Synthesis, characterization, DNA binding, photo-induced DNA cleavage, and antimicrobial activity of metal complexes of a Schiff base derived from bis(3-aminophenyl)malonamide

Abstract

The peptide linkage Schiff base (H₂L) and its complexes have been synthesized and fully characterized by elemental analysis, UV–Vis, FTIR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, EPR, and FAB-mass spectra. The stoichiometry of the complexes is [ML] (where M = Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), and VO(IV)). All the complexes exhibit square-planar geometry except the vanadyl complex which has square-pyramidal geometry. Interactions of the complexes and free ligand with double-stranded calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) are studied by UV-spectrophotometric, electrochemical, and viscosity measurements. The data suggest that all the complexes form adducts with DNA and distort the double helix by changing the base stacking. Vanadyl complex forms a weaker adduct to CT-DNA than other complexes, probably due to the square-pyramidal geometry. CT-DNA induces extensive distortion in the planarity of vanadyl complex as EPR spectral calculations reveal. The intrinsic binding constants (K _b) of [ZnL], [CuL], [CoL], and [NiL] are 1.1 × 10⁵, 1.4 × 10⁵, 0.8 × 10⁵, and 0.6 × 10⁵ M⁻¹, respectively. Photo-induced DNA cleavage indicates that all complexes cleave DNA effectively. Control DNA cleavage experiments using pUC19 supercoiled (SC) DNA and minor groove binder distamycin suggest major groove binding for the synthesized complexes. The antimicrobial results indicate that the complexes inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi more than the free ligand.

Keywords:

• Intrinsic binding constant
• Photo-induced DNA cleavage
• Square-planar geometry
• Antimicrobial activity

Acknowledgments

The authors express their heartfelt thanks to the College Managing Board, VHNSN College, Virudhunagar, for providing research facilities. N. Raman and A. Sakthivel express their gratitude to the UGC, New Delhi, for financial assistance.