Schiff bases (SBs) based on amino acid derivative stand for multipurpose ligands that formed by condensing amino acids with carbonyl groups. They are significant in pharmaceutical and medical areas due to their widespread biological actions such as antiseptic, antifungal, along with antitumor actions. Transition metallic complexes resulting from SB ligands with biological activity were extensively experimented in the literature. In this article, we review, in details, about synthesizing and biological performances of SBs along with its complexes.

A Schiff base ligand (L) was synthesized via condensation of N-( 1-naphthyl) ethylenediamine dihydrochloride with phthalaldehyde. The ligand was characterized by FT-IR, UV–Vis, 1H NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis (C, H, N). Five metal complexes (Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II)) were prepared with the ligand in a 1:1 (M:L) ratio using an aqueous ethanol solution. The complexes were characterized by FT-IR, UV–Vis, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis (C, H, N). Additionally, 1H NMR spectroscopy was employed for Cd(II) complex. Antimicrobial activity of the ligand and its metal complexes against pathogenic bacteria (K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis) and fungus (C. albicans) were evaluated

Amoxicillin 1 was treated with thiosemicarbazide and Phosphoryl chloride to obtain a new derivatives that contains 1,3,4-thiadiazole moiety 2. Schiff bases compounds were synthesized by the reaction of compound 2 with different aldehydes such as benzaldehyde and some substituted Benzaldehyde; p-hydroy, p-Chloro, p-Nitro, p-Dimethylamino, p-Methyl, p-Methoxy, p-Ethoxy to give compounds 3a-h. The obtained compounds have tested towards gram -ve and gram +ve bacteria. The compound shows good to moderate result towards the bacteria.

The reaction of [Benzoyl hydrazine] with [Diphenyl mono oxime] and Glacial acetic acid was carried out in methanol gave a new tridentate ligand [Benzoic acid (2- hydroxyimino- 1, 2-diphyneylethylidene) - hydrazide]. This ligand was reacted with some metal ions (Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II)) in methanol with (1:1) metal : ligand ratio to give a series of new complexes of the general formula [M(L)Cl2.H2O], where M= Fe(11), Co(11), Ni(11) and Cu(11) . All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods (I.R, UV-Vis), elemental microanalysis (C.H.N), atomic absorption, magnetic susceptibility, and conductivity measurements. From the obtained data the proposed molecular structures were suggested for the complexes of Fe (II), Co (II)

The reaction of [Benzoyl hydrazine] with [Diphenyl mono oxime] and Glacial acetic acid was carried out in methanol gave a new tridentate ligand [Benzoic acid (2-hydroxyimino- 1, 2-diphyneylethylidene) - hydrazide]. This ligand was reacted with some metal ions (Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II)) in methanol with (1:1) metal : ligand ratio to give a series of new complexes of the general formula [M(L)Cl2.H2O], where M= Fe(11), Co(11), Ni(11) and Cu(11). All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods (I.R, UV-Vis), elemental microanalysis (C.H.N), atomic absorption, magnetic susceptibility, and conductivity measurements. From the obtained data the proposed molecular structures were suggested for the complexes of Fe

The Schiff base (E)-2-(((2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl) phenyl) imino) methyl)-4-methylphenol (Lb) ligand with some metals(II) ion such as; Co, Cu, Cd, and Hg, were synthesis and characterized by the mass and 1 HNMR spectrometry for ligand Schiff base, the fourier-transform infrared spectroscop (FTIR), UV- visible and the flame atomic absorption (AA) spectrum, the CHN analysis, and the chlorine content, in addition to measuring the magnetic sensitivity of the complexes. All the complexes had octahedral geometry. The bioactivity activity for compounds against; Rhizopodium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli showed different efficacy towards these microorganisms