Abstract
A series of some novel N-3,N-3'-bis(disubstituted)isophthalyl-bis(thioureas) and N-3,N-3,N-3',N-3'-Tetrakis(disubstituted)isophthalyl-bis(thioureas) compounds with general formula [C6H4{CONHCSNR1R}(2)], where R-1 = H (1-4), C6H11(5), C6H5(6) and R-2 = 4-NO2C6H4(1), C6H11(2), 2,4(CH3)(2)C6H3(3), C5H4N(4), C6H11(5), C6H5(6), and their Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes have been synthesized. (L-1-L-6) have been synthesized in good to excellent yields by reaction of isophthaloyl isothiocyanate with primary and secondary amines using dry acetone as solvent. The stoichiometric reaction between the metal (II) ion and synthesized ligands in molar ratio of M : L (1 : 1) resulted in the formation of the metal complexes of type [ML](2) (where M = Cu(II) and Ni(II). These compounds (L-1-L-6) and their metal (II) complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, Infrared spectroscopy, H-1-NMR spectroscopy, magnetic moments, and electronic spectral measurements. These compounds (L-1-L-6) and their metal (II) complexes were also screened for their antibacterial activity against bacterial species, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, S. sonii, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeroginosa. Some compounds showed potential activity against some bacterial strains than others. The results of these studies also show the metal (II) complexes to be more antibacterial against one or more species as compared to the uncomplexed ligands. It was concluded that these compounds may be a potential source of active antibacterial agents.