Synthesis, crystal structures, and urease inhibition studies of two new Schiff-base copper complexes derived from n-butylamine

Abstract

Two Schiff-base copper(II) complexes, bis(N-n-butyl-5-chlorosalicylaldiminato) copper(II) (1) and bis(N-n-butyl-4-methoxysalicylaldiminato) copper(II) (2), were synthesized and their solid-state structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. Complex 1 displays a distorted square-planar geometry, while 2 possesses square-planar geometry. Copper(II) complexes 1 and 2 showed strong inhibitory activity against jack bean urease (IC₅₀ = 2.7, 3.5 µmol L⁻¹), compared with acetohydroxamic acid (IC₅₀ = 63.00 µmol L⁻¹). A molecular modeling study was carried out via the DOCK program to gain understanding of the potent inhibitory activity of these copper species against jack bean urease.

Keywords:

• Schiff-base copper(II) complexes
• Crystal structures
• 5-Chlorosalicylaldehyde
• 4-Methoxysalicylaldehyde
• Urease inhibitors

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (20100481108), Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (2009CDA022), and the Education Office of Hubei Province (D20091704, Q20101610).