FINDINGS: The inhibition efficiencies were estimated based on weight loss method. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the inhibition mechanism. The synthesized Schiff bases were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and micro-elemental analysis. The inhibition efficiency depends on three factors: the amount of nitrogen in the inhibitor, the inhibitor concentration and the inhibitor molecular weight.
CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition efficiencies of 96 and 92% were achieved with BZ4 and BZ3, respectively, at the maximum tested concentration. Density functional theory calculations of BZ3 and BZ4 were performed to compare the effects of hydroxyl and N,N-dimethylamino substituents on the inhibition efficiency, providing insight for designing new molecular structures that exhibit enhanced inhibition efficiencies.
METHODOLOGY: The synthesized metal complexes were characterized by physicochemical and spectral investigation (UV, IR, 1H and 13C-NMR) and were further evaluated for their antimicrobial (tube dilution) and anticancer (SRB assay) activities. In addition, the corrosion inhibition potential was determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Antimicrobial screening results found complexes (MC1-MC4) to exhibit less antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial species compared to ofloxacin while the complex MC1 exhibited greater antifungal activity than the fluconazole. The anticancer activity results found the synthesized Schiff base and its metal complexes to elicit poor cytotoxic activity than the standard drug (5-fluorouracil) against HCT116 cancer cell line. Metal complex MC2 showed more corrosion inhibition efficiency with high Rct values and low Cdl values.
CONCLUSION: From the results, we can conclude that complexes MC1 and MC2 may be used as potent antimicrobial and anticorrosion agents, respectively.