Spectroscopic, electrochemical, theoretical characterization and biological evaluation of a ferrocenyl-substituted unsymmetric azine ligand and its Cu(II) complex

Abstract

Ferrocenyl-substituted unsymmetrical azine and its Cu(II) complex were prepared. The redox active ferrocene-based azine was obtained by condensation of 1-[(E)-hydrazono]-5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzene with ferrocene carboxaldehyde. The ferrocenyl ligand and its Cu(II) complex were characterized by IR, UV–vis, NMR, X-ray, magnetic susceptibility, molar electrical conductivity measurements, and TG techniques. The redox behaviors of the ferrocene compounds were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Structural parameters and spectroscopic properties of the ligand and the Cu(II) complex were calculated by employing density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT and compared with available experimental data. We found slightly stronger binding ability for Cu(II) complex than the free ligand. DNA binding abilities for ferrocenyl-substituted unsymmetrical azine ligand and its Cu(II) complex are higher than some reported ferrocene compounds. We also studied DNA cleavage, superoxide and DPPH radical scavenging abilities of the compounds. Furthermore, the synthesized organometallic compounds can be bound to DNA through an intercalative mode.