A new series of cadmium(II) complexes with biological active ligands such as niacinamide (L 1 ), isoniazid (L 2 ), purine bases: theophylline (HL 3 ) and theobromine (L 4 ), isoniazid derivatives: isoniazid dithiocarbazate (HL 5 ), S-methyl ester of Isoniazid dithiocarbazate (L 6 ) and S-ethyl ester of Isoniazid dithiocarbazate (L 7 ), of the type Cd(L) 2 I 2 or Cd(L)I 2 or Cd(L) 2 have been synthesized in anhydrous THF. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, conductance measurement, UV-vis, IR, 1 H-NMR, and mass spectral studies. Various kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of these complexes have also been determined using TG/DTA technique. The thermal decomposition techniques indicate the formation of CdS 2 as a residue. The results show that the L 1 , L 3 and L 4 act as unidentate while rest of the ligands act as bidentate, forming a five-member chelate ring with L 2 , four member chelate ring with L 5 , L 6 , L 7 and no chelation in L 1 , L 3 and L 4 . The complexes are 1:1 or 1:2 metal-ligand complexes. In order to assess their antimicrobial activity, the ligands and their corresponding complexes have also been tested in vitro against bacteria (E.coli, P.aeruginosa, S.aureus and K.pneuonia) and fungi (Rhizopus oryza and Aspergillus flavus). All the complexes exhibit remarkable activity and the results provide evidence that the studied complexes might indeed be a potential source of antimicrobial agents.