Synthesis, Spectral Characterization, SEM, Antimicrobial, Antioxidative Activity Evaluation, DNA Binding and DNA Cleavage Investigation of Transition Metal(II) Complexes Derived from a tetradentate Schiff base bearing thiophene moiety

A novel series of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) mononuclear complexes have been synthesized involving a potentially tetradentate Schiff base ligand, which was obtained by condensation of 2-aminophenol with 2,5-thiophene-dicarboxaldehyde. The complexes were synthesized via reflux reaction of methanolic solution of the appropriate Schiff base ligand with one equivalent of corresponding metal acetate salt. Based on different techniques including micro analysis, FT-IR, NMR, UV-Vis, ESR, ESI-mass and conductivity measurements, four-coordinated geometry was assigned for all complexes. Spectroscopic data have shown that, the reported Schiff base coordinated to metal ions as a dibasic tetradentate ligand through the phenolic oxygen and the azomethine nitrogen. The antimicrobial activities of the parent ligand and its complexes were investigated by using the agar disk diffusion method. Antioxidation properties of the novel complexes were investigated and it was found that all the complexes have good radical scavenging properties. The binding of complexes to calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was investigated by absorption, emission and viscosity measurements. Binding studies have shown that all the complexes interacted with CT-DNA via intercalation mode and the binding affinity varies with relative order as Cu(II) complex > Co(II) complex > Zn(II) complex > Ni(II) complex. Furthermore, DNA cleavage properties of the metal complexes were also investigated. The results suggested the possible utilization of novel complexes for pharmaceutical applications.