Catalytic, biological and DNA interaction studies of 3-(4-cyanophenyl)-2-methylacrylate organotin(IV) carboxylates derivatives: Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and X-ray structures

A series of six organotin(IV) carboxylates [Me2SnL2] (1), [Bu2SnL2] (2), [Oct2SnL2] (3), [Me3SnL] (4), [Bu3SnL] (5) and [Ph3SnL] (6), where L = 3-(4-cyanophenyl)-2-methylacrylate, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and NMR (1H, 13C). The ligand coordinates to tin atom via carboxylate moiety. The X-ray crystal structures of complexes 4 and 6 have also been determined. The catalytic activity of complexes was assessed in transesterification of triglycerides in sunflower oil into biodiesel. All the complexes showed good catalytic activity in the order 4 > 6 > 5 > 2 > 1. The ligand HL and complexes were screened for their anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities. All the tested complexes exhibited significant to good anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities with few exceptions. The mode of binding of ligand HL, complexes 4 and 5 with SS-DNA were determined and the observed hypochromicity indicating intercalation of aromatic ring into the base pairs of DNA.