Some new Ag(I), VO(II) and Pd(II) chelates incorporating tridentate imine ligand: Design, synthesis, structure elucidation, density functional theory calculations for DNA interaction, antimicrobial and anticancer activities and molecular docking studies

Some new complexes derived from VO(II), Ag(I) and Pd(II) metal ions and HNA imine ligand (L), i.e. (2-((6-allylidene-2-hydroxycyclohexa-1,3-dienylmethylene)amino)benzoic acid), have been prepared and their structures elucidated via molar conductance measurements, elemental analyses, infrared, NMR and electronic spectra and magnetic susceptibility estimations. Moreover, stability constants of the synthesized complexes were evaluated utilizing a spectrophotometric technique. On the basis of molar conductance and elemental analyses, the metal imine chelates have structure [M(L)], where M = Pd(II), VO(II) and Ag(I). The results indicate that the prepared HNA imine ligand acts as a tridentate moiety via nitrogen atom of azomethine group and two oxygen atoms of phenolic and carboxylic groups. All the complexes are found to be monomeric with 1:1 stoichiometry with square planar geometry for Pd(II), tetrahedral geometry for Ag(I) and distorted square pyramidal for VO(II). Theoretical density functional theory calculations were applied to verify the molecular geometry of the chelators and their metal chelates. The geometry optimization results are in agreement with experimental observations. The antimicrobial properties of the prepared HNA imine ligand and its metal chelates were evaluated against numerous plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria. The results of these studies indicate that the metal complexes exhibit a stronger antibacterial and antifungal effect compared to the imine ligand. In addition, the interaction of the metal imine chelates with calf thymus DNA was observed by way of viscosity, gel electrophoreses and spectral studies. Absorption titration studies reveal that each of the complexes is an avid binder to calf thymus DNA. Also, there are appreciable changes in the relative viscosity of DNA, which are consistent with enhanced hydrophobic interaction of the aromatic rings and intercalation mode of binding. Additionally, the cytotoxic activity of the investigated compounds against various cancer cell lines shows promising results which makes them prospective compounds for antibiotic and anticancer medicament studies. Furthermore, docking studies of the prepared compounds were conducted for confirming the biological results.