Pentagonal-bipyramidal isothiocyanato Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes with condensation product of 2,6-diacetylpyridine and trimethylammoniumacetohydrazide (Girard's T reagent) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and UV-Vis spectra, molar conductivity and magnetic susceptibility. Crystal structures of the Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes were also determined. Antimicrobial activities of the ligand and metal complexes were examined.

Pentagonal-bipyramidal Fe(III) complexes with dihydrazone of 2,6-diacetylpyridine and Girard's T reagent have been synthesized and characterized. Cytotoxic activity of Fe(III) complexes and Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes with the same ligand was tested. The best activity was observed in the case of Fe(III), Co(II) and Cd(II) complexes.

Isothiocyanate complexes of Zn(II) and Cd(II) with the condensation product of 2,6diacetylpyridine and trimethylammoniumacetohydrazide (Girard's T reagent) were synthesized, characterized, and their antimicrobial activities were evaluated. The structures of the complexes were determined by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structure of the Zn(II) complex was also determined. Quantum-chemical calculations of the geometry and total energy of isomers of 2,6-diacetylpyridine-bis(trimethylammoniumacetohydrazone) were performed in vacuum and methanol solution, with the aim to explain conformational behavior and E/Z isomerism of this compound. DFT calculations of the molecular structures and the relative stabilities of linkage isomers of the Cd(II) complex showed that the isomer with N-Cd-N coordination of SCNis the most stable. Complexes of Zn(II) and Cd(II) exhibited low-tomoderate activity against the tested microbial strains.