Potential antidiabetic drug involving a zinc anionic complex of dipic and metformin as counter ions: Synthesis, characterization, crystal structure and electrochemical studies

•A Zn complex involving metformin as counter ion.•Investigation by IR, NMR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray and cyclic voltammetry methods.•Potential associative or synergistic antidiabetic effect because of the coexistence of metformin and [Zn(dipic)2].•Stabilization of the crystal structure as a result of the intra and intermolecular hydrogen bonding.

The new complex [H2Met][Zn(dipic)2]·3H2O (1) (dipicH2 = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid) and Met = metformin (N,N-dimethylebiguanidine), was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and UV–Vis spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray method. The crystal system is triclinic with space group Pī. The unit cell dimensions for ZnII complex is a = 9.3817(5), b = 10.0714(5), c = 12.4917(6). In this complex, metformin is diprotonated and acts as counter ion. The intra and intermolecular hydrogen bonds stabilize the crystal structure of compound. The redox behavior of the complex was investigated by cyclic voltammetry.

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