Abstract 2-Methyl-6-(5-H-methyl-chloro-nitro-1 H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-phenols (HL x: x= 1-4) ligands and HL 1 complexes with Fe (NO 3) 3, Cu (NO 3) 2, AgNO 3, Zn (NO 3) 2 have been synthesized and characterized. The structures of the compounds were confirmed on the basis of elemental analysis, molar conductivity, magnetic moment, FT-IR, 1 H-and 13 C- NMR. Antibacterial activity of the free ligands, their hydrochloride salts and the complexes ...