Synthesis, Characterization and In -Vitro Antimicrobial Activities of a Schiff Base Derived From Benzaldehyde with Nitroaniline and Their Cobalt (II) and Nickel (II) Metal Complexes

Schiff basederived from an equimolar amount of benzaldehyde with P-nitroaniline was synthesized by stirring.The Schiff base was subsequently reacted with cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate and nickel (II) chloride hexahydrade to form the metal complexes.The compounds were characterized using FT-IR, UV-visible, melting point/decomposition and solubility test. The solubility test of the compounds showed that they are soluble in most organic solvents and the melting point of the schiff base ligand was found to be 147.8 oC and the decomposition temperature of the Cobalt (II) and Nickel(II) were found to be 158.8 oC and 157.9 oC for the cobalt(II) and Nickel(II) complexes respectively. The UV and the IR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of complex. The antimicrobial studies of the synthesized ligands and their Cobalt(II) and Nickel(II) metal complexes were carried out in against Candida albican fungal species, Gram positive bacteria Staphylococcusaureus and Gram negative bacteria Eschaerichia coli.The results indicated that the metal complexes were more active than the ligand but less active compared to standard drugs (ciprofloxacin and floconazole).