A new series of binuclear Schiff base Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Mn(II) complexes have been synthesized with Schiff base derived from o-phthalaldehyde and pchloroaniline. The chelation of the metal complexes has been proposed in the light of analytical, spectral (IR, UV–Vis), magnetic, 1H NMR and ESR studies. These data reveals that the Schiff base complexes exhibit the hexa-coordinated geometry. The Schiff base and their metal complexes have been screened for their antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The results of these studies show the metal complexes to be more antibacterial and more significant antioxidant as compared to free Schiff base ligand. All the metal complexes cleave the pUC18DNA in presence of H2O2.