A dinuclear copper(II) complex with a newly synthesized tridentate Schiff-base ligand 2-[(2-hydroxy-ethylimino)-methyl]-4,6-diiodo-phenol (HL), of formula [Cu2L2Cl2 · C4H8O] (1), was prepared. Both the ligand and the complex were characterized by X-ray crystallography, confirming that the Schiff base is tridentate and its dinuclear copper(II) complex is five-coordinate from one nitrogen and two oxygens from L and two chlorides. The complex was assayed for antibacterial (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter cloacae) activities by the MTT method. Complex 1 exhibited better antimicrobial activity than the ligand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]