Structure, biological and electrochemical studies of transition metal complexes from N,S,N′ donor ligand 8-(2-pyridinylmethylthio)quinoline

The semirigid tridentate 8-(2-pyridinylmethylthio)quinoline ligand (Q1) is shown to form the structurally characterized transition metal complexes [Cu(Q1)Cl2] (1), [Co(Q1)(NO3)2] (2), [Cd(Q1)(NO3)2] (3), [Cd(Q1)I2] (4). [Cu(Q1)2](BF4)2·(H2O)2 (5), [Cu(Q1)2](ClO4)2·(CH3COCH3)2 (6), [Zn(Q1)2](ClO4)2(H2O)2 (7), [Cd2(Q1)2Br4] (8), [Ag2(Q1)2(ClO4)2] (9), and [Ag2(Q1)2(NO3)2] (10). Four types of structures have been observed: ML-type in complexes 1–4, in which the anions Cl−, NO3− or I− also participate in the coordination; ML2− type in complexes 5–7 without direct coordination of the anions BF4− or ClO4− and with more (Cu2+) or less (Zn2+) distorted bis-fac coordinated Q1; M2L2-type in complex 8, in which two Br− ions act as bridges between two metal ions; and M2(μ-L)2-type in complexes 9 and 10, in which the ligand bridges two anion binding and Ag–Ag bonded ions. Depending on electron configuration and size, different coordination patterns are observed with the bonds from the metal ions to Npyridyl longer or shorter than those to Nquinoline. Typically Q1 acts as a facially coordinating tridentate chelate ligand except for the compounds 9 and 10 with low-coordinate silver(I). Except for 6 and 8, the complexes exhibit distinct constraining effects against both G(+) and G(-) bacteria. Complexes 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 have considerable antifungal activities and complexes 1, 5, 7, and 10 show selective effects to restrain certain botanic bacteria. Electrochemical studies show quasi-reversible reduction behavior for the copper(II) complexes 1, 5 and 6.

Graphical abstractThe subtle interplay of metal centers and anions result in facially tridentate or bridging configuration in the N,S,N′ donor ligand, leading to altogether four types of coordination modes in ten transition metal complexes. The biological and electrochemical properties were also studied.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide