Chalcone-derived thiosemicarbazones and their zinc(II) and gallium(III) complexes: spectral studies and antimicrobial activity

Chalcone-derived 3-phenyl-1-pyridin-2-ylprop-2-en-1-one thiosemicarbazone (HPyCTPh) (1), 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-pyridin-2-ylprop-2-en-1-one thiosemicarbazone (HPyCT4ClPh) (2), 3-(4-bromophenyl)-1-pyridin-2-ylprop-2-en-1-one thiosemicarbazone (HPyCT4BrPh) (3), and 3-(4-nitrophenyl-1-pyridin-2-ylprop-2-en-1-one thiosemicarbazone (HPyCT4NO₂Ph) (4) were obtained as well as their gallium(III) and zinc(II) complexes [Ga(PyCTPh)₂]NO₃ (Ga1), [Ga(PyCT4ClPh)₂]NO₃ (Ga2), [Ga(PyCT4BrPh)₂]NO₃ (Ga3), [Ga(PyCT4NO₂Ph)₂]NO₃ (Ga4), [Zn(PyCTPh)₂] (Zn1), [Zn(PyCT4ClPh)₂] (Zn2), [Zn(PyCT4BrPh)₂] (Zn3), and [Zn(PyCT4NO₂Ph)₂] (Zn4). The chalcones, thiosemicarbazones, and zinc(II) complexes were not active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The thiosemicarbazones proved to be more active than the parent chalcones against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Coordination to zinc(II) resulted in activity improvement of most thiosemicarbazones against S. aureus. Coordination to gallium(III) significantly improved the antimicrobial activity of all thiosemicarbazones against the studied micro-organisms, suggesting this to be an effective strategy for antimicrobial activity enhancement.     

Synthesis,characterization and antimicrobial activity of Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes with N′,N′-bis[(1E)-1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]propanedihydrazide. Crystal structures of two highly solvated bimetallic complexes of Ni(II)

The bimetallic [Ni₂(H₂L2)₂](ClO₄)₄ (1), [Ni₂(HL2)(H₂L2)](ClO₄)₃ (2) and [Zn₂(H₂L2)₂](BF₄)₄ (3) complexes (H₂L2 = N′,N′²-bis[(1E)-1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]propanedihydrazide) were synthesized and characterized. The structure of complexes (1) and (2) was established by X-ray analysis. NMR spectroscopy was used for the characterization of complex (3). The complexes (1) and (2) were obtained from the same synthetic reaction and two crystal types of these complexes have been isolated during the fractional crystallization process.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic characterization,and antimicrobial activities of Ni(II) and Fe(II) complexes with N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-nitrosalicylaldimine

Metal complexes [Ni(HL1)₂H₂O] (1) and [Fe(HL1)₂] (2), where HL1 is the tridentate Schiff base N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-nitrosalicylaldimine, were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by single crystal diffraction at 100?K. Complexes 1 and 2 have a distorted octahedral geometry. The ligand and metal complexes were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities by the disk diffusion, microdilution broth, and single spore culture techniques. Antimicrobial activities of the ligand and its complexes have been tested against 10 bacteria, two yeast, and five filamentous fungi. The ligand and metal complexes were found to be active against all tested micro-organisms.     

Spectral characterization,electrochemical, antimicrobial and cytotoxic studies on new metal(II) complexes containing N2O4 donor hexadentate Schiff base ligand

We report the biological activity of the new Schiff base ligand H₂L (H₂L = 6,6′-((1E,11E)-5,8-dioxa-2,11-diazadodeca-1,11-diene-1,12-diyl)bis(2,4-dichlorophenol)), its derived metal(II) complexes [Cu(L)] (1), [Co(L)] (2), [Ni(L)] (3) and [Zn(L)] (4), along with their structural characterizations by using various analytical and spectroscopic techniques. Electrochemical investigations showed that all of these Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes were reversibly reducible. Although the change of the number of unpaired electrons are different of the metal cations, they have an effect on the redox potentials of the Co(II)/(I), Ni(II)/(I) and Cu(II)/(I) couples. The ¹H NMR and FTIR data concluded that the Schiff base ligand H₂L acts as a hexadentate ligand coordinating with metal(II) ions through the oxygen atoms of the (COC), phenolic (COH) groups and nitrogen atom of the azomethine (CHN) group. UV-Visible absorption spectra studies clearly revealed the octahedral geometry of the prepared metal(II) complexes. Complexes 1 and 4 were found to be efficient in bringing about antimicrobial activities. The proposed mechanism of their antimicrobial activities has been discussed. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed the remarkable cytotoxicity of complex 1 (IC50 = 17 ± 1.3 μg/mL) on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells than Schiff base ligand H₂L and complexes 2–4. Moreover, AO/EB staining assay revealed cell death due to apoptosis in MCF-7 cells and the generation of ROS by the Schiff base ligand H₂L and its derived metal(II) complexes 1–4 may be a possible cause for their cytotoxic activity.     

Metal complexes of pyrimidine derived ligands – Syntheses,characterization and X-ray crystal structures of Ni(II), Co(III) and Fe(III) complexes of Schiff base ligands derived from S-methyl/S-benzyl dithiocarbazate and 2-S-methylmercapto-6-methylpyrimidine-4-carbaldehyde

Two new pyrimidine based NNS tridentate Schiff base ligands S-methyl-3-((2-S-methyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidyl)methyl)dithiocarbazate [HL₁] and S-benzyl-3-((2-S-methyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidyl)methyl)dithiocarbazate [HL₂] have been synthesised by the 1:1 condensation of 2-S-methylmercapto-6-methylpyrimidine-4-carbaldehyde and S-methyl/S-benzyl dithiocarbazate. A Ni(II) complex of HL₁ and Co(III) and Fe(III) complexes of HL₂ have been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductivities, magnetic susceptibilities and spectroscopic studies. All the bis-chelate complexes have a distorted octahedral arrangement with an N₄S₂ chromophore around the central metal ion. Each ligand molecule binds the metal ion using the pyrimidyl and azomethine nitrogen and thiolato sulfur atoms (except in the nickel complex, one ligand molecule uses the thione sulfur in lieu of thiolato sulfur atom). In the Ni(II) complex, one of the ligand molecules behaves as a neutral tridentate and the other molecule functions as a uninegative tridentate, whereas in the Co(III) and Fe(III) complexes, the ligand molecules behave as monoanionic tridentate. All the complexes were analyzed by single crystal X-ray diffraction and significant differences concerning the distortion from an octahedral geometry of the coordination environment were observed.     

Potentiometric and antimicrobial studies on the asymmetric Schiff bases and their binuclear Ni(II) and Fe(III) complexes; synthesis and characterization of the complexes

The protonation constants of two nitro-Schiff bases SB¹, SB² and three asymmetric tetradentate diimines H₂L¹, H₂L² and H₂L³ and the stability constants of their ML type binuclear Ni(II) and Fe(III) complexes have been determined potentiometrically. The asymmetric diimines are (2OH) RCHNC₆H₄CHNR′ (2OH) type compounds [where R = R′ = phenyl for H₂L¹; R = naphthyl, R′ = phenyl for H₂L² and R = R′ = naphthyl for H₂L³]. The effect of tautomeric forms on the acid-base properties of the diimines has been investigated and discussed. In addition, dimeric and binuclear Ni(II) and Fe(III) complexes of the diimines have been synthesized and characterized by physical and spectroscopic techniques. Also, in vitro antimicrobial activities of the diimines and the complexes have been evaluated against three bacteria: Micrococcus luteus (NRLL B-4375), Bacillus cereus (RSKK 863), Escherichia coli (ATCC 11230) and the fungus: Candida albicans (ATCC 10239).     

Synthesis,characterization, and biological properties of Ni(II), Co(II), and Cu(II) complexes of Schiff bases derived from 4-aminobenzylamine

New Schiff bases, N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-4-aminobenzylamine (H₂L¹), N,N′-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-4-aminobenzylamine (H₂L²), and N,N′-bis(4-hydroxysalicylidene)-4-aminobenzylamine (H₂L³), with their nickel(II), cobalt(II), and copper(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, electronic absorption, FT-IR, magnetic susceptibility, and conductance measurements. For the ligands, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and mass spectra were obtained. The tetradentate ligands coordinate to the metal ions through the phenolic oxygen and azomethine nitrogens. The keto-enol tautomeric forms of the Schiff bases H₂L¹, H₂L², and H₂L³ have been investigated in polar and apolar solvents. All compounds were non-electrolytes in DMSO (～10^?3 M) according to the conductance measurements. Antimicrobial activities of the Schiff bases and their complexes have been tested against Acinobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus megaterium, Corynebacterium xerosis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Rhodotorula rubra, and Kluyveromyces marxianus by the disc diffusion method; biological activity increases on complexation.     

Synthesis,characterization and antimicrobial activity of a Zn(II) complex with 1-(1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)-ethanone thiosemicarbazone

A new Zn(II) complex with 1-(1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)-ethanone thiosemicarbazone [Zn(NO₃)(H₂O)(C₁₀H₁₁N₅S)]NO₃ was prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The coordination geometry of the pentacoordinated zinc is a distorted square pyramid. The antimicrobial activity of the complex was evaluated using a broth micro-dilution method against a panel of human pathogenic Gram positive, Gram negative bacteria and the yeast Candida albicans. The best inhibitory effect was observed against Enterobacter aerogenes (MIC = 0.031 mg mL^?1).     

Synthesis,characterization, antimicrobial,DNA binding,and oxidative cleavage activities of Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes with 2-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)isoindoline-1,3-dione

(E)-2-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)isoindoline-1,3-dione (Hbid) was prepared by condensation of N-aminophthalimide and salicylaldehyde and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H-NMR, and mass spectral studies. Mononuclear complexes [(phen)Cu^II(μ-Hbid)₂H₂O] (1), [(phen)Co^II(Cl)₂(μ-Hbid)]6H₂O (2) (phen?=?1,10-phenanthroline) and binuclear complexes [Cu^II(μ-Hbid)]₂ (3), and [Co^II(μ-Hbid)]₂ (4) with Hbid were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis, molar conductance, and thermogravimetric (TG) techniques. DNA-binding properties of 1–4 were investigated by UV spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and viscosity measurements. The results suggest that 1 and 2 bind to DNA by partial intercalation, whereas 3 and 4 find different groove-binding sites. The cleavage of these complexes with super coiled pUC19 has been studied using gel electrophoresis; all the complexes displayed chemical nuclease activity in the absence and presence of H₂O₂ via an oxidative mechanism. Complexes 1–4 inhibit the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.     

Synthesis,electrochemical and antimicrobial studies of mono and binuclear iron(III) and oxovanadium(IV) complexes of [ONO] donor tridentate Schiff-base ligands

Tridentate Schiff bases (H₂L¹ or H₂L²) were derived from condensation of acetylacetone and 2-aminophenol or 2-aminobenzoic acid. Binuclear square pyramidal complexes of the type [M₂(L¹)₂]?·?nH₂O (M?=?Fe–Cl, n?=?0; M?=?VO, n?=?1) were accessed from interaction of H₂L¹ with anhydrous FeCl₃ and VOSO₄?·?5H₂O, respectively. A similar reaction with H₂L², however, produced mononuclear complexes [ML²(H₂O) _x ]?·?nH₂O (M=Fe–Cl, x?=?0, n?=?0; M=VO, x?=?1, n?=?1). The compounds were characterized using elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis, and NMR (for ligand only), and mass spectroscopies and solution electrical conductivity studies. Magnetic susceptibility measurements suggest antiferromagnetic exchange in binuclear Fe(III) and VO(IV) complexes. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) provided unambiguous evidence for the presence of coordinated as well as lattice water in [VOL²(H₂O)]?·?H₂O. Cyclic voltammetric studies showed well-defined redox processes corresponding to Fe(III)/Fe(II) and VO(V)/VO(IV). In vitro antimicrobial activities of the compounds were investigated against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Proteus vulgaris. H₂L¹ and its binuclear complexes exhibited pronounced activity against all the microorganisms tested.     

Tetradentate asymmetric Schiff bases and their Ni(II) and Fe(III) complexes

Three asymmetric Schiff-base tetradentate diimines H₂L¹, H₂L², and H₂L³ [(2-OH)C₆H₄N=CHC₆H₄2-N=CHC₆H₃(2-OH)(5-X), X?=?H, CH₃, Cl respectively] have been synthesized by a two step process. The reaction of 2-hydroxy aniline with 2-nitro-benzaldehyde in EtOH gave the starting Schiff base, 2-hydroxy-N-(2-nitrobenzylidene)aniline (SB-NO₂), which was reduced into the amino derivative (SB-NH₂) in solution. Reacting SB-NH₂ with 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-5-chlorobenzaldehyde gave the three new ligands H₂L¹, H₂L², and H₂L³ respectively. Their dimeric, binuclear metal complexes with Ni(II) and Fe(III) have also been synthesized. The ligands and their complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, LC–MS, IR, electronic, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR spectra, TGA, conductivity and magnetic measurements. All of the spectroscopic, analytical and other data indicate octahedral geometry M₂L₂(H₂O)X₂ (M: Ni,Co;X: Cl or H₂O), except for NiL² which is monomeric. Antimicrobial activities of the ligands and the complexes were evaluated against five bacteria. While the ligands and the Ni complexes are inactive towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, Fe complexes are active; only Fe complexes are inactive against Escherichia coli. All of the compounds have antimicrobial activities against Bacillus subtilis, and Yersinia enterecolitica.     

Synthesis,characterization, and antimicrobial properties of two Cu(II) complexes derived from a benzimidazole ligand

Two copper(II) complexes, [Cu(L)₂](ClO₄)₂] and [Cu(L)(bipy)](ClO₄)₂, were prepared and characterized by the spectroscopic and analytic methods, where L is N-butylbenzimidazole and bipy is 2,2′-bipyridine. Single crystals of [Cu(L)(bipy)](ClO₄)₂ suitable for X-ray diffraction study were obtained by slow diffusion of diethyl ether into a DMF solution of the complex and the complex was found to crystallize as [Cu(L)(bipy)](ClO₄)₂·DMF. The asymmetric unit contains one [Cu(L)(bipy)]²⁺, two uncoordinated perchlorates, and one DMF solvate. Coordination geometry around Cu(II) is distorted square pyramidal with τ value of 0.31. Thermal properties of the complexes were examined by thermogravimetric analysis, indicating that the complexes are thermally stable to 310?°C. The metal complexes were screened for their in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus (as Gram(+) bacteria), Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Klebsiella pneumoniae (as Gram(–) bacteria), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida utilis, and Candida albicans (as yeasts). The complexes show antibacterial and antifungal activities against bacteria and yeasts.     

Preparation,characterization, DFT calculations and ethylene oligomerization studies of iron(II) complexes bearing 2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-phenol derivatives

Five 2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-phenol derivatives including 1H (HL₁), 5-chloro-(HL₂), 5-methyl-(HL₃), 5,6-dichloro-(HL₄), and 5,6-dimethyl-(HL₅) were synthesized by the reaction of their corresponding benzene-1,2-diamine precursors and 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde which subsequently was employed in complexation with Fe(II) to prepare complexes C1–C5, respectively. Indeed, in all complexes, the ligands were coordinated as bidentate, via the C=N nitrogen and hydroxy oxygen atom of benzimidazole moiety and phenol ring, respectively. The compounds were characterized by FTIR, UV–vis, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectropscopy, ICP, and elemental analysis (C, H, and N). The purity of these compounds was determined by melting point (m.p )and TLC. The synthesized ligands and complexes were geometrically optimized by Gaussian09 software at B3LYP/TZVP level of theory and satisfactory theoretical–experimental agreement was achieved for analysis of IR data of the compounds. Catalytic behavior of the iron(II) complexes was investigated for ethylene reactivity. On activation with diethylaluminum chloride (Et₂AlCl), iron(II) complex (C4) showed the highest activity (1686 kg oligomers.mol^?1(Fe).h^?1) for ethylene oligomerization when it contains chlorine substituents and exhibits good selectivity for linear 1-butene. The steric and electronic effects of ligands were investigated in detail on the influence of their catalytic activities.     

Physicochemical characterization of Cu(II) complexes with SOD-like activity,theoretical studies and biological assays

The mononuclear Cu(II) complex, [Cu(o-Va)₂(H₂O)₂] (o-HVa = o-vanillin, 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, FTIR, FT-Raman, and electronic spectroscopies and compared with the results obtained for the free ligand. The optimized geometry, the harmonic vibrational frequencies and the electronic transitions of the complex and the ligand were calculated using methods based on the density functional theory. Antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and SOD-mimic activities of the complex were studied and compared with the analogous copper complex with vanillin, [Cu(Va)₂(H₂O)₂]. Stability of the compounds in the essayed solution and with time was determined by means of conductimetric measurements. Their redox behavior was studied by cyclic voltammetry and was compared with that observed for the ligands. The complexes undergo two main reductions and one oxidation processes involving the metal center and the coordinated ligand, respectively.     

Synthesis, spectral and structural studies of 1-ethoxycarbonyl-piperazine-4-carbodithioate and its Co(III), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes

The new complexes [Co(ecpzdtc)₃] (2) [Zn(ecpzdtc)₂(py)] (3) and [Cd(ecpzdtc)₂(py)]·H₂O (4) have been synthesized from sodium 1-ethoxycarbonyl-piperazine-4-carbodithioate [(Na⁺(ecpzdtc)⁻]. The ligand and the complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR, magnetic susceptibility and single crystal X-ray data. The [Zn(ecpzdtc)₂(py)] and [Cd(ecpzdtc)₂(py)]·H₂O complexes contain pyridine as the co-ligand. [Co(ecpzdtc)₃] (2) crystallizes in the monoclinic system, whereas [Zn(ecpzdtc)₂(py)] (3) and [Cd(ecpzdtc)₂(py)]·H₂O (4) crystallize in the triclinic system. The sulfur donor sites of the bidentate ligand chelate the metal center, forming a four-membered CS₂M ring. The cobalt complex has a distorted octahedral geometry, the zinc complex is almost between trigonal bipyramidal and square pyramidal, whereas the cadmium complex is square pyramidal. The crystal structures of all the complexes are stabilized by various types of inter and intramolecular hydrogen bonding.     

The excited states of bipyridyl and phenanthroline complexes of Fe(III), Ru(II) and Ru(III): A molecular orbital study

The semiempirical zero-differential-overlap molecular orbital model which was shown in earlier papers in this series to give a good account of the charge transfer and -* spectra of Fe(II) complexes with conjugated ligands such as 2,2-bipyridyl and 1,10-phenanthroline is extended to complexes having openshell ground states, such as those of Fe(III), and to complexes of Ru(II) and Ru(III). The results are used to assign the observed charge transfer and intra-ligand absorption bands to specific orbital transitions. Observed and calculated intensities are in good agreement: reasons are advanced for the much lower intensity of the charge transfer bands in Ru(III) compared to Ru(II) complexes.     

Synthesis,characterization and antimicrobial activity of 5‐(arylazo)salicylaldimines and their copper(II) complexes

A new series of twelve bidentate Schiff's base ligands (HL^1–12) was synthesized via condensation of 5‐(arylazo)salicylaldehydes with aromatic amines. When the new salicylaldimine derivatives were reacted with copper(II) chloride, the neutral complexes Cu(L^1–12)₂ were obtained. The structure of the copper complexes was established from microanalyses, IR and UV spectra and thermal analyses. The results suggested that the ligands were coordinated to the metal ion in a bidentate manner with ON donor sites of the deprotonated phenolic‐OH and azomethine‐N. The composition of the complexes can be represented as CuL₂. Evaluation of antimicrobial activity for the synthesized compounds was carried out to probe their activity. The compounds were found to have weak antimicrobial activity.     

Synthesis and characterization of violurate-based Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes nano-crystallites as DNA-binders and therapeutics agents against SARS-CoV-2 virus

Synthesis and structural characterization of nano crystallites of bis-violurate-based manganese(II) and copper(II) chelates is the subject of the present study. Analytical data and mass spectra as well as thermal analysis determined the molecular formulas of the present metal chelates. Spectroscopic and magnetic measurements assigned the structural formula of the present violurate metal complexes. The spectroscopic and magnetic investigations along with structural analysis results indicated the square planar geometry of both the Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes. The structural analysis of the synthesized metal complexes was achieved by processing the PXRD data using specialized software Expo 2014. Spectrophotometeric and viscosity measurements showed that violuric acid and its Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes successfully bind to DNA with intrinsic binding constants K_b from 38.2 × 10⁵ to 26.4 × 10⁶ M^?1. The antiviral activity study displayed that the inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of SARS-CoV-2 by violuric acid and its Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes are 84.01, 39.58 and 44.86 μM respectively. Molecular docking calculations were performed on the SARS-CoV-2 virus protein and the computed binding energy values are ?0.8, ?3.860 ?5.187 and ?4.790, kcal/mol for the native ligand, violuric acid and its Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes respectively. Insights into the relationship between structures of the current compounds and their degree of reactivity are discussed.     

Mononuclear Fe(III) and tetranuclear [Fe(III)Gd(III)]2 complexes with a Schiff-base ligand derived from the o-vanillin: Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties

The mononuclear high-spin iron(III) complexes [Fe(3-MeOsalpn)Cl(H₂O)] (1) and [Fe(3-MeOsalpn)(NCS)(H₂O)]·0.5CH₃CN (2) and the tetranuclear oxo-bridged compound [{Fe(3-MeOsalpn)Gd(NO₃)₃}₂(μ-O)]·CH₃CN (3) [3-MeOsalpn²⁻ = N,N′-propylenebis(3-methoxysalicylideneiminate)] have been prepared and magneto-structurally characterised. The iron(III) ion in 1 and 2 is six-coordinated in a somewhat distorted octahedral surrounding with the two phenolate-oxygens and two imine-nitrogens from the Schiff-base building the equatorial plane and a water (1 and 2) and a chloro (1)/thiocyanate-nitrogen (2) in the axial positions. The neutral mononuclear units of 1 and 2 are assembled into centrosymmetric dinuclear motifs through hydrogen bonds between the axially coordinated water molecule of one iron centre and methoxy-oxygen atoms from the Schiff-base of the adjacent iron atom. The values of the intradimer metal-metal distance within the supramolecular dimers are 4.930 (1) and 4.878 Å (2). The tetranuclear of 3 can be described as two {Fe^III(3-MeOsalpn)} units connected through an oxo-bridge, each one hosting a [Gd^III(NO₃)₃] entity in the outer cavity defined by the two phenolate- and two methoxy-oxygen atoms. The values of the intramolecular Fe?Fe and Fe?Gd distances in 3 are 3.502 and 3.606 Å, respectively. The analysis of the magnetic data of 1-3 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K shows the occurrence of weak intermolecular antiferromagnetic interactions in 1 and 2 [J = −0.76 (1) and −0.75 cm⁻¹ (2) with the Hamiltonian defined as H = −JS_Fe1·S_Fe1] whereas two intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions coexist in 3, one very strong between the two iron(III) ions (J₁) through the oxo bridge and the other much weaker between the iron(III) and the Gd(III) ions (J₂) across the double phenoxo oxygens [J₁ = −275 cm⁻¹ and J₂ = −3.25 cm⁻¹, the Hamiltonian being defined as H=-J₁S_Fe1·S_Fe1^′-J₂(S_Fe1·S_Gd1+S_Fe1^′·S_Gd1^′)]. These values are analysed in the light of the structural data and compared with those of related systems.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,DNA/BSA interaction and in vitro antitumor activity of N-heterocycle Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes

Investigation of N-heterocycle transition metal complexes has led to the discovery of metal-based antitumor agents. Herein, two binuclear complexes, [Cu(p-4-bmb)(Ac)₂]₂ (1) and [Co(p-4-bmp)Cl₂]₂ (2), were prepared and characterized. The interactions of 1 and 2 with calf thymus (CT)-DNA and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were detected by absorbance and emission spectroscopy. The complexes bind to CT-DNA via an intercalative mode and show moderate affinity to BSA. Both complexes exhibited remarkable DNA cleavage activity. The MTT assay demonstrated that 1 exhibited higher cytotoxicity against three human alimentary system carcinoma cell lines compared to 2. Further, a cellular uptake assay demonstrated that 1 can accumulate in the nucleus and mitochondria of SMMC7721 cells to induce DNA damage and mitochondrial dysfunction. Fluorescence staining and flow cytometry analyses revealed that 1 can induce cell death by apoptosis. These findings should promote the development of benzimidazole-based transition metal complexes as novel chemotherapy agents with fewer side effects than conventional antitumor drugs.