Abstract
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•Mononuclear Ni-, Cu- and VO-complexes from aroylhydrazone were synthesized.•VO-catalyst has little more catalytic potential in 1,2-cyclooctene epoxidation.•Inhibiting biological action of all complexes was more than that of free ligand.•Their ctDNA-interaction was studied spectroscopically and by viscosity-measurements.•Molecular docking studies support the nature of ctDNA interactions.
Three novel mononuclear complexes of Ni2+, Cu2+, and VO2+ ions (NiLnBu, CuLnBu, and VOLnBu, respectively) were synthesized by the chelation of a di-basic tridentate nicotinohydazone ligand (H2LnBu) with M2+ ions in 1 : 1 M ratios. The ligand and its M-pincer chelates were identified and characterized using various spectroscopic tools included NMR, IR, UV–Vis. and EI-Mass spectra, beside, EI elemental analyses, and thermogravimetric analyses. The catalytic potential of NiLnBu, CuLnBu, and VOLnBu was investigated in 1,2-cyclooctene epoxidation using H2O2, as an efficient oxidant. Various parameters, including solvent, temperature, catalyst loading, and oxidant were investigated to identify the optimized reaction conditions. The central metal ion in their M-chelate catalysts revealed variation in the catalytic performance. The high valent metal ion (V4+) catalyst (VOLnBu) exhibited slightly better catalytic potential (96% yield) over the low valent metal ions (Ni2+ and Cu2+) complex catalysts (NiLnBu 91% yield and CuLnBu 93% yield, respectively). In addition to, the biological potential of free ligand H2LnBu and its complexes were examined in the ctDNA interaction process via UV–Vis. spectroscopy and viscosity measurements with the aid of distinguished docking studies. The obtained results showed that M-chelates possess effective biological activities with DNA, including the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer effects against different biological targets.