Effect of metal ions on the antimicrobial activity of 5-sulphosalicylic acid.

Bis-(5-sulphosalicylato)-diaquo chelates of VO(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Fe(II) and Mn(II) exerted antifungal activities. The chelates have been characterised for elemental, thermal and infra-red spectral studies and were found to be more fungicidal than the chelating agent. The antifungal activity was found to be in the order: Cu(II) congruent to Ni(II) greater than Co(II) greater than Fe(II) greater than Mn(II) greater than VO(II).