Synthesis and spectral and antibacterial studies of bivalent transition metal ion macrocyclic complexes

A new series of the macrocyclic complexes of type [M(C₁₈H₁₆N₄O₂)X₂], where M = Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and X = Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, CH₃COO₋, has been synthesized by the condensation of succinyldihydrazide with benzil in the presence of bivalent metal ions. The complexes have been characterized with the aid of elemental analyses, conductance measurements, and electronic, NMR, and infrared spectral studies. On the basis of these studies, a six-coordinate distorted octahedral geometry in which two nitrogen and two carbonyl oxygen atoms are suitably placed for coordination toward metal ion has been proposed for all the complexes. The complexes were tested for their in vitro antibacterial activity. Some of the complexes showed remarkable antibacterial activity against some selected bacterial strains.