• Iorungwa, M. S.
  Inorganic/Physical Chemistry Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Nigeria
  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9055-7547




• Asaar, G. B.
  Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo – Nigeria
  




• Iornumbe, E. N.
  Inorganic/Physical Chemistry Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Nigeria
  




• Iorungwa, P. D.
  Inorganic/Physical Chemistry Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Nigeria
  




• Fayomi, O. M.
  Inorganic/Physical Chemistry Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Nigeria
  




• Terhemen, M. I.
  Department of Chemistry, Federal College of Education, Obudu – Nigeria
  

Four complexes of Fe(II) and Ni(II) with2-[(2 -nitrophenylimino) methyl] phenol(L1) and 2-[(4- nitrophenyliminomethyl)] phenol(L2) Schiff bases have been prepared via the microwave assisted method. The ligands and their corresponding complexes were characterized on the basis of physical properties, elemental analysis, MS, FTIR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy and electronic spectra. The FTIR spectra of the complexes showed that the ligands L1 and L2 had bidentate character coordinating through the nitrogen and oxygen atoms. On coordination, results showed that the 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR data of L1 and L2 confirmed the formation of the complexes of Fe(II) and Ni(II). The probable coordination geometries of Fe(II) and Ni(II) were octahedral. All the metal complexes were found to be non-electrolytes in ethanol. Nematicidal studies proved that the ligands and their metals showed appreciable nematicidal properties against the root knot nematode Meloidogyne arenariawith the metal complexes exhibiting higher ability than the free ligands.