Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of novel 2,2′-((1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diylidene)bis(azanylylidene))bis(pyridin-3-ol)and metal complexes: molecular docking and in silico ADMET profile

Abstract

A novel series of bio vital Schiff base ligand and transition metal complexes was prepared from benzil, 2-amino-3-hydroxy pyridine and metal chlorides. The synthesized compounds were characterized by physicochemical measurements like elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance and multispectral analysis like Fourier transform, electronic absorption, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance, ESI-mass spectroscopy, XRD and scanning electron microscopy. Based on the spectral results, the synthesized compounds are in crystalline nature and copper complex has square planar geometry. Conversely, cobalt, nickel and zinc complexes have tetrahedral geometry. Furthermore, the biological potential of the synthesized compounds is analysed by DNA binding and cleavage analysis and antimicrobial, anticancer, apoptosis and antioxidant inspections. The DNA binding analysis was performed using UV absorption titration and hydrodynamic experiments, which unveiled that the prepared compounds could be interconnected with calf thymus DNA by the way of intercalative mode. The mode of intercalation is further supported by docking investigations with nucleic acid and Bowman-Birk inhibitor. The DNA cleaving analysis implied that Cu(II) complex has eminent cleaving ability to split up the pUC18 DNA with an oxidising agent. Additionally, the anti-pathogenic screening studies explained that the complexes have antimicrobial skill against selected microbes. The anti-carcinogenic talent of the compounds is scrutinized on human cancer cell lines, which revealed that the prepared compounds possess good anticancer proficiency. During Hoechst staining analysis, the synthesized compounds have undergone the morphological moderations and succeeding cell death. The free radical scavenging investigations display that the metal complexes hold the suited talent to hunt the OH radical effectively. The prediction of in silico ADMET belongings found out that synthesized compounds acquire substantial drug-likeness characters based on Lipinski’s rules.