A three-coordinate Ag(I) complex based on the V-shaped ligand 1,3-bis(1- ethylbenzimidazol-2-yl)-2-thiapropane: synthesis, crystal structure and DNAbinding properties

Posted on 14. September, 2016.

The properties of benzimidazole and its derivatives have been studied under a broad spectrum of biological activities for many years. The benzimidazole moiety is found in various biologically active compounds having antiviral, antiulcer, antihypertensive, anticancer, and antihistaminic properties.

The properties of benzimidazole and its derivatives have been studied under a broad spectrum of biological activities for many years. The benzimidazole moiety is found in various biologically active compounds having antiviral, antiulcer, antihypertensive, anticancer, and antihistaminic properties.
Bis-benzimidazole ligands, which represent a class of aromatic N–donor organic linkers, are less developed. DNA-interactive bis-benzimidazole analogues such as Hoechst 33258 have also been prepared to explore the potential for anticancer activity. Studies on the interaction of transition metal complexes with DNA continue to attract the attention of researchers due to their importance in design and development of synthetic restriction enzymes, chemotherapeutic drugs and DNA foot-printing agents.9–16 In this respect, silver(I) complexes have attracted a great deal of attention due to their biological and pharmacological properties which provide them with antibacterial and antifungal activities. The study of Ag(I) complexes containing benzimidazole-based ligands has received a great deal of attention during the past decades not only owing to their rich coordination chemistry but also due to probable applications in cancer therapy, molecular biology and photodynamic therapy (PDT).
In this paper, the authors have investigated a series of V-shaped bis-benzimidazole ligands and their complexes. A new ligand 1,3-bis(1-ethylbenzimidazol-2-yl)-2-thiapropane (bebt) and its Ag(I) complex have been synthesised and the DNA-binding properties of the complex investigated.


Read the full paper in Journal of Chemical Research, Volume 40, Number 8, August 2016, pp. 492-497.

Authors: Huilu Wu, Stephen Opeyemi Aderinto, Yuling Xu, Han Zhang and Zaihui Yang
School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730070, P.R. China

Keywords: benzimidazole, cinnamate, Ag(I) complex, crystal structure, DNA-binding

DOI:10.3184/174751916X14665109046089