Synthesis,characterization, thermal,antimicrobial and antioxidant studies of some transition metal dithiocarbamates

Metal dithiocarbamate complexes of Co(II) [1], Cu(II) [2], Mn(II) [3], Cr(III) [4], and Pd(II) [5] have been synthesized using sodium N-ethyl-N-phenyldithiocarbamate (NaL). The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, FTIR and UV–vis spectroscopic techniques, magnetic moment, molar conductance and thermal analyses (TGA and DSC). The infrared spectra indicated the coordination of dithiocarbamate through the two sulphur atoms in a symmetrical bidentate fashion. The thermal behavior of these complexes showed that the hydrated complexes lost water molecules in the first step, followed by decomposition of the ligand molecules in the final steps. Mass loss considerations at these final decomposition steps indicate conversion of the complexes to sulphides. The antimicrobial potentials of the complexes were evaluated against some selected bacteria strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aureginosa, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus) and fungi organisms (Aspergillus flavus and Fasiparium oxysporium). The compounds showed a broad spectrum of fungicidal and bactericidal activities which exceeds that of the control drugs at a 100 μg/mL concentration. The antioxidant properties of the ligand and its Cu(II) complex were evaluated in vitro using DPPH assay, and the complex was found to exhibit better radical scavenging ability than the free ligand.