Transition Metal Complexes Derived From 2-hydroxy-4-(p-tolyldiazenyl)ben-zylidene)-2-(p-tolylamino)acetohydrazide Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Biological Activities

Mononuclear Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Ru(III), and UO2(II) complexes of 2-hydroxy-4-(p-tolyldiazenyl)benzylidene)-2-(p-tolylamino)acetohydrazide (H2L) were prepared by direct method. The ligand and its complexes were isolated in solid state and characterized by analytical techniques such as elemental and thermal analyses, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility measurements and spectroscopic techniques such as UV-Visible, IR, H-1-NMR and C-13-NMR. The spectral data indicated that the ligand acted as neutral/monobasic bidentate or monobasic/dibasic tridentate ligand bonded to the metal ions through the oxygen atom of ketonic or enolic carbonyl group, azomethine nitrogen atom and deprotonated/protonated phenolic oxygen atom forming either tetragonally distorted octahedral or octahedral. Antimicrobial activities of the ligand and its complexes were evaluated against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus niger by well diffusion method. The results of antifungal activity showed that the Fe(III) complex (10) exhibited higher antifungal against Aspergillus niger than the other complexes. However, the results of antibacterial activity revealed that Cu(II) complex (4) is the most active against Escherichia coli while the Cu(II) complex (5) and Fe(III) complex (10) exhibited higher antibacterial effect on Bacillus subtilis than the other complexes.