Synthesis, characterization, crystal structures, enzyme inhibition, DNA binding, and electrochemical studies of zinc(II) complexes

Abstract

Five zinc(II) complexes, [Zn(L¹)₂] (1), [Zn(L¹)₂(phen)H₂O]·H₂O (2), [Zn(L¹)₂(bipy)] (3), [Zn(L²)₂] (4), and [Zn(L²)₂(phen)] (5) (where L¹ = 4-nitrophenylacetate, L² = phenylacetate, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, and multinuclear NMR. Complexes 2, 3, and 4 have been confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In 2 and 3, zinc is bonded monodentate to two carboxylates exhibiting distorted trigonal bipyramidal and tetrahedral geometries, respectively, whereas in 4, the carboxylates are bridging bidentate in distorted tetrahedral geometry. The complexes have been screened for electro- and biological activities, including DNA interaction and enzyme inhibition studies. The effect of concentration of 1–5 on the activity of enzyme, alkaline phosphatase, showed that an increase in concentration of complex decreased the activity of the enzyme. Electrochemical behavior of HL¹, 2, and 3 was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and it was observed that ligand-centered electro-activity exhibits a proportionate change on complexation. The UV–visible spectroscopic and viscometric data indicate electrostatic and groove binding of the complexes with DNA. The binding constant and Gibb’s free energy values indicate the feasibility of the complex–DNA interaction and show potent biological activity of the complexes.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Zn(II) complexes
• Crystal structures
• Electrochemistry
• DNA activity
• Enzymatic study

Acknowledgement

M. Iqbal is thankful to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for providing scholarship.