Thioether-based novel transition metal complexes: Synthesis, DNA interaction, in vitro biological assay, DFT calculations, and molecular docking studies

Abstract

A novel Schiff base ligand 2-(((2-(benzylthio)phenyl)imino)methyl)-4-chlorophenol and its cobalt, nickel, copper, and zinc metal complexes were prepared. Using B3LYP/6–31++G(d,p) method with LanL2DZ as basis set, the molecular structure of metal complexes has been optimized, and their parameters have been explored. The distorted octahedral geometries have been observed in cobalt, nickel, and copper complexes. In contrast, zinc complex exhibited distorted tetrahedral geometry indicating the coordination of metal ions with ligands through ONS binding sites, which are confirmed by various spectroscopic techniques, magnetic measurements, molar conductivity, elemental analysis, and DFT studies. The intercalative binding mode between CT-DNA and synthesized metal complexes has been determined by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The binding constant values of metal complexes found to be varied from 5.28 × 103 M−1 to 9.18 × 104 M−1. Furthermore, several methods have been used to scrutinize the bioactivities, such as in vitro anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. From the obtained results, it can be concluded that zinc metal complex exhibited excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activity compared to others. However, the copper complex has good antioxidant property. Besides deducing the prospective binding energies of inhibitors, molecular docking simulations have also been conducted utilizing the enzyme structures of B-DNA, 6-COX, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase.