Synthesis, characterization, and biological activities of ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes containing bifunctional tridentate Schiff bases

Ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes have been synthesised by reacting [RuH2(CO )(PPh3)(3)] or [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)(2)(Z)] (Z = PPh3, pyridine (py) or piperidi ne (pip)) with tridentate Schiff base ligands derived by condensing salicyl aldehyde, o-vanillin or o-hydroxyacetophenone with N(4)-phenylsemi-carbazid e. These complexes have been characterised by analytical, IR, electronic, H -1 NMR and P-31 NMR spectral studies. The complexes of the general formula [Ru(L) (CO)(PPh3)(Z)] (L = Schiff base anion; Z = PPh3, py or pip) tentativ ely have been assigned an octahedral structure. Some of the complexes have been tested for in vitro growth inhibitory activity against the bacteria Es cherichia coli, Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp.