Synthesis and characterization of pharmacologically active 18-membered tetraamide macrocyclic complexes of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II): In vitro antimicrobial, anticancer screening, DNA interaction and docking studies

The macrocyclic ligand, 2, 4: 11, 13-Dinaphthyl-1, 5, 10, 14 tetraazacyclooctadecane-6, 9, 15, 18-tetraone, (L) obtained from condensation of 1, 8-diaminonaphthalene and succinic acid, was used to synthesize the complexes of the type, [MLCl2] [M = Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)] and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The calf-thymus DNA interaction and CD studies indicated relatively greater binding ability for Cu(II) complex via groove binding. The in vitro cytotoxicity toward the cell line HeLa and MCF-7 has been evaluated by MTT assay. Therefore, Cu(II) complex seems as a superlative candidate offering a probable alternative to traditional chemotherapeutic agents.