Introduction:
This study focuses on the development of novel antimicrobial agents. A Schiff base
ligand, 6-(2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylideneamino)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamido)-3,3-dimethyl-7-oxo-
4-thia-1-azabicyclo [3.2.0] heptane-2-carboxylic acid, synthesized through the condensation of amoxicillin
and vanillin in methanol, served as the foundation. Polydentate mixed ligand complexes were then formed by
reacting the Schiff base with metal ions (Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II)) and nicotinamide in specific
ratios.
Methods:
Characterization involved various techniques, such as 1H-NMR, FT-IR, UV-Vis, and elemental
analysis for the ligand, and Atomic Absorption, FT-IR, UV-Vis, magnetic susceptibility, and conductance
measurements for the Schiff base-metal ion complexes.
Results:
Quantum chemical features of both ligands and metal complexes were computed, refining their electronic
and molecular structures theoretically. Antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia
coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
was assessed for the starting materials, ligands, and synthesized complexes, revealing significant effects on
certain species. In-silico binding modes with Escherichia coli (PDB ID: 5iq9) were determined through molecular
docking.
Conclusion:
This study underscores the potential applications of the Schiff base ligands and their metal complexes
in developing new antimicrobial agents.