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ABSTRACT:
One pot synthesis of curcumin Schiff's metal complex is successfully achieved. The synthesized complex is compared with blue copper protein by electron paramagnetic studies. The formed complex is characterized using absorption studies, IR and EPR studies. The distorted structure of the molecule make the complexes suitable for biological system.
KEYWORDS: Curcumin, Schiff's, EPR, One pot.
INTRODUCTION:
The design and synthesis of small molecules that bind to and cleavenucleic acids are still a major challenge for researchers. These artificial nucleases have important applications as tools in molecular biology and as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer and viral diseases. There has been substantial interest in the rational design of novel transition metal complexes which bind and cleave duplex DNA with high sequence or structure selectivity [1-3]. The characterization of DNA recognition by small transition metal complexes has been substantially aided by the DNA cleavage chemistry that is associated with redox active or photo activated metal complexes. Indeed, there is already a considerable literature involving the practical use of transition metal complexes as chemical nucleases [4-6].
Curcumin (1,7 -bi(4-hydroxy-3 -methoxyphenyl)-1,5 - heptadiene-3,5-dione), is a natural orange dye extracted from the Rhizome of the plant Curcuma Longa. Curcumin has an interesting structure with two phenolic groups and one active methylene function. The double bonds are essential for proper conformational flexibility of the molecule. The remarkable antioxidant properties of curcumin [7] are thought to arise from the hydroxyl groups in the aromatic side chains or from the CH2 group of the ß-diketone moiety [8]. Jovanoic et al. have indicated that hydrogen abstraction from the methylene -CH2 group is responsible for the remarkable antioxidant activity of curcumin [9]. Recently, Priyadarsini et al. have reported that phenolic OH is mainly responsible for the activity of curcumin [10,11]. However, modifications in the ß-diketone are less explored except where this moiety is modified with hydrazide [12] and cyclohexanone groups [13]. Preliminary studies in appending the ß-carbonyl functionality in curcumin with known pharmacophore amine have shown to enhance its antioxidant potential [14].
Schiff bases derived from an amine and any aldehyde or ketone are a class of compounds which coordinate to metal ions via the azomethine nitrogen. Schiff base chelating ligands containing O and N donor atoms show broad biological...