The nature of metal complexes of heterocyclic thiosemicarbazones reported in the literature through 1989 have been reviewed with an emphasis on variations in stoichiometry and stereochemistry. A brief introduction is followed by a survey of the biological activity of the uncomplexed thiosemicarbazones. Next is a section on the chemical nature of thiosemicarbazones including a discussion of preparative methods, modes of coordination and isomerism. This is followed by a discussion of structural information and biological activity of the iron(III), iron(II), copper(II), cobalt(III), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes of heterocyclic thiosemicarbazones. Short sections on the biological activity of other chelating thiosemicarbazones and metal complexes are also included.

Structural and physical correlations in the biological properties of transition metal heterocyclic thiosemicarbazone and S -alkyldithiocarbazate complexes

Biological activity of palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of the acetone Schiff bases of S-methyl- and S-benzyldithiocarbazate and the X-ray crystal structure of the [Pd(asme)2] (asme=anionic form of the acetone Schiff base of S-methyldithiocarbazate) complex.

Several new complexes of a tridentate ONS Schiff base derived from the condensation of S-benzyldithiocarbazate with salicylaldehyde have been characterised by elemental analyses, molar conductivity measurements and by i.r. and electronic spectra. The Schiff base (HONSH) behaves as a dinegatively charged ligand coordinating through the thiolo sulphur, the azomethine nitrogen and the hydroxyl oxygen. It forms mono-ligand complexes: [M(ONS)X], [M=NiII, CuII, CrIII, SbIII, ZnII, ZrIV or UVI with X = H2O, Cl]. The ligand produced a bis-chelated complex of composition [Th(ONS)2] with ThIV. Square-planar structures are proposed for the NiII and CuII complexes. Antimicrobial tests indicate that the Schiff base and five of the metal complexes of CuII, NiII, UVI, ZnII and SbIII are strongly active against bacteria. NiII and SbIII complexes were the most effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram negative), while the CuII complex proved to be best against Bacillus cereus (gram positive bacteria). Antifungal activities were also noted with the Schiff base and the UVI complex. These compounds showed positive results against Candida albicans fungi, however, none of them were effective against Aspergillus ochraceous fungi. The Schiff base and its zinc and antimony complexes are strongly active against leukemic cells (CD50 = 2.3–4.3 μg cm−3) while the copper, uranium and thorium complexes are moderately active (CD50 = 6.9–9.5 μg cm−3). The nickel, zirconium and chromium complexes were found to be inactive.

Complexes of a tridentate ONS Schiff base. Synthesis and biological properties

Coordination chemistry and bioactivity of some metal complexes containing two isomeric bidentate NS Schiff bases derived from S-benzyldithiocarbazate and the X-ray crystal structures of S-benzyl-β-N-(5-methyl-2-furylmethylene)dithiocarbazate and bis[S-benzyl-β-N-(2-furylmethylketone)dithiocarbazato]cadmium(II)

Synthesis and characterization of cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes of benzyl N-[1-(thiophen-2-yl)ethylidene] hydrazine carbodithioate and benzyl N-[1-(thiophen-3-yl)ethylidene] hydrazine carbodithioate and the X-ray crystal structure of bis{benzyl N-[1-(thiophen-2-yl)ethylidene] hydrazine carbodithioate}nickel(II)

R.N. Bose

Papers

Transition metal complexes of furfural and benzil schiff bases derived from S-benzyldithiocarbazate