Synthesis,characterization, and biological properties of Ni(II), Co(II), and Cu(II) complexes of Schiff bases derived from 4-aminobenzylamine

New Schiff bases, N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-4-aminobenzylamine (H₂L¹), N,N′-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-4-aminobenzylamine (H₂L²), and N,N′-bis(4-hydroxysalicylidene)-4-aminobenzylamine (H₂L³), with their nickel(II), cobalt(II), and copper(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, electronic absorption, FT-IR, magnetic susceptibility, and conductance measurements. For the ligands, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and mass spectra were obtained. The tetradentate ligands coordinate to the metal ions through the phenolic oxygen and azomethine nitrogens. The keto-enol tautomeric forms of the Schiff bases H₂L¹, H₂L², and H₂L³ have been investigated in polar and apolar solvents. All compounds were non-electrolytes in DMSO (～10^?3 M) according to the conductance measurements. Antimicrobial activities of the Schiff bases and their complexes have been tested against Acinobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus megaterium, Corynebacterium xerosis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Rhodotorula rubra, and Kluyveromyces marxianus by the disc diffusion method; biological activity increases on complexation.