nBu₄N)[(Tp*)Fe(CN)₃] [Bu₄N⁺ = tetrabutylammonium cation; Tp*^– = hydrotris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)borate], and bidentate Schiff base ligands, HL1 or HL2 {HL1 = 2‐[[(2‐phenylethyl)imino]methyl]phenol; HL2 = 4‐methoxy‐2‐[[(2‐phenylethyl)imino]methyl]phenol}, two heterobimetallic one‐dimensional (1D) chain complexes, [Mn(L1)₂Fe(Tp*)(CN)₃]_n ( 1 ) and [Mn(L2)₂Fe(Tp*)(CN)₃]_n ( 2 ), were synthesized. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction reveal the formation of neutral cyano‐bridged zigzag single chains in 1 and 2 . Magnetic studies demonstrate that both complexes show ferromagnetic interactions between central Fe^III and Mn^III atoms.     

Coordination compounds of some transition metal ions with new Schiff base ligand derived from dibenzoyl methane. Structural characterization,thermal behavior,molecular structure,antimicrobial, anticancer activity and molecular docking studies

Series of Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes were prepared with tetradentate Schiff base ligand derived by condensation of 2‐aminophenol with dibenzoylmethane. The novel Schiff base H₂L (2–2′‐((1Z,1Z’)‐(1,3‐diphenyl propane‐1,3 diylidene) bis (azanylylidene) diphenol) and its binary metal complexes were characterized by physicochemical procedures i.e. elemental analysis, FT‐IR, UV–Vis, thermal analyses (TGA/DTG), mass spectrometry, magnetic susceptibility and conductometric measurements. On the basis of these studies, an octahedral geometry for all these complexes was proposed expect Ni(II) complex which had tetrahedral geometry. Molar conductivity values revealed that the complexes were electrolytes except Mn(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes were non electrolytes. The ligand bound to the metal ions via two azomethine N and two phenolic OH as indicated from the IR and ¹H NMR spectral study. The molecular and electronic structures of H₂L and its zinc complex were optimized theoretically and the quantum chemical parameters were calculated. The antimicrobial activity against a number of bacterial organisms as Streptococcus pneumonia, Bacillus Subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli and fungi as Aspergillus fumigates, Syncephalastrum racemosum, Geotricum candidum and Candida albicans by disk diffusion method were screened for the Schiff base and its complexes. The Cd(II) complex has potent antimicrobial activity. Anticancer activity of the Schiff base ligand and its metal complexes were evaluated in human cancer (MCF‐7 cells viability). The Cr(III) complex exhibited higher activity than other complexes and ligand. Molecular docking was used to predict the binding between Schiff base ligand (H₂L) and its Zn(II) complex and the receptors of RNA of amikacin antibiotic (4P20) and human‐DNA‐Topo I complex (1SC7). The docking study provided useful structural information for inhibition studies.