Abstract. Two Schiff base ligands where prepared from the interaction of ethanolic solutions of 1,3-diethylpropanediote and 1,4 diethylbutanediote with hydrazine hydrate. They were used to form metal complexes with aqueous solutions of uranyl nitrate UO₂(NO₃)₂ and uranyl acetate UO₂(CH₃COO)₂ using a 1:1 metal to ligand ratio. The complexes have been characterized from elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, electronic and IR spectra studies. Elemental analysis of the complexes revealed 1:2 metal to Schiff base ratio. IR data show that the ligands behave as tetradentate ligands coordinating through both carbonyl oxygen and terminal nitrogen atoms. The appearance of a strong band at between 908 to 992cm-1 in the spectra of the uranyl complexes is associated with ν(U=O=O) modes. The acetate ions act as a bridging ion in all the carboxylate complexes. The frequency range for the nitrato complexes between 115-352cm-1 also suggests a bridging mode of coordination The observed electronic spectral bands are charge transfer in origin for the uranyl complexes. The Schiff base ligands and its metal complexes were screened for their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and shigella. It has been found that all the complexes show different activity on the isolates and that the complexes show higher activity than the free ligands.

 
Keywords: 1,3-diethylpropanediote, 1,4-diethylbutanediote, uranyl.