Dinuclear manganese(II) complexes of hexaazamacrocycles bearing N-benzoylated pendant separated by aromatic spacers: Antibacterial, DNA interaction, cytotoxic and molecular docking studies

• Three pendant-armed complexes with benzoyl substituents have been synthesized.
• All the complexes were screened for their antibacterial activity.
• DNA binding and docking results confirm the groove mode of interaction.
• All the complexes cause DNA damage and induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells.

Three new homodinuclear manganese(II) complexes of the type [Mn2L1–3(ClO4)(H2O)](ClO4)3 (1–3) have been synthesized via cyclocondensation of terephthalaldehyde with three different benzoylated pendants in the presence of manganese(II) perchlorate and characterized by spectroscopic methods. Cyclic voltammetric investigation of complexes (1–3) depict two quasi-reversible one electron reduction processes in the cathodic potential region (E1pc = –0.73 to–0.83 V, E2pc = –1.31 to − 1.40 V) and two quasi-reversible one electron oxidation processes in the anodic potential region (E1pa = 1.03 to 1.10 V, E2pa = 1.69 to 1.77 V). Electronic absorption spectra of the complexes suggested tetrahedral geometry around the central metal ion. The observed low magnetic moment values (μeff, 5.60–5.68 B.M.) of the complexes indicate the presence of an antiferromagnetic spin–exchange interaction between two metal centers, which was also supported by the broad EPR signal. All the compounds were tested for antibacterial activity against Gram (–ve) and Gram (+ ve) bacterial strains. The binding studies of complexes with CT-DNA suggested minor-groove mode of interaction. Molecular docking studies were carried out in order to find the binding affinity of complexes with DNA and protein EGFR Kinase. The complexes are stabilized by additional electrostatic and van der Waals interaction with the DNA, and support minor groove mode of binding. The cleavage activity of complexes on pBR322 plasmid DNA displays efficient activity through a mechanistic pathway involving hydroxyl radicals. The cytotoxicity of complexes 2 and 3 have been tested against human liver adenocarcinoma (HepG2) cell line. Nuclear-chromatin cleavage has also been observed with propidium iodide (PI) staining and alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) techniques.

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