Synthesis, characterization and biological activity of ferrocene-based Schiff base ligands and their metal (II) complexes

Metal (II) complexes derived from S-benzyl-N-(1-ferrocenyl-3-(4-methylbenzene)acrylketone) dithiocarbazate; HL1, S-benzyl-N-(1-ferrocenyl-3-(4-chlorobenzene)acrylketone)dithiocarbazate; HL2, all the compounds were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. The molar conductance data revealed that the chelates were non-electrolytes. IR spectra showed that the Schiff bases were coordinated to the metal ions in a bidentate manner with N, S donor sites. The ligands and their metal complexes have been screened for in vitro antibacterial, antifungal properties. The result of these studies have revealed that zinc (II) complexes 6 and 13 of both the ligands and copper (II) complexes 9 of the HL2 were observed to be the most active against all bacterial strains, antifungal activity was overall enhanced after complexation of the ligands.

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► Two novel Schiff bases and its fourteen metal (II) complexes were synthesized.
► The copper (II) complex 9 and zinc (II) complexes 6 and 13 were observed to be the best active against all bacterial strains.
► All metal (II) complexes exhibited better antifungal activity against corresponding ligands.
► The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of zinc (II) complex 6 for Aspergillus niger was 1.319 × 10−8 M.