Palladium(II) complexes bearing N,O-bidentate Schiff base ligands: Experimental, in-silico, antibacterial, and catalytic properties

•New Pd(II) azomethine complexes were synthesized by reacting Pd(OAc)2 with N,O-bidentate ligands at 1:2 molar ratio, and characterized using physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques.•The crystal structure of a Pd(II) complex was elucidated by single X-ray diffraction.•Electronic and structural parameters of the complex were studied in gas phase and PCM using B3LYP/LANL2DZ method.•Hirshfeld surface and and ESP was explained using Crystal Explorer.•Antibacterial results revealed the complex exhibited higher activity than the ligand.•The Pd(II) complex with electron donating groups showed better catalytic activity.