Thiophene-Derived Schiff Base Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization, Antimicrobial Properties, and Molecular Docking

Novel thiophene-derived
Schiff base ligand DE, where DE is (E)-N1,N1-diethyl-N2-(thiophen-2-ylmethylene)ethane-1,2-diamine,
and the corresponding M(II) complexes, [M(DE)X2] (M = Cu or Zn, X = Cl; M = Cd, X = Br), were prepared and structurally
characterized. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the geometry
around the center of the M(II) complexes, [Zn(DE)Cl2] and [Cd(DE)Br2], could be best described
as a distorted tetrahedral. In vitro antimicrobial
screening of DE and its corresponding M(II) complexes, [M(DE)X2], was performed. The complexes were more
potent and showed higher activities against Escherichia
coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, fungi Candida albicans, and protozoa Leishmania
major compared to the ligand. Among the studied complexes, [Cd(DE)Br2] exhibited the most promising antimicrobial
activity against all the tested microbes compared to its analogs.
These results were further supported by molecular docking studies.
We believe that these complexes may significantly contribute to the
efficient designing of metal-derived agents to treat microbial infections.