Antimicrobial, photocatalytic action and molecular docking studies of imidazole-based Schiff base complexes

Abstract

CoL2, NiL2, CuL2 and ZnL2 mononuclear Schiff base complexes were synthesized by using a condensation process between imidazole-2-carboxaldehyde and 2-aminobutyric acid. Infrared, electronic, elemental, and magnetic investigations were performed on the four coordinated mononuclear Schiff base complexes. The SEM images confirmed the particle size was micrometre range with different morphological appearances of the respective synthesized compounds. UV–vis. spectra were used to explore the photocatalytic activities of ML2 complexes, using methylene blue (MB) as a target dye impurity for degradation. All the complexes show good catalytic activity towards the degradation of MB. Among the catalysts, the CoL2 and CuL2 complexes exhibit maximum percentage degradation of 88 and 87.5 % respectively after 90 min. irradiation of sunlight. Conventional H-bond, hydrophobic, and π-alkyl-interactions are predominant, with excellent binding affinities, according to molecular docking studies of Schiff base with the observed biological receptors. The in vitro antimicrobial studies revealed that all synthesized ML2 complexes exhibit significant activities as compared to the ligand. The complex CuL2 shows maximum antimicrobial action against E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans.