Synthesis and characterisation of some new aluminium derivatives of Schiff bases containing N, O and S donor atoms and the anti fertility activity of the derivative Al[SC6H4N:C(CH3)CH2COCH3]3.

Some new compounds of aluminium having the general formula AI[SC(6)H(4)N:C(R) CH(2) C(O)R'](3) where R = CH(3), R' = CH(3) (1); R' = CH(3), R' = C(6)H(5) (2); R = CF(3), R' = -C = CH - CH = CHS (3); R = CF(3), R' = C(6)H(5) (4) have been synthesised by the reactions of Al(OPr(i))3 and the corresponding ligands in 1:3 molar ratios in benzene. Elemental and spectroscopic (IR, (1)H, (13)C, and (27)AI NMR) characterisation of these monomeric compounds reveals monofunctional bidentate behaviour of ligand moiety and the octahedral geometry around aluminium atom. Compound (1), AI[SC(6)H(4)N:C(CH(3))CH(2)COCH(3)], has been tested for its antifertility activity in male albino rats. The oral administration of this compound at the dose level 6.5 rag/rat/day reduced the weights of testes and epididymides. Significant decrease in sperm motility as well as sperm density resulted in the reduction of male fertility by 100%. Production of primary spermatocytes (preleptotene and pachytene), secondary spermatocytes and step-19 spermatids declined by 56.10%, 44.42 %, 63.35 % and 64.57 % respectively. These results indicate that the administration of compound (1) in male rats brought about an interference with spermatogenesis which ultimately caused infertility.