ic4004356_si_001.pdf (1.48 MB)
Substituent Effects on the Biological Properties of Zn-Salophen Complexes
journal contribution
posted on 2013-08-19, 00:00 authored by Ilaria Giannicchi, Rosa Brissos, David Ramos, Joaquin
de Lapuente, João Carlos Lima, Antonella Dalla Cort, Laura RodríguezThe
synthesis, characterization, and luminescent properties of
a series of 5,5′-X-substituted salophen ligands, X= OCH3, Br, and NO2, and the corresponding Zn(II) complexes
are reported here. Their biological activity has been analyzed and
related to the different Lewis acid character of the complexes. In
vitro studies (AFM and absorption and emission titrations) show that
the strongest interaction with free plasmid DNA is observed for 5,5′-dinitro-substituted
Zinc-salophen complex 3b. Semiempirical theoretical calculations
together with redox potential measurements suggest that this might
be interpreted as a direct consequence of this compound having the
hardest Lewis acid character. Cellular uptake and cytotoxicity studies
undertaken with these metal complexes show that they enter the cells
but are not cytotoxic.