Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of copper-, cobalt- and nickel(II) complexes with Schiff bases

A few complexes of Cu^II, Co^II and Ni^II have been prepared by reacting their metal(II) chlorides with 3-(4′-phenylthiazole-2′-yl)1-(2′-hydroxy-1′ -iminomethylphenly)urea and with 3-(4′-phenylthiazole-2′ -yl)-1-(2′,4′-dihydroxy/2′-hydroxy-5′-chloro-1′ -methyliminomethylphenyl)ureas (Schiff hases) in ethanol medium. The chelates are coloured solids and non-electrolytes of the type ML₂. The IR spectra of the ligands and complexes suggest involvement of o-hydroxy group, carbonyl group, azomethine group in bonding through oxygen and nitrogen atoms respectively. The electronic spectra and magnetic data suggest the octahedral stereochemistry for all the complexes in which metal(II) ion exhibits coordination number six. The ligands and complexes have been tested for their antimicrobial activity.