A series of novel 1, 3, 4-oxadiazole analogues was synthesized from cyclization of hydrazones of substituted 1-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-7-methyl-4-oxo-1,8-naphthyridine-3-carbohydrazides were prepared from nalidixic acid. The structures of synthesized oxadiazole derivatives and their copper complexes were elucidated on the basis of FTIR, elemental analyses, 1H-NMR and atomic absorption spectral analysis. It was observed from spectral data that metal ligand ratio was 1:1 in all copper complexes and they were bidentate, coordination was found to be done through oxygen of 4-oxo group and nitrogen of oxadiazole ring. The synthesized compounds were further evaluated with biological activities and compared with parent hydrazones. Copper complexes possess antibacterial and antifungal activities better than the oxadiazoles while they have better antioxidant activity then copper complexes. Parent hydrazones were better in all biological activities than synthesized oxadiazoles.
