Synthesis, characterization and biological activity of ferrocene-based Schiff base ligands and their metal (II) complexes.

Metal (II) complexes derived from S-benzyl-N-(1-ferrocenyl-3-(4-methylbenzene)acrylketone) dithiocarbazate; HL(1), S-benzyl-N-(1-ferrocenyl-3-(4-chlorobenzene)acrylketone)dithiocarbazate; HL(2), all the compounds were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. The molar conductance data revealed that the chelates were non-electrolytes. IR spectra showed that the Schiff bases were coordinated to the metal ions in a bidentate manner with N, S donor sites. The ligands and their metal complexes have been screened for in vitro antibacterial, antifungal properties. The result of these studies have revealed that zinc (II) complexes 6 and 13 of both the ligands and copper (II) complexes 9 of the HL(2) were observed to be the most active against all bacterial strains, antifungal activity was overall enhanced after complexation of the ligands.