Synthesis,characterization and biological studies of CoII, NiII, CuII and ZnII complexes of Schiff bases derived from 4-substituted carbostyrils[quinolin2(1H)-ones]

Schiff bases derived from 4-aminomethylcarbostyril and their transition metal complexes with Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II and Zn^II have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibilities electronic, IR, PMR, ESR, FAB-Mass and thermal studies. From the above spectral studies it is concluded that the ligands of 4-substituted carbostyril Schiff bases, viz, salicylidene 4-aminomethylcarbostyril (SAMC); o-vanillinsalicylidene 4-aminomethylcarbostyril (VAMC) and 5′ chlorosalicylidene 4-aminomethylcarbostyril (CSAMC) act as bidenate molecules coordinating through azomethine nitrogen and phenolic oxygen. The ligands and their metal complexes have been screened in vitro for antibacterial, antifungal and antitumor activity. The results indicate that the biological activity increases on complexation. The Cu^II complexes of the above ligands show greater inhibitory action towards the P388/s tumor cells at lower concentrations.