Synthesis, characterization, DNA binding, oxidative damage of DNA strand scission, and antimicrobial activities of β-diketone condensed Schiff-base transition metal complexes.

Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and VO(IV) complexes containing a versatile β-diketone Schiff-base ligand (obtained by the condensation of 3-furan-2-ylmethylene-2,4-dione and 2-aminophenol) have been synthesized and characterized. Microanalytical, magnetic, and spectroscopic data reveal that the central metal is coordinated to two oxygens of phenolate and two nitrogens of imine of the ligand. Binding of synthesized complexes with calf thymus DNA has been investigated by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods and viscosity measurements. The complexes are able to form adducts with DNA and to distort the double helix by changing the base stacking. Electrostatic binding of vanadyl complex is observed from the weak hypochromism in electronic absorption spectra and no change in the viscosity with DNA. Oxidative DNA cleavage activities of the complexes are studied with supercoiled pUC19 DNA using gel electrophoresis. The hydroxyl radical (OH•) is likely to be the species responsible for the cleavage of pUC19 DNA by the synthesized complexes. Under our experimental conditions, the vanadyl complex has no significant cleavage of DNA. The compounds have been screened for activity against several bacterial and fungal strains and the results are compared with the activity of standard drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]