The in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of metal complexes derived from 1,8-diaminonaphthalene and 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione were evaluated. The complexes were synthesized by template method in the presence of trivalent metal salts, resulting in the formation of tetraaza macrocyclic complexes of the type [M(C36H36N4)X] X2, where M = Fe(III) and X = Cl-, NO3-, CH3COO-. The synthesized complexes were characterized with the aid of elemental analyses, molar conductance measurements, magnetic susceptibility measurements, electronic, IR, mass and powder XRD studies. Based on various studies, a five-coordinated square pyramidal geometry was proposed for these complexes. The X-ray diffraction studies suggest a monoclinic crystal system for the complexes. (C) 2014 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.