Synthesis, structure, protein binding, and cytotoxicity of zinc(II) complexes with tridentate NNO Schiff-base ligands

Mononuclear and trinuclear zinc(II) complexes (1 and 2) with tridentate NNO Schiff-base ligands (HL1 = N-2-pyridiylmethylidene-4-chloro-2-hydroxy-phenylamine, HL2 = N-2-pyridiylmethylidene-2-hydroxy-5-chloro-phenylamine) have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis. The binding properties of zinc(II) complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) and HSA were investigated by UV-visible, fluorescence, and circular dichroism spectra. The zinc(II) complexes bind significantly to CT-DNA by intercalation and bind to protein HSA through a static quenching mechanism. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the complexes on human tumor cells lines was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimathylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide, Hoechst 33258 staining experiments.