Synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial, and nuclease activity studies of some metal Schiff-base complexes

A Schiff base (L) is prepared by condensation of cuminaldehyde and L-histidine, and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and mass spectra. Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes of this Schiff-base ligand are synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, mass, IR, electronic spectra, magnetic moment, electron spin resonance (ESR), CV, TG/DTA, powder XRD, and SEM. The conductance data indicate that all the complexes are 1 : 1 electrolytes. IR data reveal that the Schiff base is a tridentate monobasic donor, coordinating through azomethine nitrogen, imidazole nitrogen, and carboxylato oxygen. The electronic spectral data and magnetic measurements suggest that Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes are tetrahedral, while Cu(II) complex has distorted square planar geometry. XRD and SEM show that Co(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes have crystalline nature, while the Ni(II) complex is amorphous and the particles are in nanocrystalline phase. The in vitro biological activities of the synthesized compounds were tested against the bacterial species, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus; and fungal species, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Candida albicans by the disc diffusion method. The biological study indicates that complexes exhibit more activity than the ligand. The nuclease activity of the ligand and its complexes are assayed on CT DNA using gel electrophoresis in the presence and the absence of H2O2. The Cu(II) complex shows increased nuclease activity in the presence of an oxidant when compared to the ligand, Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes.