Synthesis and characterization of Schiff base metal complexes: their antimicrobial, genotoxicity and electrochemical properties

We have synthesized the three Schiff-base ligands H2L1–H2L3 and their CoII, FeIII and RuIII metal complexes. All compounds have been characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods. Oxidation of cyclohexane has been done by the metal complexes in CH3CN using H2O2 and/or t-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) as a co-catalyst. The keto-enol tautomeric forms of the ligands have been studied in polar and non-polar organic solvents. Electrochemical properties of the complexes have been studied at different scan rates. Thermal studies were carried out for the compounds. The ligands H2L1–H2L3 were mutagenic on Salmonella Typhimurium TA 98 strain in the presence and/or absence of S9 mix. While the ligands H2L1 and H2L2 showed mutagenic activity on the strain TA 100 with and without S9 mix, the ligand H2L3 was not mutagenic for TA 100. Antimicrobial activity studies of the compounds have also been carried out.