Transition Metal (II) Complexes with a Novel Azo-azomethine Schiff Base Ligand: Synthesis, Structural and Spectroscopic Characterization, Thermal Properties and Biological Applications

The pyrimidine based azo-linked Schiff base ligand, 5-benzoyl-1-((E)-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-((E)phenyldiazenyl)benzylidene)amino)-4-phenylpyrimidin-2(1H)-one (HL), and its transition metal (II) complexes were synthesized and defined by using ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, Elemental analysis, FT-IR, MS, UV–vis, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility and thermal analysis techniques. According to the conductance data obtained indicate all of the metal complexes have non-electrolytic nature. Square pyramidal geometry for Pd(II) and octahedral geometry for all the other complexes synthesized was concluded from the electronic absorption spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements of the complexes. Investigation of the significant infrared bands of the active groups in the ligand and the solid complexes alludes that HL is coordinated to the metal ions ONO tridentate manner. Moreover, the absorption and emission properties of the azo-azomethine based ligand and its complexes were investigated. The results obtained show that fluorescence emissions of the ligand and its metal (II) complexes depend on the type of transition metal ions and the derivatives displayed moderate Stokes' shift values between 44 and 107 nm. All the compounds exhibited superb photostability. Further, antioxidant, antimicrobial and pBR322 plasmid DNA cleavage activities were investigated. All compounds showed good DPPH• (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity and complexes of [MnL₂]•H₂O and [NiL₂]•H₂O exhibited excellent metal chelating activity. All the compounds tested demonstrated two strand DNA cleavage activities.