A newly synthesized ligand, 5-((1H-indol-1-yl)methyl)quinolin-8-ol (L) was characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, DEPT-135 and IR spectroscopic techniques. The synthesized metal complexes were characterized using elemental analyses, (infrared, electronic and FAB mass) spectra, magnetic measurements and thermogravimetric analyses. Kinetic parameters such as order of reaction (n) and the energy of activation (Ea) are reported using the Freeman–Carroll method. The pre-exponential factor (A), the activation entropy (ΔS#), the activation enthalpy (ΔH#) and the free energy of activation (ΔG#) were calculated. Metal complexes are also screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms.