DESIGN, STRUCTURAL ELUCIDATION, AND TARGETED CYTOTOXIC EVALUATION OF NOVEL METAL–SCHIFF BASE COMPLEXES AS POTENTIAL ANTICANCER AGENTS

Novel Fe(III), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), Mg(II), Al(III), Zn(II), and Ba(II) complexes of an amido-salicylaldehyde ligand were synthesized and characterized by various analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The ligand coordinated as a neutral or dibasic pentadentate donor through imino nitrogen, hydroxyl oxygen, and amide oxygen atoms, forming distorted octahedral complexes. Conductivity measurements indicated non-electrolytic behavior. ESR studies revealed axial Cu(II) spectra with a dx2−y2 ground state, while Fe(III), Co(II), and Mn(II) complexes showed isotropic signals. Cytotoxicity studies against MCF-7 cells demonstrated enhanced activity after complexation, with the Zn(II) complex showing the highest potency compared with vinblastine sulfate. Molecular docking further supported the experimental cytotoxicity results through favorable binding interactions.