Design, synthesis, DNA binding ability, chemical nuclease activity and antimicrobial evaluation of Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) metal complexes containing tridentate Schiff base

A novel Schiff base has been designed and synthesized using the bioactive ligand obtained from 4-aminoantipyrine, 3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde and 2-aminobenzoic acid. Its Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) complexes have also been synthesized in ethanol medium. The structural features have arrived from their elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance, mass, IR, UV–Vis, 1H NMR and ESR spectral studies. The data show that the complexes have composition of ML2 type. The electronic absorption spectral data of the complexes suggest an octahedral geometry around the central metal ion. The interaction of the complexes with calf thymus (CT) DNA has been studied using absorption spectra, cyclic voltammetric, and viscosity measurement. The metal complexes have been found to promote cleavage of pUC19 DNA from the super coiled form I to the open circular form II. The complexes show enhanced antifungal and antibacterial activities compared with the free ligand.