Ligational behavior of Schiff bases towards transition metal ion and metalation effect on their antibacterial activity

► Synthesis of azomethine Schiff base ligands and their metal complexes. ► Ligands and metal complexes were characterized by (IR, UV-VIS, NMR, ESR, Mass) and TGA. ► In vitro antibacterial activity at different concentrations of compounds were studied. ► Biocidal activity of the metal complexes increased upon coordination with metal ions.