Aroylhydrazone‐based nickel(II) complexes: Synthesis and their structural, density functional theory (DFT), biological and catalytic studies

Nickel(II) complexes of tridentate NNO donor aroylhydrazones, viz., di‐2‐pyridyl ketone‐4‐methoxybenzhydrazone monohydrate (DKMBH·H2O) and 2‐acetylpyrazine‐4‐methoxybenzhydrazone monohydrate (APMBH·H2O), were synthesized and characterized using various methods, including spectral techniques (Fourier transform infrared [FT‐IR], UV–vis) and analytical methods (elemental and X‐ray diffraction [XRD] analysis). Single‐crystal XRD was used to elucidate the crystal structures of nickel(II) complexes 1 and 2. The XRD analysis revealed that the respective ligands coordinated to the Ni(II) center through the deprotonated iminolate form in complex 1 and the neutral amido form in complex 2, resulting in distorted octahedral geometries. The ground state electronic configurations of the complexes were studied using the B3LYP/UB3LYP levels of DFT. Using absorption spectral titration methods, the interactions of complexes with CT‐DNA and bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein were examined. The observed data demonstrate that the complexes adopt an intercalative binding mode to bind to CT‐DNA and BSA protein. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of the nickel(II) complexes and their ligands was determined using 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Complex 2 demonstrated the highest radical scavenging activity of the compounds studied (IC50 = 3.81 mM). Furthermore, molecular docking studies were performed to understand how the complexes can interact with the SARS‐CoV‐2 main protease. The results revealed that complex 2 had the highest docking score (−8.18 kcal/mol) when compared with the other complexes under study. Aside from their biological properties, the nickel complexes heterogenized on functionalized SBA‐15 showed promising catalytic activity, achieving 98% yield in the reduction of nitrobenzene, forming exclusively aniline as the end product. Nickle(II) complexes of tridentate aroylhydrazones were prepared using a simple method. The molecular structure of complexes has been elucidated using single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. Protein binding, DNA binding, molecular docking, antioxidant activity, and DFT studies were carried out. Further, a heterogenized complex has been screened for nitrobenzene reduction reaction.