Complexes of N-hydroxyethyl-N-benzimidazolylmethylethylenediaminediacetic acid with copper(II) and cobalt(II): Preparation, crystal structure and urease inhibitory activity

•Complexes of Cu(II) and Co(II) with an aminopolycarboxylate ligand were prepared.•Inhibitory activity against urease was determined.•The copper(II) complex (2) exhibited marked activity.

Novel copper(II) and cobalt(II) complexes of the N-hydroxyethyl-N-benzimidazolylmethylethylenediaminediacetic acid were prepared and their X-ray crystal structures were determined. Both complexes are hexacoordinate and exhibit a distorted octahedral geometry. The urease inhibitory activity of the complexes was measured (alongside with the free ligand and acetohydroxamic acid as reference substance). The copper(II) complex exhibits a pronounced inhibitory activity against urease (with IC50 value of 35 ± 2 μM being significantly lower than that of the free ligand and of acetohydroxamic acid co-assayed as reference), whereas the cobalt(II) complex shows only negligible activity.

Graphical abstractCopper(II) and cobalt(II) complexes with an aminopolycarboxylate type ligand were synthesized and their structure was determined. Urease inhibitory activity of the complexes was measured, with the copper complex showing marked inhibitory activity.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide