Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and biological activity of the metal complexes of the Schiff base derived from phenylaminoacetohydrazide and dibenzoylmethane

A new series of mono and binuclear Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), La(III), Ru(III), Hf(IV), ZrO(II) and UO2(II) complexes of phenylaminodibenzoylhydrazone have been synthesized and characterized by elementals analyses, IR UV–vis spectra, magnetic moments, conductances, thermal analyses (DTA and TGA) and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements. The IR spectral data show that, the ligand behaves as a neutral bidentate type (15 and 16), monobasic bidentate type (6), or monobasic tridentate type (5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17–21) or dibasic tridentate type 2–4, 9 and 12 towards the metal ion. Molar conductances in DMF solution indicate that, the complexes are non-electrolytes. The ESR spectra of solid complexes (9 and 10) show axial and non-axial types indicating a d(x2−y2)d(x2−y2) ground state with significant covalent bond character. However, complexes (11 and 12), show isotropic type, indicating manganese(II) octahedral geometry. Antibacterial and antifungal tests of the ligand and its metal complexes are also carried out and it has been observed that the complexes are more potent bactericides and fungicides than the ligand.