Ullah_2023_Pharmaceuticals.(Basel)_16_

Six heteroleptic Cu(II) carboxylates (1-6) were prepared by reacting 2-chlorophenyl acetic acid (L(1)), 3-chlorophenyl acetic acid (L(2)), and substituted pyridine (2-cyanopyridine and 2-chlorocyanopyridine). The solid-state behavior of the complexes was described via vibrational spectroscopy (FT-IR), which revealed that the carboxylate moieties adopted different coordination modes around the Cu(II) center. A paddlewheel dinuclear structure with distorted square pyramidal geometry was elucidated from the crystal data for complexes 2 and 5 with substituted pyridine moieties at the axial positions. The presence of irreversible metal-centered oxidation reduction peaks confirms the electroactive nature of the complexes. A relatively higher binding affinity was observed for the interaction of SS-DNA with complexes 2-6 compared to L(1) and L(2). The findings of the DNA interaction study indicate an intercalative mode of interaction. The maximum inhibition against acetylcholinesterase enzyme was caused for complex 2 (IC(50) = 2 microg/mL) compared to the standard drug Glutamine (IC(50) = 2.10 microg/mL) while the maximum inhibition was found for butyrylcholinesterase enzyme by complex 4 (IC(50) = 3 microg/mL) compared to the standard drug Glutamine (IC(50) = 3.40 microg/mL). The findings of the enzymatic activity suggest that the under study compounds have potential for curing of Alzheimer's disease. Similarly, complexes 2 and 4 possess the maximum inhibition as revealed from the free radical scavenging activity performed against DPPH and H(2)O(2).