Biologically Important Schiff Bases and Their Transition Metal Complexes

Transition metal complexes with different ligand systems have been developed. Majority of them are derived from heteroaromatic cycles and Schiff bases of variety of aromatic aldehydes, diketones with amino acids, polyamines, N-aromatic cycles and ethylenediamines. Metal complexes of Schiff bases are used as polymers, dyes and in various biological systems. They show antimicrobial activity and can be used as suitable drug to treat bacterial and fungal infections. Most of the Cu, Ni and Co complexes are also capable of binding and cleaving DNA.