The formation of a Schiff-base with N2O2 donor atoms derived from the hydrazine segment and its metal complexes are reported. The Schiff-base ligand; N’-((1R,2S,4R,5S,Z)-2,4-diphenyl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ylidene)furan-2-carbohydrazide (HL) was prepared from the reaction of furan-2-carbohydrazide with (1R, 2R, 4R, 5S)-2,4-diphenyl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-one (M1) in ethanol medium. The reaction of the title ligand with selected metal ions Cr(III), Mn(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) gave complexes with the general formula [M(L)Cl2], (where: M = Cr(III), Mn(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II)). Spectroscopic analyses Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (1H- and 13C-NMR), mass and electronic spectroscopy and atomic absorption) along with elemental microanalysis (C.H.N), chloride percentage, conductivity measurements, magnetic moments and melting point were used to establish the identity of ligand and complexes. The biological activity of the synthesized compounds towards bacterial strains (G+ and G-) was investigated.

The preparation of the title compound, C26H25N, was achieved by the condensation of an ethanolic mixture of benzaldehyde, cyclohexanone and ammonium acetate in a 2:1:1 molar ratio. There are two crystallographically independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. The two cyclohexyl rings adopt ananti-envelope conformation with the benzyl moiety adopting acisconformation with respect to the nitrogen atom of the phenanthridine segment. In the crystal, molecules are linked through C—H...N interactions into hydrogen-bonded chains that are further arranged into distinct layers by weak offset π–π interactions.

The synthesis of ligands with N2S2 donor sets that include imine, an amide, thioether, thiolate moieties and their metal complexes were achieved. The new Schiff-base ligands; N-(2-((2,4-diphenyl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ylidene)amino)ethyl)-2-((2-mercaptoethyl)thio)-acetamide (H2L1) and N-(2-((2,4-di-p-tolyl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ylidene)amino)ethyl)-2-((2-mercaptoethyl)thio) acetamide (H2L2) were obtained from the reaction of amine precursors with 1,4-dithian-2-one in the presence of triethylamine as a base in the CHCl3 medium. Complexes of the general formula K2[M(Ln)Cl2], (where: M = Mn (II), Co(II) and Ni(II)) and [M(Ln)], (where: M = Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II); n =1-2, expect [Cu(HL2)Cl]) were isolated. The entity of ligands and complexes including their purity were confirmed using elemental microanalysis (C.H.N.S), atomic absorption (A.A), chloride content, conductivity measurement’s, melting point and thermal analysis technique. The molecular structures were elucidated with FT-IR, UV-Vis, magnetic susceptibility, 1H-and 13C-NMR and mass spectroscopy. The synthesised compounds were evaluated for their activity against bacterial strains (G+ and G-) and fungi species. The tested compounds indicated that; the ligands have not shown any antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli. The Cd(II) complexes, for ligands H2L1 and H2L2, display the higher antimicrobial activity, compared with the other complexes. The H2L1 and H2L2 have not shown any activity against Candida albicans. All complexes for ligands (H2L1 and H2L2) exhibited less activity against Candida albicans, compared with other types of fungi.