Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, and antimicrobial and anticancer assessment of Cu (II), Co(II), Zn(II), and VO(IV) Schiff base complexes

Abstract In this study, the Schiff base compound (HL) prepared from morpholine along with its metal complexes with Cu(II), Co(II), V(IV), and Zn(II) were successfully synthesized and characterized. Spectroscopic techniques such as FT-IR, UV-Visible, EPR, and 1 H-NMR spectroscopy were applied for ligand characterization as well as its metal complexes. The biological activity of the synthesized compounds was examined. The antibacterial tests revealed good efficiency against Gram-positive and negative bacteria with MIC values from 3 to 16 µg/mL. The metal complexes exhibited MIC values between 5 and 16 µg/mL against the examined bacterial strains. HL ligand showed the minimum MIC value of 3 µg/mL against Shigella flexneri and Staphylococcus aureus. The in vitro anticancer assay exhibited concentration-dependent reduction of cell viability. The viability of the cells was reduced to 38.24%, 47.40%, 55.92%, 61.48% and 62.09% by the Co(II) complex, V(IV) complex, Cu(II) complex, ligand, and Zn(II) complex, respectively, at the concentration of 50 µg, indicating the Co(II) complex is the most cytotoxic of the all the synthesized materials. The results indicate that metal coordination plays an important role in the biological behavior of the Schiff base system, making the Co(II) complex a potential candidate for further investigations.