Zinc(II) Complexes Containing Aromatic Hydrazones: Synthesis, Spectral Characterization, Luminescent Properties and a-Glucosidase Inhibition

Four zinc(II) complexes were synthesized by the coordinating Zn2+ ions with novel aromatic hydrazone ligands. Based on the spectral analyses, the molecular ratio of Zn(II) ions to hydrazone ligands was established as 1:2, and a tetrahedral geometry around the zinc metal center was proposed for the synthesized aromatic hydrazone zinc(II) complexes. The aromatic hydrazone ligands probably coordinated with the metal Zn2+ via the carbonyl oxygen and deprotonated oxygen of salicyl ring. The fluorescence spectra of the synthesized zinc(II) complexes were analyzed in dichloromethane, revealing that the aromatic hydrazone ligands with various substituents generated a blue shift in the maximum emissions of the corresponding zinc(II) complexes. The inhibition of α-glucosidase by the synthesized hydrazone compounds was evaluated, and based on the antidiabetic activity results, the synthesized zinc(II) complexes demonstrate superior efficacy compared to the corresponding aromatic hydrazone ligands.