Transition metal complexes (M = Cu, Ni and Mn) of Schiff-base ligands: Syntheses, crystal structures, and inhibitory bioactivities against urease and xanthine oxidase

Six new transition metal complexes (M = Cu(II), Ni(II) and Mn(III)) of tridentate (H2L1, HL2) and/or bidentate (HL3, HL4) Schiff-base ligands, obtained from the condensation of salicylaldehyde with glycine, N-(2-aminoethyl)morpholine, 4-(2-aminoethyl)phenylic acid and 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzsulfamide, respectively, were synthesized and structurally determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Complexes 1–6 were evaluated for their effect on the jack bean urease and xanthine oxidase (XO). Copper(II) complexes 1–3 (IC50 = 0.43–2.25 μM) showed potent inhibitory activity against jack bean urease, comparable with acetohydroxamicacid (IC50 = 42.12 μM), which is a positive reference. And these copper(II) complexes (IC50 = 10.26–15.82 μM) also exhibited strong ability to inhibit activity of XO, comparable to allopurinol (IC50 = 10.37 μM), which was used as a positive reference. Nickel(II) and manganese(III) complexes 4–6 showed weak inhibitory activity to jack bean urease (IC50 = 4.36–8.25 μM) and no ability to inhibit XO (IC50 > 100 μM).