Mononuclear dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes with the quinolones enrofloxacin and sparfloxacin: Synthesis,structure, antibacterial activity and interaction with DNA

The neutral mononuclear dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes of the quinolone antibacterial agents enrofloxacin and sparfloxacin have been prepared and characterized with physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. In these complexes, enrofloxacin and sparfloxacin act as bidentate deprotonated ligands bound to the metal through the pyridone oxygen and one carboxylate oxygen. The central molybdenum atoms are six-coordinate with slightly distorted octahedral geometry. The lowest energy model structure of each complex has been proposed with molecular modeling calculations. The antimicrobial activity of the complexes has been tested on three different microorganisms. The investigation of the interaction of the complexes with calf-thymus DNA has been performed with diverse spectroscopic techniques.