Preparation and characterization of new tetradentate Schiff base metal complexes and biological activity evaluation

A new Schiff base (N,N′-ethylene (bis 1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-4-oxo-7-(piperazine-1-yl)-quinoline-3-carboxylic acid) and its Zn(II), Zr(IV), Ce(IV) and U(VI) complexes were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, IR, UV–Vis, 1H NMR spectra, magnetic moment, thermal analysis as well as mass spectra. The IR results demonstrate that the tetradentate binding mode of the ligand involving azomethine nitrogen and carboxylato oxygen atoms. The calculated bond length and the bond stretching force constant, F(UO), values for UO2 bond are 1.744 Å and 654.49 N m−1. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized ligand and its complexes were screened and the results showed that the metal complexes were found to be more active than free ligand.