Abstract
A new polymeric Schiff base containing formaldehyde and piperazine moieties has been synthesized by condensation of salicylaldimine, formaldehyde and piperazine in alkaline medium; its metal polychelates have also been synthesized with Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) acetate. The synthesized Schiff base and its metal polychelates were characterized by elemental, spectral (IR,
1
H NMR, UV-visible) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Electronic spectra and magnetic moments indicate that Mn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) polychelates show octahedral geometry, while Cu(II) and Zn(II) polychelates show square planar and tetrahedral geometry, respectively. All compounds show excellent anti-bacterial as well as anti-fungal activity against three bacteria and two fungi. The anti-microbial activities were determined by using agar well diffusion method, with 50 µg mL
−1
and 100 µg mL
−1
concentration of each compound tested against the microbes.