Studies on coordination chemistry of a nitrogen-sulfur donor ligand with lighter and heavier metal ions and biological activities of its complexes

Complexes of S-benzyldithiocarbazate (SBDTC) with lighter and heavier metal s, viz., Cr-III, Fe-III, Sb-III, Zr-IV, Th-IV and U-VI have been prepared a nd characterized by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, and spec tral studies. The complexes: [Cr(SBDTCA)(3)],** [Fe(SBDTCA)(3)], [Sb(SBDTCA )(3)], [Sb(SBDTCA)(2)Cl . H2O], [Zr(O)(SBDTCA)(2) . H2O], [Th(SBDTCA)(NO3)( 3) . H2O)], and [U(O)(2)(SBDTCA)(2)] were all prepared in alkaline media. T hey were all hexa-coordinated with bidentate, uninegative chelation of the ligand. [Fe(SBDTCA)(3)], [Sb(SBDTCA)(3)] and [Sb(SBDTCA)(2)Cl . H2O] were s trongly effective against bacteria giving clear inhibition zones with Pseud omonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus. The compounds showed poor antifungal activity. The antimony complexes were strongly cytotoxic against leukemic cells with CD50 values of 3.2-6.7 mug cm(-3) as compared to the CD50 value of 14.5 mug cm(-3) of the free SbCl3 molecule.