Spectral,magnetic, biological,and thermal studies of metal(II) complexes of some unsymmetrical Schiff bases

New nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes with unsymmetrical Schiff bases derived from aromatic 2-hydroxy aldehydes were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, melting points, ¹H-NMR, magnetic susceptibility, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared (IR), and electronic spectral measurements. Comparison of IR spectra of the Schiff bases and their metal complexes indicated that the Schiff bases are tetradentate, coordinated via the two azomethine nitrogens and the two phenolic oxygens. Magnetic moments and electronic spectral data confirm square-planar geometry for the complexes. Thermal studies reveal a general decomposition pattern, whereby the complexes decomposed partially in a single step due to loss of part of the organic moiety. A single endothermic profile, corresponding to melting point, was observed from the DSC of all complexes, except those whose ligand contained the nitro group, which decomposed exothermally without melting. The Schiff bases and their complexes were screened in vitro against 10 human pathogenic bacteria. The metal(II) complexes exhibited higher antibacterial activity than their corresponding Schiff bases.