Synthesis, spectral characterization, molecular modeling, antibacterial and antioxidant activities and stability study of binuclear Pd(II) and Ru(III) complexes with novel bis-[1-(2-[(2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylidene]amino}ethyl)-1-ethyl-3-phenylthiourea] ligand: Application to detection of cholesterol

A novel bis-[1-(2-[(2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl) methylidene]amino}ethyl)-1-ethyl-3-phenylthiourea] Schiff base (L) and its binuclear palladium and ruthenium complexes have been prepared and characterized by ESI-MS, elemental analysis, NMR (1H NMR, 13C NMR, COSY, NEOSY and HSQC), FT-IR, ATR, UV–Visible spectra, TGA measurements, conductivity and cyclic voltammetry. The experimental results and the molecular parameters calculated using DFT method revealed a square planar geometry around Pd and octahedral geometry around ruthenium metal. The antibacterial activity of the ligand L and its complexes was evaluated against different human bacteria. In addition, the formation constants of the synthesized Schiff base-metal complexes and the systems formed with these chelates and cholesterol were estimated using spectrophotometric technique. The detection of cholesterol using novel Pd and Ru Schiff base complexes was studied using fluorometric method, and the measurements showed that the sensitive fluorometric response towards cholesterol analysis was determined using palladium complex. The limit of detection (LOD) of cholesterol calculated using this complex (4.6 μM) is lower (better) than LOD found using ruthenium complex (19.1 μM) and different compounds previously published around linear range of 0–5 mM. [Display omitted] •New bis-[1-(2-[(2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl) methylidene] amino} ethyl)-1-ethyl-3-phenylthiourea] ligand and its binuclear Pd and Ru complexes were prepared and characterized.•The stability constants of the complexes and their interaction with cholesterol were studied using UV-Visible method.•The antioxidant and antibacterial activities of binuclear complexes were investigated.•The interaction study of cholesterol with Pd and Ru complexes was investigated using fluorometric technique.•The palladium complex is a good candidate material for the determination of cholesterol in a wide range of concentrations.