Synthesis, characterization and microbiocidal studies of novel ionic liquid tagged Schiff bases

The synthesis of novel imidazolium ionic liquid, tagged Schiff, has been described. The synthesis was achieved in three steps from 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde by selective alkylation with 1,3-dibromopropane, followed by reaction with 1-methylimidazole and Schiff base formation with aromatic amines. The compounds were evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activities. The ionic liquid tagged Schiff base 4a showed the inhibition of both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. It also showed broad spectrum antifungal activity against all four tested fungi; however, 4f showed highest antifungal activity against A. niger.