Thiosemicarbazones and N,N-dimethylthiosemicarbazones derived from acetylpyrazines were prepared; the compounds were tested for antifungal effects on eight strains of fungi and also for antitumor activity against SK-N-MC neuroepithelioma cells; the mechanism of action of the compounds was due, at least in part, to its ability to act as a tridentate ligand that binds metal ions