Preparation, structural characterization, antimicrobial and anticancer activities, DFT and molecular docking studies of a novel nano ferrocenyl Schiff base and its metal complexes

Abstract

Novel organometallic Schiff base (2-(1-((4-aminopyridin-3-yl)imino)ethyl)cyclopenta-2,4-dien-1-yl) (cyclopenta-2,4-dien-1-yl)iron (L) and eight transition metal complexes were prepared by reacting 3,4-diaminopyridine with 2-acetylferrocene in 1:1 molar ratio for ligand formation and by reacting Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) chlorides with ligand in 1:1 molar ratio for complexes formation. All prepared compounds were characterized by using elemental analysis (C, H, N, M), molar conductance, IR, UV-Vis, ¹H-NMR, SEM and mass spectral analysis. Also, their TG and DTG behaviors were studied. All complexes have an octahedral structure. The ligand coordinated to the metal ions through the nitrogen atoms of azomethine and amino groups. In addition, computational studies of the synthesized Schiff base ligand have been carried out by the DFT/B3LYP method. The antimicrobial activities of the ligand and its metal complexes were studied by using different bacterial species [Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium] and fungal species included [Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans]. Moreover, the prepared compounds have been evaluated for anticancer activities against breast cancer (MCF-7) and normal melanocytes (HFB-4) cell lines. Docking studies were used to determine the probable binding mode between the ligand and its Cd(II) complex with the active site of 3HB5, 2HQ6 and 1GS4 receptors.