Synthesis, structure and urease inhibition studies of Schiff base copper(II) complexes with planar four-coordinate copper(II) centers

Abstract

Seven new Schiff base copper(II) complexes with planar four-coordinate copper(II) centers have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The solid state structures of complexes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 present a square-planar coordination geometry at the metal centers while complex 2 shows a slightly distorted square-planar geometry. Density functional theory calculations have been performed to evaluate the electronic structure of copper(II) complex 7. Inhibition of jack bean urease by copper(II) complexes 1–7 have also been investigated, and potent inhibitory activities with IC50 range of 2.60–17.00μM have been observed for these mononuclear copper(II) complexes. A docking analysis using a DOCK program was conducted to explain the urease inhibitory activity of the copper(II) complexes and the structure–activity relationships were further discussed.