Synthesis, characterization, DNA binding, DNA cleavage and antimicrobial studies of Schiff base ligand and its metal complexes.

A series of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II) complexes have been synthesized from the Schiff base ligand L. The Schiff base ligand 4-chloro-2-((4-oxo-4H-chromen-3yl) methylene amino) benzoic acid (L) has been synthesized by the reaction between chromone-3-carbaldehyde and 4-chloro-2-amino benzoic acid. The nature of bonding and geometry of the transition metal complexes as well as ligand L have been deduced from elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-vis, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, ESR spectral studies, mass, magnetic susceptibility and molar conductance measurements. The complexes are found to have ML2 composition and are neutral in DMSO. Based on elemental, conductance and spectral studies, six-coordinated geometry was assigned for these complexes. The ligand L acts as tridentate and coordinates through nitrogen atom of azomethine group, hydroxyl of the carboxyl group and oxygen atom of keto group of γ-pyrone ring. The interaction of Cu(II) complex with CT-DNA was carried out by UV-vis, fluorescence titrations and viscosity measurements. The complex binds to DNA through intercalative binding mode. The nuclease activity of the above metal complexes shows that Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes cleave DNA through redox chemistry. The biological activity of the ligand and its complexes have been studied on four bacteria E. coli, B. subtilis, pseudomonas and Edwardella and two fungi penicillium and trichoderma by well disc and fusion method and found that the metal complexes are more active than the free Schiff base ligand.