Preparation, geometric structure, molecular docking thermal and spectroscopic characterization of novel Schiff base ligand and its metal chelates

Abstract

The condensation of o-benzoyl benzoic acid and 4-aminoantipyrine resulted in the formation of novel Schiff base ligand (HL) with the IUPAC name 2-(((1,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)imino)(phenyl)methyl)benzoic acid. The synthesized Schiff base ligand and its complexes with M(II)/(III) transition elements (Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II)) were characterized by elemental, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductivity, spectroscopic (1H NMR, mass, UV–visible, FTIR, ESR), thermal and X-ray powder diffraction. The data showed that the complexes had composition of the MHL type. The diffused reflectance spectra, magnetic susceptibility and ESR spectral data of the complexes confirm an octahedral geometry around metal ions. The thermal analysis data revealed the decomposition of the complexes in three to five successive decomposition steps within the temperature range of 30–1000°C, and the activation thermodynamic parameters were reported. The molecular structures of the Schiff base ligand and its Mn(II) and Zn(II) metal complexes are optimized theoretically, and the quantum chemical parameters are calculated. In order to predict the binding between o-benzoyl benzoic acid, 4-aminoantipyrine and HL ligand with the Escherichia coli bacterial RNA (4p20) receptor, molecular docking was carried out. The in vitro antimicrobial screening of the newly synthesized compounds was tested against different bacterial and fungal organisms. The results showed that the metal complexes have biologically activity more than the new Schiff base ligand against the tested organisms. The Schiff base ligand and its complexes were also screened for their anticancer activity against breast cancer cell line (MCF7). The Mn(II), Cr(III) and Cd(II) complexes were found to have low IC50 values which support the possibility of using them as cytotoxic agents and hence might become good anticancer agent in clinical trials.