Synthesis,structures, and urease inhibition of nickel(II), zinc(II), and cobalt(II) complexes with similar hydroxy-rich Schiff bases

Four new nickel(II), zinc(II), and cobalt(II) complexes, [Zn(L¹)₂]?·?H₂O (1), [Ni(L¹)₂]?·?H₂O (2), [Ni(L²)₂] (3), and [Co(L³)₂]?·?H₂O (4), derived from hydroxy-rich Schiff bases 2-{[1-(5-chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]amino}-2-methylpropane-1,3-diol (HL¹), 2-{[1-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methylidene]amino}-2-ethylpropane-1,3-diol (HL²), and 2-{[1-(5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]amino}-2-methylpropane-1,3-diol (HL³) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, infrared spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray determination. Each metal in the complexes is six-coordinate in a distorted octahedral coordination. The Schiff bases coordinate to the metal atoms through the imino N, phenolate O, and one hydroxyl O. In the crystal structures of HL¹ and the complexes, molecules are linked through intermolecular O–H···O hydrogen bonds, forming 1-D chains. The urease inhibitory activities of the compounds were evaluated and molecular docking study of the compounds with the Helicobacter pylori urease was performed.