Synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial and DNA cleavage study of organoantimony(III) and organoarsenic(III) complexes with monofunctional bidentate Schiff base

Abstract

A series of mononuclear organoantimony(III) and organoarsenic(III) complexes of bidentate Schiff base [2-(2-fluorophenyl)methylene]hydrazinecarbothioamide (LH) have been synthesized by the reaction of Ph₃Sb and Ph₃As with ligand in 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, melting point determinations and a combination of electronic, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and X-ray diffraction spectroscopic studies. These studies showed that the ligand coordinated to the antimony and arsenic in a monobasic bidentate manner through sulfur and nitrogen donor system. Thus, a tetra-coordinated and a penta-coordinated environment around the antimony and arsenic atom has been proposed for 1:1 and 1:2 complexes, respectively. All the complexes and parent ligand have been screened for their antimicrobial activity on several pathogenic fungi and bacteria and were found to possess appreciable fungicidal and bactericidal properties. Further, the ligand and its corresponding metal complexes have been tested for their DNA cleavage activity by the gel electrophoresis and the results revealed that the complexes were better cleaving agents than ligand.