Synthesis, characterization, anticancer and antibacterial evaluation of Schiff base ligands derived from hydrazone and their transition metal complexes

Copper(II), Nickel(II) and Cobalt(III) complexes with Schiff base ligands derived from hydrazone, (HL1 = (E)-N'(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)benzohydrazide, H2L2 = (E)-2-(2 hydroxybenzylidene)hydrazine-1-carboxamide and HL3 = (E)-2-(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)hydrazine-l-carboxamide, were synthesized and spectroscopically characterized by FT-IR, H-1 NMR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and cyclic voltammetry. The synthesized compounds have been screened for their antibacterial activities against the bacterial species E. coli, K. pneumonia (Gram-negative) and S. aureus, B. subtilis (Gram-positive) by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) methods. In vitro anticancer studies of the ligands and coordination compounds (1-3) using MTT assay was also done. Results show that the complexes (1-3) have higher antibacterial and anticancer activities than the respective free ligands.