Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and DNA cleavage studies of dibutyltin(IV) complexes of bidentate Schiff bases

•Synthesis of new five- and six-coordinate di-n-butyltin(IV) complexes.•Spectral studies showed bidentate ligating mode of Schiff base anions in the complexes.•The new di-n-butyltin(IV) complexes have shown promising DNA cleavage property.

Reactions of di-n-butyltin(IV)dichloride with sodium salts of Schiff bases in tetrahydrofuran-benzene solution in 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometry afforded complexes of the types [(n-Bu)2Sn(sb)Cl] and [(n-Bu)2Sn(sb)2], respectively, [where sb = Schiff bases: N-salicylidene-2-aminopyridine (sapH), N-salicylidene-2-methylaniline (o-smabH) and N-salicylidene-4-methylaniline (p-smabH)]. All these complexes which are colored solids and are soluble in common organic solvents were characterized by elemental (C, H, N, Cl and Sn) analysis and spectral [IR, (1H, 13C and 119Sn) NMR] and Mass studies. On the basis of spectroscopic studies plausible structures have been proposed. The DNA cleavage activity of these complexes has been studied by agarose gel electrophoresis method.

Graphical abstractSynthesis of five- and six-coordinate di-n-butyltin(IV) complexes have been achieved by the reactions of di-n-butyltin(IV)dichloride with appropriate sodium salt of Schiff base ligands in 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios, respectively and investigated by a variety of physicochemical methods. The DNA cleavage studies revealed that the complexes show non-specific cleavage of DNA.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide