Abstract

Coordination compounds of glycine and phenylalanine were synthesized, characterized using electronic and infrared spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurement and mass spectrometry. The ligands coordinated to the metal in a bidentate fashion using N and O donor atoms. Square planar geometry is proposed for the Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes based on the results obtained from their characterization. Tetrahedral geometry is however proposed the Cd(II) complexes. The in-vitro biological effect of the synthesized compounds was investigated. The compounds were tested against three gram-negative bacteria, E.coli, P. aeruginosa, P. vulgaris, three gram positive bactria, S. aureus, B. subtilis, MRSA and a fungus C. Albicans. A comparative study of the zones of inhibition observed for the ligand and coordinated synthesized compounds indicated that the synthesized compounds, in some cases, showed higher zones of inhibition than that of the free ligands. It is therefore suggested that increasing the number of chelate rings may increase the lipophilicity of the coordinated complex and therefore its antimicrobial activity.

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