Spectral characterization, electrochemical and anticancer studies on some metal(II) complexes containing tridentate quinoxaline Schiff base

Abstract

Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of a tridentate ONO donor Schiff base ligand derived from 3-(2-aminoethylamino)quinoxalin-2(1H)-one were synthesized. The ligand and its metal complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, molar conductance, IR, 1H NMR, mass, magnetic susceptibility, electronic spectra and ESR spectral studies. Electrochemical behavior of the synthesized compounds was studied using cyclic voltammetry. The grain size of the synthesized compounds was determined by powder XRD. The Schiff base and its complexes have been screened for their antimicrobial activities against the bacterial species E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus; fungal species include, A. niger, and C. albicans by disc diffusion method. The results show that the complexes have higher activity than the free ligand. The interaction of the complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) has been investigated by electronic absorption method. Furthermore, the DNA cleavage activity of the complexes was studied using agarose gel electrophoresis. In vitro anticancer studies of the ligand and its complexes using MTT assay was also done.