Cobalt(ii) and Nickel(ii) Complexes of a Schiff Base: Synthesis, Characterisation and Antimicrobial Investigations

Four transition metal complexes, [Co(H2L)2Cl2] (1) [Co(H2L)2NO3]NO3 (2) [Ni(H2L)2Cl2] (3) and [Ni(H2L)2NO3]NO3 (4) were synthesized from the Schiff base, 5-[{(2-hydroxyphenyl)imino}methyl]-6-methoxy phenol(H2L). The characterization study of all the complexes was done using elemental studies, molar conductance measurements, magnetic moment studies, FT-IR, 1H NMR, Electronic spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and PXRD. The antimicrobial screening of H2L and the metal complexes was conducted in-vitro against gram-negative bacteria like Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus; gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and the fungi Aspergillus niger and Trichophyton tonsurans. Complexation was found to increase the biocidal activity of the ligand towards all microorganisms.