SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIBACTERIAL STUDIES OF SOME METAL COMPLEXES WITH THE SCHIFF BASE OF A HETEROCYCLIC ALDEHYDE

Metal complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) with a new Schiff base derived from 3-aminodibenzofuran and 2-furancarboxaldehyde are reported. The complexes have been characterized using chemical analysis, spectroscopic methods (IR, UV-vis, 1H NMR and ESR), conductometric and magnetic data. According to these data, we propose an octahedral geometry for Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes and a tetrahedral geometry for Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) complexes. Antibacterial activity of the ligand and its complexes were studied against selected bacteria: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It has been found that all the complexes are antimicrobially active and show higher activity than the free ligand.KEY WORDS: Schiff base, Metal complexes, Antibacterial activityBull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2009, 23(1), 63-68.