Synthesis and characterization of efficient chemical nucleases: A joint refinement from XRD, antimicrobial screening, DNA binding and cleavage investigations

• Synthesis of N-acetoacetyl-o-toluidine derived Schiff base and complexes.
• Synthesis of novel DNA intercalative binding and cleaving activators.
• Crystalline nature of synthesized complexes.
• The complexes show splendid DNA binding activities.
• Enhanced antimicrobial activity of the complexes than the ligand.

A series of novel mixed-ligand complexes of Cu(II), Zn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) have been prepared in order to appraise the consequence of metal ions upon chelation using the ligands, obtained by the condensation reaction of N-acetoacetyl-o-toluidine with 4-aminophenol (main ligand) and 1,10-phenanthroline (co-ligand). The characterization of newly formed complexes has been done by 1H NMR, UV–Vis, IR, EPR spectroscopies and molar conductivity studies. All the complexes are found to be monomeric in nature with octahedral geometry. The in vitro antibacterial and antifungal assay indicates that these complexes are good antimicrobial agents against various pathogens. X-ray powder diffraction illustrates that the complexes have crystalline nature. The DNA cleavage results indicate that the complexes act as efficient chemical nucleases.

The DNA binding modes were discussed and the experimental results showed that the entire complexes could be applicants for DNA-binding reagents, as well as laying the establishment for the rational design of novel useful DNA probes. The synthesized novel bio-active metal complexes possess a broad spectrum of activity.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide