Abstract:
Schiff base ligand and their Metal complex are important compounds owing to their wide
range of biological activities. Metal complexes of Cu(II) and Ni(II)have been synthesized from
the Schiff base ligand, furfural semicarbazone(L), derived from furfural and semicarbazide
hydrogenchloride. Structural features of these complexes were obtained from their elemental
analyses, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance, chloride test, FT-IR, electronic spectra,
1H , 13C NMR and DEPT-135 and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopic studies. The FTIR revealed
that the ligand acts as a bidentate ligand coordinating through the oxygen of the carbonyl
group and nitrogen of the azomethine group. The synthesized complexes showed the
conductivity values of 154.14 and 6.12 S mol-1
cm
2
for [Cu(L)2]Cl2 and [Ni(L)2 Cl2], in DMSO
at 25 0C which confirms the electrolytic and non electrolytic nature of the complexes, respectively.
On the basis of spectral studies and magnetic susceptibility measurements, an octahedral
geometry has been assigned for Ni(II)complex but square planar for Cu(II) complex. Antimicrobial
activity test against bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus
Agalactia, and Salmonella) and fungi (Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxisporium) strains
revealed that the complexes were more bioactive than the corresponding free ligand and less
than the standard drug. Cu (II) complex exhibited higher activity against Aspergillus niger str
ain and Ni(II) complex exhibited higher activity against Escherichia coli strain. The biological activity of the ligand was enhanced when it is complexed with metal ions.
