Synthesis, crystal structure and biological activities of a Ag(I) complex based on the V-shaped ligand 1,3-bis(1-benzylbenzimidazol-2-yl)-2-thiapropane

Abstract

Abstract A new silver(I) complex with 1,3-bis(1-benzylbenzimidazol-2-yl)-2-thiapropane (bbbt) and crotonate ligands, with composition [Ag(bbbt)(crotonate)]·CH3CH2OH, has been synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the coordination environment of the silver(I) center can be described as a distorted tetrahedral geometry, the Ag(I) atom being coordinated by two oxygen atoms from a crotonate anion and two nitrogen atoms from a bbbt ligand. Experimental studies of the DNA-binding properties indicated that the free ligand and the silver(I) complex bind to DNA by intercalation, and the order of the binding affinity is silver(I) complex>free bbbt ligand. The Ag(I) complex exhibits scavenger properties for hydroxyl radicals in in vitro studies.