Four
mononuclear bioefficient imine-based coordination complexes, [(L
1
)
2
Cu], [(L
1
)
2
Zn], [(L
2
)Cu(H
2
O)], and [(L
2
)Zn(H
2
O)], were synthesized
using ligands [L
1
= 2-(((3-hydroxynaphthalen-2-yl)methylene)amino)-2-methylpropane-1,3-diol
and L
2
= 4-(1-((1,3-dihydroxy-2-methylpropan-2-yl)imino)ethyl)benzene-1,3-diol].
The formation of the complexes was ascertained by elemental analysis,
Fourier transform infrared, 1H NMR, 13C NMR,
electrospray ionization–mass spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic
resonance, and thermogravimetric analysis. The comparative binding
propensity profiles of the above-synthesized complexes with the DNA/human
serum albumin (HSA) were investigated via UV absorption, fluorescence,
and Förster resonance energy-transfer studies. On the basis
of extended conjugation and planarity, L
1
complexes exhibited superior bioactivity with greater calculated
DNA binding constant values, (K
b) 2.9444
× 103
[(L
1
)
2
Cu] and 2.2693 ×
103
[(L
1
)
2
Zn], as compared to L
2
complexes, 1.793 × 103
[(L
2
)Cu(H
2
O)] and 9.801 × 102
[(L
2
)Zn(H
2
O)]. The competitive displacement assay of complexes
was performed by means of fluorogenic dyes (EtBr and Hoechst), which
corroborates the occurrence of minor groove binding because of the
enhanced displacement activity with Hoechst 33258. The minor groove
binding of the [(L
1
)
2
Cu] complex is further confirmed
by the molecular docking study. Moreover, the HSA study demonstrated
effective static quenching of complexes with substantial K
sv values. The [(L
1
)
2
Cu] complex was
found to have pronounced cleavage efficiency as evaluated from sodium
dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis electrophoresis.
Furthermore, in vitro antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl
and superoxide radicals further proclaimed the remarkable bioefficiency
of compounds, which make them promising as active chemotherapeutic
agents.