Copper(II) complexes of the type Cu[Ag(SCN)(2)](2)center dot L (where L is acetophenone benzoyl hydrazone,acetophenone isonicotinoyl hydrazone, acetophenone salicyloyl hydrazone, acetophenone anthraniloyl hydrazone, p-hydroxyl acetophenone benzoylhydrazone, p-hydroxyl acetophenone isonicotinoyl hydrazone, p-hydroxyl acetophenone salicyloyl hydrazone, or p-hydroxyl acetophenone anthraniloyl hydrazone) were synthesized and characterized. All the complexes were polymeric and insoluble in common organic solvent and were nonelectrolytes. The ligands were coordinated through >C = O and >C = N - groups. All the SCN groups present in the complexes acted as bridges between two metal centers, resulting in a polymeric structure of the Lewis acid Cu[Ag(SCN)(2)](2) as well as its complexes. Electronic and electron spin resonance spectra suggested a square planar geometry for the Lewis acid and an elongated tetragonally distorted octahedral geometry for all the complexes. The powder X-ray diffraction parameters for acetophenone salicyloyl hydrazone and p-hydroxyl acetophenone anthraniloyl hydrazone complexes corresponded to orthorhombic and tetragonal crystal lattices, respectively. The complexes showed a fair degree of antifungal activity against Rizoctonia sp., Aspergillus sp., and Stemphylium sp. and moderate antibacterial activity against Clostridium sp. (Gram-positive) and Pseudomonas sp. (Gram-negative). The complexes were more active than the parent ligands. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.