Spectroscopic and thermal characterization of biologically and anticancer active novel Schiff base metal complexes

The novel Schiff base ligand 2,2′-((1Z,1′Z)-(1,3-phenylenebis(azanylylidene))-bis(phenylmethanylylidene))dibenzoic acid (H2L) was obtained by the condensation of m-phenylenediamine with o-benzoylbenzoic acid. The molecular and electronic structure of Schiff base ligand (H2L) was optimized theoretically, and the quantum chemical parameters are calculated. Molecular docking was used to predict the binding between Schiff base ligand (H2L) and the receptors of breast cancer mutant 3hb5-oxidoreductase, crystal structure E. coli (3t88) and crystal structure of S. aureus (3q8u). The newly synthesized Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) complexes were characterized by elemental microanalysis, molar conductance, spectroscopic techniques (IR, 1H NMR, ESI-mass, ESR, UV–Vis), magnetic susceptibility, thermal (TG/DTG) and powder X-ray diffraction data to explicate their structures. The data showed that the complexes had composition of MH2L type. The IR results confirmed the bidentate binding of the ligand involving two azomethine nitrogens. 1H NMR spectral data of the ligand (H2L) and its Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes agreed well with the proposed structures. On the basis of electronic spectra and the magnetic measurements, octahedral geometry of the complexes was proposed. Thermogravimetric data (TG and DTG) were also studied. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for thermal decomposition of the complexes were calculated using the Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger methods. In order to appraise the effect of antimicrobial activity of metal ions upon chelation, the newly synthesized ligand and its metal complexes were screened against a number of bacteria organisms as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae and against one fungus, Candida albicans, to assess their inhibiting potential by using the disc diffusion method. The results showed that in some cases the antimicrobial activity of complexes was more biologically active than the Schiff base ligand. Anticancer activity of the ligand and its metal complexes were evaluated in human cancer (MCF-7 cells viability). It was found that [Cd(H2L)(H2O)2Cl2]2H2O complex showed lowest IC50 than the others, and hence was the more active. The activity index was calculated.