Synthesis and spectral studies of chromium(III) and iron(III) complexes of trioxadiazamacrocycles

1+1 Cyclocondensation of 1,13-diamino-4,7,10-trioxatridecane and alpha-diketones such as 2,3-butanedione, 2,3-pentanedione, 2,3-hexanedione, 3,4-hexanedione, 1-phenylpropane-1,2-dione and benzil in the presence of Cr-III and Fe-III as templates afforded macrocyclic complexes of the type [ML(NO3)](NO3)(2) (M = Cr-III, Fe-III and L = 17-membered trioxadiazamacrocycle). These complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductances, magnetic moments, electronic, IR and FAB mass spectral studies. The complexes have been screened for their antibacterial activities against several species of bacteria.