Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of Zn(II) and Co(II) complexes of N-allylimidazole as potential hypoxia-targeting agents

Zinc(II) and cobalt(II) complexes of N-allylimidazole, bis(N-allylimidazole)zinc diacetate (1) and bis(N-allylimidazole)cobalt dichloride (2), have been prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography, NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, microanalysis and melting point. The single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that compounds 1 and 2 are monomeric with tetra-coordinate zinc and cobalt centers. Complexes 1 and 2 have been tested using four in vivo models of acute hypoxia of different genesis (hypobaric, hemic, histotoxic, hypoxia with hypercapnia). Complex 1 reveals a moderate effect against the hemic and histotoxic hypoxia, and a high effect against the hypobaric hypoxia and hypoxia with hypercapnia, while complex 2 demonstrates a high antihypoxic activity in all the studied models.