Synthesis, Structural Elucidation, DNA Binding, Cleavage, Ache and Buche Cholinesterase Efficiencies of Metal Complexes with 1,10- Phenanthroline Scaffold

Abstract

A series of metal complexes containing a 1,10-phenanthroline scaffold, [ML] (L-1,10-Phenanthroline derivative comprises conjugated aromatic core); M=Cu(II), Zn(II), Co(II), & Zn(II) ions were designed and synthesized. The structural features of ligand and its metal complexes were elucidated using analytical and spectroscopic techniques. Based on the analytical and spectroscopic data suggested that a square planer structure with moderate distortion was attributed to the above metal chelates. The distorted square planar geometry of the copper(II) complex bound with DNA (Kb = 4.02´ 105 M-1) is stronger than that of ethidium bromide (EB) (Kb = 3.3´ 105 M-1) and other metal complexes, respectively. The synthesized 1,10-phenanthroline derivative had the best inhibitory effects against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), with IC50 values of 0.48 and 3.4 µM, respectively, which were lower than the standard. The experimental observations may contribute to the development of new drug molecules particularly in the treatment of neurological disorders including glaucoma, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.