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The incidence of multi-resistant infections has sharply increased. One of the best strategies for developing new drugs is re-engineering existing drugs to enhance their bioavailability and antimicrobial activities. The latest systems focus on designing bioinorganic platforms to develop antimicrobial agents to target drug-resistant microbial strains. Various literature reports highlight metal-based antimicrobial agents unveiling an innovative strategy to tackle microbial agents. One of the significant mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is the impermeability of its cell membrane towards antibiotics. Antibiotic-based Schiff base complexes are prime candidates for drug design with minor side effects in this scenario. The enhanced activity of antibiotic Schiff base complexes over their parent compound plays a key role in the emergence of innovative antimicrobials. In this review, we highlight the biological potential aspects of some selected antibiotic-based Schiff base complexes of penicillin, cephalosporins, quinolones, and sulfonamides. Some of the bacteria, especially P. aeruginosa, remain resistant to most of the commercially available antibiotics. Here, the review highlights that Schiff base complexes mediated by antibiotics demonstrate bactericidal activity against these resistant strains. Additionally, their mode of action on the bacterial cell is highlighted. The increased activity of copper, zinc, and silver complexes of different Schiff bases is attributed to their inherent redox chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dinuclear copper(II) complex with a newly synthesized tridentate Schiff-base ligand 2-[(2-hydroxy-ethylimino)-methyl]-4,6-diiodo-phenol (HL), of formula [Cu2L2Cl2 · C4H8O] (1), was prepared. Both the ligand and the complex were characterized by X-ray crystallography, confirming that the Schiff base is tridentate and its dinuclear copper(II) complex is five-coordinate from one nitrogen and two oxygens from L and two chlorides. The complex was assayed for antibacterial (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter cloacae) activities by the MTT method. Complex 1 exhibited better antimicrobial activity than the ligand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of acyclic mononuclear copper(II) complexes have been prepared by Schiff-base condensation derived from 5-methylsalicylaldehyde, diethylenetriamine, tris(2-aminoethyl) amine, triethylenetetramine, N,N-bis(3-aminopropyl)ethylene diamine, N,N-bis(aminopropyl) piperazine, and copper perchlorate. All the complexes were characterized by elemental and spectral analyses. Electronic spectra of the complexes show a d-d transition in the range 500-800 nm, electrochemical studies of the complexes show irreversible one-electron-reduction process around -1.10 to -1.60 V. The reduction potential of the mononuclear copper(II) complexes shifts toward anodic direction upon increasing the chain length of the imine compartment. ESR spectra of the mononuclear copper(II) complexes show four lines, characteristic of square-planar geometry, with nuclear hyperfine spin 3/2. The copper(II) complexes show a normal room temperature magnetic moment value μeff = 1.72-1.76 BM, close to the spin-only value of 1.73 BM. Electrochemical and catalytic studies of the complexes were compared on the basis of increasing the chain length of the imine compartment. All the complexes were screened for antifungal and antibacterial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schiff bases (L) viz, N,N',N'',N'''-tetra-3,4-dimethoxybenzalidene-3,3'-diaminobenzidine (TDBD), N,N',N'',N'''-tetra-4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzalidene-3,3'-diaminobenzidine (THMBD), and N,N',N'',N'''-tetra-3-hydroxy-4-nitrobenzalidene-3,3'-diaminobenzidine (THNBD) afford binuclear [M2LCl4] complexes where M = Cu(II) or Zn(II). These Schiff bases and their binuclear complexes have been characterized by analytical and spectral data showing square-planar geometry on metalation with Cu2+. Intercalative binding of these complexes with DNA has been investigated by electronic absorption spectroscopy, viscosity measurements, cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry. Control DNA cleavage experiments using pUC19 supercoiled (SC) DNA and minor groove binder distamycin suggest that these synthesized complexes bind to the major groove. In the presence of a reducing agent like 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), they show chemical nuclease activity. They also show an efficient photo-induced DNA cleavage on irradiation with a monochromatic UV light of 360 nm in the presence of inhibitors. Control experiments indicate the inhibition of cleavage in the presence of singlet oxygen quencher like sodium azide and the enhancement of cleavage in D2O show the formation of singlet oxygen as reactive species. The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-mimetic activity of the synthesized complexes has been assessed for their ability to inhibit the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium chloride (NBT). The complexes have promising SOD-mimetic activity. The antimicrobial results indicate that the complexes inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi more than free ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfaguanidinesalicylaldimine is a good bacteriostatic and a good complexing agent. Schiff-base complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), VO(IV), and UO2(VI) have been synthesized. The structural features of the complexes have been confirmed by microanalytical data, FAB mass, IR, UV-Vis, 1H-NMR, and EPR spectra. Molar conductance indicates the presence of nonelectrolytes. Spectroscopic and other analytical studies reveal the square-planar geometry for copper, square-pyramidal geometry for oxovanadium, seven-coordinate UO2(VI) complex, and octahedral geometry for other complexes. The EPR spectrum of the copper complex in the powdered form at 77 K was recorded. The redox behavior of the copper and oxovanadium complexes was studied using cyclic voltammetry. Antimicrobial activities of the compounds have been studied against microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida by well-diffusion technique in DMSO. Some of the complexes have higher activity than the free ligand and the standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni(II) and Cu(II) metal complexes of simple unsymmetrical Schiff-base ligands derived from salicylaldehyde/5-methylsalicylaldehyde and ethylenediamine or diaminomaleonitrile (DMN) were synthesized. The ligands and their complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR, FT IR, and mass spectroscopy. The electronic spectra of the complexes show d-d transitions in the region at 450-600 nm. Electrochemical studies of the complexes reveal that all mononuclear complexes show a one-electron quasi-reversible reduction wave in the cathodic region. ESR spectra of the mononuclear copper(II) complexes show four lines, characteristic of square-planar geometry, with nuclear hyperfine spin 3/2. The copper(II) complexes show a normal room temperature magnetic moment value μeff = 1.70-1.74 BM which is close to the spin only value of 1.73 BM. Kinetic studies on the oxidation of pyrocatechol to o-quinone using the copper(II) complexes as catalysts were also carried out. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the investigated compounds was tested against human pathogenic bacterias such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The antifungal activity was tested against Candida albicans. Generally, the metal complexes have higher antimicrobial activity than the free ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of metal(II) unsymmetrical Schiff-base complexes, {M(C10H6OCH:N(CH2)2N : C(CH3)CH : C(CH3)O), where M=Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)}, and their 2,2'-dipyridine (bipy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) adducts are synthesized and characterized by microanalysis, magnetic susceptibility, conductance, IR and UV-Vis spectra. The ligand coordinates using the N2O2 chromophore to give a two-metal-center four-coordinate square-planar geometry. IR and UV-Vis spectra are consistent with octahedral adducts. The compounds are non-electrolytes in nitromethane and magnetic moments indicate that the complexes are magnetically dilute. The antimicrobial activity of the compounds against ten bacteria and one fungus are reported. The Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes showed good activity against many of the organisms while their adducts are generally not sensitive. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the sensitive compounds are between 3.0-13.0 mg mL-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]