Synthesis, spectral characterization and DNA binding of Schiff-base metal complexes derived from 2-amino-3-hydroxyprobanoic acid and acetylacetone

•The Schiff-base ligand acts as bi-negative tridentate.•The optical band gap measurements indicated the semi-conducting nature of these complexes.•Molecular docking predicted the binding between the ligand and the receptor of prostate cancer mutant H874Y.•Cu(II) complex binds to CT-DNA.

Four new metal complexes derived from the reaction of Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) acetates with the Schiff-base ligand (H3L) resulted from the condensation of the amino acid 2-amino-3-hydroxyprobanoic acid (serine) and acetylacetone have been synthesized and characterized by, elemental analyses, ES–MS, IR, UV–Vis., 1H NMR, 13C NMR, ESR, thermal analyses (TGA and DTG) and magnetic measurements. The results showed that the Schiff-base ligand acts as bi-negative tridentate through the azomethine nitrogen, the deprotonated carboxylate oxygen and the enolic carbonyl oxygen. The optical band gaps measurements indicated the semi-conducting nature of these complexes.Molecular docking was used to predict the binding between the Schiff base ligand with the receptor of prostate cancer mutant H874Y. The interactions between the Cu(II) complex and calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) have been studied by UV spectra. The results confirm that the Cu(II) complex binds to CT-DNA in an intercalative mode.

Graphical abstractThe Schiff-base ligand (in green) interacts with receptor of prostate cancer mutant H874Y.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide