Synthesis, physico-chemical investigations of Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes and their in vitro microbial, cytotoxic, DNA cleavage studies.

A series of metal complexes of cobalt(II), nickel(II), and copper(II) have been synthesized with newly derived biologically active ligands. These ligands were synthesized by the condensation of 2-amino-4-phenyl-1,3-thiazole with 8-formyl-7-hydroxy- 4-methylcoumarin. The probable structure of the complexes has been proposed on the basis of analytical and spectroscopic data (IR, UV-Vis, ESR, FAB-mass, and thermoanalytical). Electrochemical study of the complexes is also reported. Elemental analysis of the complexes confined them to stoichiometry of the type ML(2).2H(2)O [M = Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II)]. The Schiff base and its metal(II) complexes have been screened for their antibacterial (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pyogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and antifungal activities (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Cladosporium) by the MIC method. The brine shrimp bioassay was carried out to study their in vitro cytotoxic properties, and also the Schiff base and its metal(II) complexes have been studied for DNA cleavage.