Synthesis, structural characterization and bioactivities of iron(III) and copper(II) complexes containing Schiff base thiourea ligands of 5-(tert-butyl)-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde

Abstract

Azomethine and thiourea groups possess potential bioactive functions in pharmacological substances so organic ligands containing both imine and thiourea groups and their metal complexes will be expected to have remarkable bioactivities. In this study, some iron(III) and copper(II) complexes containing Schiff base thiourea ligands derived from 1-(2-aminoethyl)-3-phenylthiourea or 1-(2-aminophenyl)-3-phenylthiourea and 5-(tert-butyl)-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde were synthesized and characterized by modern physicochemical analysis approaches such as mass, infrared, UV–vis spectra and effective magnetic moments. The analytical data have supported for the structures of iron(III) complexes in the molecular ratio of 1:2 of iron(III) and the relative ligand while copper(II) complexes in the ratio of 1:1. The synthetic ligands coordinated with iron(III) as NO bidentate mode, however they chelated with copper(II) as NNOS tetradentate possibly. The obtained iron(III) complexes possess high-spin octahedral geometry when copper(II) complexes perform distorted square planar. The obtained metal complexes were investigated in their thermal stability and chemical components by the thermogravimetric analysis. The synthetic Schiff base thiourea ligands were examined for their antimicrobial activity. Additionally, the synthesized complexes were estimated for their in vitro anticancer property against human cancer cell lines, hepatic cancer cells (HepG-2), and lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549).