Synthesis, spectroscopic studies, antimicrobial activities and antitumor of a new monodentate V-shaped Schiff base and its transition metal complexes

•Synthesis and characterization of a V-shaped monodentate Schiff base ligand (L).•Synthesis and spectroscopic studies of some transition metal complexes with L.•Biological activity of L and complexes against bacteria and fungus were screened.•Cytotoxicity of L and complexes were checked as antitumor agents.

Reaction of 4-aminoacetophenone and 4-bromobenzaldehyde in ethanol resulted in the formation of the monodentate V-shaped Schiff base (E)-1-(4-((4-bromo-benzylidene)amino)phenyl)ethanone (L). Interaction of L with different di- and trivalent metal ions revealed disubstituted derivatives. The ligand and its complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, mass, IR and NMR spectrometry. Biological activities of the ligand and complexes against the Escherchia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacterias, and the two fungus Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans were screened. The cytotoxicity of the compounds were checked as antitumor agents on liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2). They exhibited in vitro broad range of antitumor activities towards the cell line; the [ZnL2(H2O)2](NO3)2 complex was stronger antitumor towards HepG2 cell line as well as two breast cancer cell lines (MCF7 and T47D) relative to cis-platin.

Graphical abstractA V-shaped Schiff base, (E)-1-(4-((4-bromo-benzylidene)amino)phenyl)ethanone, was obtained from reaction of 4-aminoacetophenone and 4-bromobenzaldehyde. Some transition metal derivatives were also synthesized from the corresponding metal species with the base. The biological activities and cytotoxicity of ligand and metal complexes were screened.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide