A series of Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), La(III), Ru(III), Hf(IV), Zr(IV) and U(VI) complexes of phenylamino acetoacetylacetone hydrazone have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV–Vis, magnetic moments, conductances, thermal analyses (DTA and TGA) and ESR measurements. The IR data show that the ligand is neutral bidentate, monobasic bidentate, monobasic tridentate or dibasic tridentate towards the metal ion. Molar conductances in DMF indicate that the complexes are non-electrolytes. The ESR spectra of solid [(L)(HL)Cu₂(NO₃)(H₂O)]·1/2H₂O (10) and [(H₂L)Cu(Cl)₂(H₂O)₂] (11) show axial spectra with g_∥ > g_⊥ > 2.0023 indicating d_{(x² − y²)} ground state with significant covalent bond character. However, [(HL)₂Mn₂(Cl)₂(H₂O)₄·H₂O (13) shows an isotropic spectrum, indicating manganese(II) to be octahedral. Antibacterial and antifungal tests of the ligand and some of its metal complexes revealed that the complexes are more potent bactericides and fungicides than the ligand.

Novel metal(II) complexes derived from 2-hydroxy-N′-((Z)-3-(hydroxyimino)-4-oxopentan-2-ylidene)benzohydrazide ligand (H₂L) were synthesized and characterized by elemental and thermal analyses (DTA and TGA), IR, UV-VIS,¹H-NMR, ESR and mass spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibilities, and conductivities measurements. The complexes adopt distorted octahedral geometry. The ESR spectra of the solid copper(II) complexes are characteristic tod9configuration and have an axial symmetry type of ad(x2-y2)ground state. Thegvalues confirmed the tetragonal octahedral geometry with a considerably ionic or covalent environment. The cytotoxic activity of the ligand and its metal complexes showed potent cytotoxicity effect against growth of human liver cancer HepG2 cell lines compared to the clinically used Sorafenib (Nexavar).

A new azohydrazone, 2-hydroxy-N′-2-hydroxy-5-(phenyldiazenyl)benzohydrazide (H₃L) and its copper(II), nickel(II), cobalt(II), manganese(II), zinc(II), cadmium(II), mercury(II), vanadyl(II), uranyl(II), iron(III), and ruthenium(III) complexes have been prepared and characterized by elemental and thermal analyses as well as spectroscopic techniques (¹H-NMR, IR, UV-Vis, ESR), magnetic, and conductivity measurements. Spectral data showed a neutral bidentate, monobasic bidentate, monobasic tridentate, and dibasic tridentate bonding to metal ions via the carbonyl oxygen in ketonic or enolic form, azomethine nitrogen, and/or deprotonated phenolic hydroxyl oxygen. ESR spectra of solid vanadyl(II) complex (2), copper(II) complexes (3–5), and (7) and manganese(II) complex (10) at room temperature show isotropic spectra, while copper(II) complex (6) shows axial symmetry with covalent character. Biological results show that the ligand is biologically inactive but the complexes exhibit mild effect on Gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis), some octahedral complexes exhibit moderate effect on Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli), and VO(II), Cd(II), UO(II), and Hg(II) complexes show higher effect on Fungus (Aspergillus niger). When compared to previous results, metal complexes of this hydrazone have a mild effect on microorganisms due to the presence of the azo group.