Metal complexes of Schiff base (L) ligand, prepared via condensation of 4- chlorobenzaldehyde and 4- aminoantipyrine, are prepared. The ligand is characterized based on elemental analysis, mass, IR and NMR spectra. Metal complexes are reported and characterized based on elemental analyses, IR, electronic spectra, magnetic moment, molar conductance and cyclic voltammetry (CV). From the elemental analyses, 1:2 [M]:[ligand] complexes are prepared with the general formulae [M(L2)Cl2] (M = Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II)). The IR results demonstrate that the co-ordination sites are the azomethine nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen atoms. The electronic spectral and magnetic measurement data indicate that the complexes exhibit octahedral geometry around the metal center. The in vitro biological screening effects of the synthesized compounds were tested against various microbial species and the results show that the metal complexes are more biological active than the ligand. The DNA cleavage activity of the ligand and its complexes were assayed on pUC18 DNA using gel electrophoresis. The result shows that the Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes have completely cleaved the DNA.