Design and synthesis of novel complexes containing N-phenyl-1H-pyrazole moiety: Ni complex as potential antifungal and antiproliferative compound

Abstract

Cu(II) (1), Ni(II) (2), Cr(III) (3) and Fe(III) (4) complexes with 3-acetyl-4-benzoyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole (L1) were prepared and structurally characterized. Usual coordination of L1 was achieved through nitrogen of pyrazole moiety and carbonyl acetyl group. Electronic spectra of the complexes indicate that the geometry of the metal center was six coordinate octahedral. In vitro antimicrobial activity of the ligand and complex compounds was screened in terms of antibacterial effect on Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and antifungal effect on the fungi Aspergillus flavus and candida albicans using the modified Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) methods. Ni(II) complex (2) exhibited remarkable antifungal inhibition against Candida albicans equal to the standard antifungal agent. To continue our study some structural modifications are formed by adding 4-fluoro-benzoyl moiety to L1 in different forms to produce different ligands, 3-acetyl-4-(4-flourobenzoyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole (L2) and 3-[(3-acetyl-1-phenyl-1H-4-pyrazolyl)carbonyl]-1-phenyl-4-(4-flourobenzoyl)-1H-pyrazole (L3), Ni complexes (5 and 6) are prepared and comparable in vitro antimicrobial study is evaluated. In vitro cytotoxicity of the Ni(II) complex (2) is studied using MTT assay. The analysis of the cell test showed that (2) displayed quite small cytotoxic response at the higher concentration level which indeed would further enable us for more opportunities in therapeutic and biomedical challenges. Both of the capability as a potent in vitro antifungal agent and the cell test analysis show Ni(II) complex (2) as a promising material in the translation of observed in vitro biological phenomenon into clinical therapies settings.