Targeted synthesis, structural elucidation, density functional theory, and molecular docking studies of transition metal(II)/(III) complexes of levofloxacin‐based Schiff base for promising their antioxidant and antibacterial applications

Levofloxacin and 4‐aminoantipyrine undergo a condensation process to synthesize a novel Schiff base ligand (L). Metal complexes containing Co(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), Mn(II), Zn(II), Cr(III), Ni(II), and Fe(III) metal ions are prepared using this Schiff base ligand. The new ligand and its complexes are characterized by elemental analyses, Fourier transform infrared, mass spectrometry, ultraviolet–visible, magnetic moment, 1 H‐NMR, molar conductivity, and powder X‐ray diffraction, and further thermogravimetric analysis (TG, DTA) verifies their thermal stability. The metal to ligand ratio is 1:1, according to the analytical results. Spectroscopic methods reveal that metal complexes are expected to have an octahedral geometry and demonstrate a neutral tridentate ligand behavior. It also becomes apparent from the molar conductivity values that all metal complexes are electrolytic in nature except zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes which are non‐electrolytes. Moreover, the bioactivity of the compounds are investigated. The antibacterial activity is investigated in relation to various Gram ‐positive and Gram ‐negative bacteria. The results give good indication for higher activity of the prepared compounds than the standard antibiotic drug. Also, the antioxidant activity of the newly prepared ligand and its complexes has been investigated via 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyle (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. The findings show that Schiff base complexes exhibit good antioxidant activity. Finally, theoretical density functional theory using density functional theory/B3LYP method and molecular docking studies with two receptors of 3T88 and 3Q8U are calculated for the investigated compounds.