Abstract

Introduction: The researchers sought to create a new bis-azo ligand as a progression of their previous studies.

Materials and Methods: The ligand, designated as 6,6 (methylenebis (4,1-phenylene)) bis (diazene-2,1-diyl)) bis (2,4-dimethylphenol), was produced, followed by the preparation of a variety of chelate complexes with Pd+2, and Au+3 ions. The characterization of these compounds was performed using advanced techniques such as elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, H, NMR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, through DSC to elucidate the synthesized complexes.

Results: Analysis indicated that the complexes produced with Pd+2, and Au+3 ions demonstrated a 2:1 metal-ligand ratio. The ligand was identified as bidentate (N-O) in nature. Molecular docking methods were employed to assess the effectiveness of these compounds in cancer treatment. The cytotoxicity of the 6-MPDDB dye ligand and its palladium (II) complex in colorectal carcinoma was assessed Using the MTT method. The dye and its metal complexes were evaluated for their antioxidant activity by assessing their ability to scavenge free radicals using the DPPH assay, with ascorbic acid serving as the standard. The IC₅₀ values were determined, revealing that the ligand demonstrated notable free radical inhibition, whereas the antioxidant potential of the complexes differed according to their respective IC₅₀ values.

Conclusion: The synthesized ligand and its Pd(II) and Au(III) complexes demonstrated well-defined structural characteristics and promising biological activities. Overall, the results suggest their potential as effective antioxidant and anticancer agents, warranting further investigation.

Introduction

Azo dyes currently predominate in global dye manufacturing chemistry, with their industrial significance anticipated to increase further in the future. They are essential in the administration of the dye and printing sector [1]. Synthetic and natural azo compounds serve as a crucial source of drug prototypes and a foundation for drug development, in addition to their use in other important applications. Moreover, due to their facile synthesis, elevated molar extinction coefficient, and superior wet fastness qualities, azo dyes hold significant importance of organic compounds [2, 3]. Mono-azo dyes represent the most prominent class of azo dyes [4], with a wide range of applications across diverse fields, including memory and recording devices [5, 6], molecular switches [7], thermochromic materials [8], catalysis [9], supramolecular systems [10], and textile and fiber dyeing. Their broad utility is largely attributed to their strong adsorption capacity and efficient interaction associated with the presence of the N=N group [11]. Azo ligands containing oxygen and nitrogen donor atoms are well known for their notable biological activity and excellent chelating ability toward various metal ions. Azo ligands can form coordination complexes with multiple metal ions, and the resulting properties of these complexes are highly dependent on the specific metal ion incorporated [12]. Azo ligand complexes possess diverse applications in medicine, including anticancer properties [9]. Antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory agents [13]. Research on azo ligand complexes remains ongoing. These complex molecules possess numerous potential applications, necessitating further investigation to fully understand their properties and prospective uses [9]. Their extensive applications arise from advantageous traits including synthetic flexibility, vibrant colors, and superior fastness characteristics. The azo compound is characterized by the nature of its substituents and their positions on the aromatic ring. The capacity of dyes to absorb electromagnetic energy within the visible spectrum (400-700 nm) dictates their coloration [14]. According to Witt’s idea, a colored dye requires both an auxochrome and a chromophore group. Auxochromes enhance the color of a dye when included, while chromophores, including nitro, azo, and quinoid groups, impart color to the dye by absorbing visible light. The contemporary electronic theory has supplanted Witt theory. This concept posits that color arises from the excitation of valence p electrons by visible light (Murrell 1973) [15, 16]. Azo compounds possess a fundamental structure characterized by the azo functional group (-N=N-), which connects two organic substituents, including symmetric/asymmetric or symmetric/non-symmetric alkyl or aryl radicals [17]. The hues produced by azo dyes derive from the azo bonds and any associated chromophores or autochromes [18-20]. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of light transition elements and heavy elements such as Au, Pd, and Pt when complexed with organic ligands as anti-cancer treatments [3, 21-23]. This study delineates the synthesis and characterisation of a novel bisazo dye ligand (6-MBTAMP) in conjunction with its complexes with Au (III), and Pd (II), metals, as well as its antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. Molecular docking was employed to assess the efficacy of these medicines in combating cancer. The cytotoxic effects of the ligand (6-MBTAMP) and its Pd (II) complex on colorectal cancer (CaCo2) were investigated. Subsequent study of the structure was conducted using elemental analysis (C.H.N), FT-IR, 1H-NMR, UV-Vis, XRD, and FE-SEM techniques.

Materials and Methods

All synthetic chemicals and solvents utilized in this study are of superior quality, sourced from reputable companies including BDH, Aldrich, Sigma, and Merck. 1H-NMR spectra were acquired using a Bruker BioSpin GmbH 400 MHz spectrophotometer, with DMSO-d6 as the solvent and TMS as the internal reference. The infrared spectra of all blend compounds were recorded using KBr pellets with a Bruker spectrophotometer (Germany) over the wavenumber range of 400-4000 -1cm. Essential examinations (C.H.N.S) were conducted utilizing a Euro (EA1106) elemental analyzer. The electronic spectra of the azo ligand and its metal complexes were recorded in a high ethanol solvent (10^-4 M) throughout the wavelength range of 1100 to 200 nm using a Shimadzu UV-650PC spectrophotometer (200-1100 nm) manufactured in Japan. At room temperature, attractive vulnerability assessments for pre-designed structures were conducted on an equilibrium attractive MSBMK utilizing the Faraday methodology. The Siemens model (D500) was utilized to calculate the X-ray beam refraction (XRD). Images of the ligand and its metal structures were obtained using a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) from the French Czech company T.E.S.C.A.N, namely the BRNOMira3 model.

Synthesis of 6,6 (methylenebis (4,1-phenylene)) bis (diazene-2,1-diyl)) bis (2,4-dimethylphenol) ligand (6-MBTAMP).

The synthesis of the 6-MBTAMP ligand was carried out as follows: 0.991 g (5 mmol) of 4,4′-methylenedianiline was dissolved in a mixture of 5 mL of 37% hydrochloric acid and 40 mL of distilled water. The resulting solution was cooled to a temperature between 0 and 5 °C. A separate solution containing 0.69 g (10 mmol) of sodium nitrite in 25 mL of distilled water was then added dropwise to the chilled mixture under continuous stirring, while ensuring the temperature remained below 5 °C throughout the addition. Independently, 1.222 g (10 mmol) of 2,4-dimethylphenol was solubilized in 17 mL of 10% NaOH and 30 mL of ethanol, then subjected to cooling. The previously prepared diazotized acid solution was gradually incorporated into this solution while stirring. This led to the creation of an insoluble orange liquid, which constituted the desired azo ligand. The precipitate was rinsed multiple times with a 1:1 solution of ethanol and water to eliminate inactive precursors. Ultimately, it was dried to yield the pure azo ligand. The reaction mechanism is delineated in Scheme 1.

Scheme 1. Synthesis of ligand (6-MBTAMP).

The multistep syntheses, which included diazotization and coupling processes, produced the necessary azo-containing ligand.

Preparation of [Pd (II), Au (III)] complexes

The metal complexes of the synthesized azo ligand were prepared using chloride salts of palladium (II), and gold (III). Each complex was formed in a 1:2 metal- to-ligand molar ratio, corresponding to the expected coordination geometry between the metal centers and the multidentate azo ligand. In a typical procedure, 0.177 g of PdCl₂, 0.394 g and of HAuCl₄ (each equivalent to 1 mmol) were gradually added dropwise to 15 mL of an ethanolic solution containing 0.232 g (0.5 mmol) of the ligand under continuous stirring. The reaction mixture was maintained at a temperature of 60–70°C for 3 hours to ensure complete complexion, then cooled in an ice bath to initiate precipitation. The mixture was allowed to stand overnight, after which the solid complexes were filtered, washed thoroughly with distilled water followed by a small amount of hot ethanol to remove any unreacted materials, and finally dried in a vacuum desiccator. The gradual addition of reactants and precise stoichiometric control facilitated efficient coordination between the metal ions and the chelating azo ligand, yielding highly pure crystalline complexes. The analytical and physical characteristics of the ligand and its corresponding metal complexes are summarized in Table 1, and the synthetic route is illustrated in Scheme 2.

Scheme 2. Synthesis of Complexes where M Represents the Metals Au and Pd.

Results and Discussion

The synthesized azo ligand (6-MBTAMP) was obtained as a fine, amorphous orange powder. The amorphous character indicates the absence of a well-defined molecular arrangement, as evidenced by its varied solubility across different solvent systems. The ligand displayed high solubility in polar aprotic solvents such as dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which enabled precise spectroscopic characterization in solution. Ethanol was identified as the most effective solvent for recrystallization, yielding highly pure solid samples of 6-MBTAMP. The metal–ligand complexes formed from 6-MBTAMP exhibited pronounced stability under ambient conditions, and their analytical and physical characteristics, summarized in Table 1, showed excellent agreement with the theoretically predicted values.

o Compound M.wt g m/mole Color M.P(C ͦ ) Yield     Elemental microanalysis%    
          (%) C% H% N% Cl% M
1 C₂₉H₂₈NO 464.6 orange 178-180 73 74.98 6.08 12.06 - -
            73.12 5.28 13.05    
2 C₃₂H₃₅Au ClNO 1043.1 reddish orange 257-260 68 36.84 3.38 5.37 14.78 37.76
            35.21 2.39 5.11 13.59 38.2
3 C₃₀H₃₃ClNOPd 797.4 Dark brown 278-280 67 45.45 4.17 7.0 3 8.89 29.76
            44.16 3.24 6.82 9.88 30.22
Table 1. Analytical and Physical Properties of the Ligand and Its Complexes.

1H-NMR spectra

The 1H-NMR spectra of the ligand, recorded in DMSO-d6 at 400 MHz, as depicted in Figure 1, exhibit signals indicative of the azo ligand.

Figure 1. 1H-NMR Spectrum of Ligand (6-MBTAMP).

The 1H NMR spectrum displayed a wide singlet peak at δ (11.82) ppm (br s, 2H, Ar-OH), attributed to phenolic-OH protons. The chemical shift of aromatic protons on phenyl rings was attributed to the peaks at δ (7.03, 8.16) ppm, (m, 12H). The signal at 4.24 ppm was attributed to the protons of the benzylic CH2 (s, 2H, CH2 bridge). The methyl groups manifest as singlets at δ 2.41, 2.34, and 2.26 ppm (s, 12H, Ar-CH3), indicative of the lack of adjacent protons [24].

FT-IR spectroscopy

The ligand’s infrared spectrum showed five distinct absorption bands at 3379, 3025, 2899, 1605, and 1511 cm⁻¹. These bands are linked to certain functional groups: The broad band at 3379 cm⁻¹ is for the phenolic O–H stretch; the peaks at 3025 cm⁻¹ and 2899 cm⁻¹ are for the aromatic and aliphatic v(C–H) vibrations of aryl-methyl substituents; the absorption at 1605 cm⁻¹ is for the azo (–N=N–) group; and the band at 1511 cm⁻¹ is for the aromatic ν (C=C) stretching within conjugated systems. A closer look at the IR spectra of all the metal complexes that were made showed that the phenolic O–H band had disappeared. This means that the hydroxyl group had lost its proton and was now coordinating with the metal ion. Moreover, the azo stretching band displayed significant shifts upon complexion, along with the emergence of new absorption indicative bands of M–N, M–O, and M–Cl vibrations. These changes in the spectrum show that the azo dye ligand binds to the metal center through two donor sites: the nitrogen atom in the azo group and the oxygen atom in the phenolic group. Hence, the ligand functions as an N,O-bidentate chelating agent in all synthesized metal complexes. Figure 2 shows the infrared spectrum of the prepared ligand [25, 26].

Figure 2. The IR Spectra of Ligand (6-MBTAMP).

X-ray Diffraction

X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was conducted on the samples using an X-ray diffractometer under controlled laboratory conditions. The resulting diffraction patterns displayed distinct peaks along the 2θ axis, representing the angles at which X-rays are deflected upon interacting with the sample. To extract quantitative data, the results were processed using specialized software, X’Pert HighScore, for detailed analysis.

The crystallite size was determined using the Scherrer equation, a well-established method for estimating particle size from XRD data. The analysis revealed that both the ligand (6-MBTAMP) and its metal complexes Au (III), Pd (II), and Ag (I) possess nanoscale dimensions, with the ligand exhibiting an average crystallite size of 25.85 nm, and the complexes showing average sizes of 27.92, 25.89, and 25.13 nm, respectively, as illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 3. X-ray Diffraction Pattern of the Bis-azo Ligand ((6MBD-DMP)) and Its Complexes.

These results confirm the nanostructured nature of the synthesized compounds, highlighting their potential applications in various technological and scientific fields that utilize the unique properties of nanomaterials.

Table 2 summarizes the structural parameters of the crystalline materials, including lattice strain, crystallite size, relative intensity, peak height, d-spacing, FWHM, peak position, and compound identification.

Compound Pos. [°2Th.] Height [cts] FWHM[°2Th.] d-spacing [Å] Rel. Int.[%] Tip width[°2Th.] CrystalliteSize D (nm) Dislocation density Averagesize (nm)
6-MBTAMP 10.8464 122.52 0.4428 8.15034 16.61 0.5314 18.83 0.002820326  
  13.0214 358.93 0.492 6.79341 48.67 0.5904 16.98 0.003468364 25.85.
  15.3585 613.51 0.1968 5.76453 83.19 0.2362 42.56 0.000552073  
  15.6285 737.47 0.1968 5.66555 100 0.2362 42.57 0.000551814  
  16.4827 98.97 0.3936 5.37381 13.42 0.4723 21.31 0.002202  
  13.1691 10.57 0.5904 6.71759 22.63 0.7085 14.15 0.004994444  
6-MBTAMP Au 16.6831 46.69 0.2952 5.3097 100 0.3542 28.42 0.001238089  
  22.211 18.32 0.2952 3.99915 39.24 0.3542 28.66 0.00121744 25.89
  25.1276 9.12 0.2952 3.54117 19.53 0.3542 28.81 0.001204796  
  26.4517 15.95 0.3936 3.36684 34.16 0.4723 21.66 0.002131489  
  23.0613 106.78 0.1968 3.85357 21.55 0.2362 43.05 0.000539577  
6-MBTAMP Pd 27.9223 240.03 0.2952 3.19276 48.44 0.3542 28.97 0.001191525 27.92.
  29.4174 161.65 0.246 3.03381 32.63 0.2952 34.89 0.000821482  
  32.2989 494.67 0.246 2.76942 99.84 0.2952 35.13 0.000810296  
  32.7528 495.47 0.246 2.73208 100 0.2952 35.17 0.000808454  
Table 2. Angles of Diffraction, d-observed Values, and Relative Intensities, Crystal Sizes, Crystal Tensions, Peak widths at Moderate Intensities, and Dissolution Densities for each of the Ligand and its Metal Complexes.

These parameters provide insights into the crystallographic characteristics of the samples: lattice strain reflects internal stress, crystallite size indicates particle dimensions, and other values describe features such as peak intensity, interplanar spacing, and phase identification [27, 28].

Field-emission Scanning Electron Microscopy Analyzes For Bisazo Ligand (6MBD-DMP) and its metal complexes

Field-emission Scanning Electron Microscopy Analyzes For Bisazo Ligand (6MBD-DMP) and its metal complexes Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) is a technique for examining the morphology, dimensions, and distribution of crystals, together with their crystalline and surface structures. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy was employed to capture images of the surfaces of ligand crystals and their metal complexes. This was due to its obvious demonstration of the disparities in crystal structures and surface homogeneity. It was utilized in the emission domain with a cross-sectional distance of 200 nm and a magnification factor of 50,000. The surface characteristics of Bisazo Ligand (6MPD-DDB) particles and their metal complexes were examined for particle size, morphology, aggregation, and distribution. The FE-SEM analysis image of the gold (III) complex revealed uneven, agglomerated crystals with an average particle size of 62.34nm. The FESEM images presented in Figure 4.

Figure 4. FESEM Images of the (a) Pd (b) Au Complexes.

indicate that the ligand and its metal complex under investigation possess a grain size of less than 100 nanometers, confirming its classification within the nanoscale range. This was corroborated by the XRD data and computations. The average crystal size (D) demonstrated relative consistency, hence affirming the validity of the data. Significantly, certain aggregates produced during the agglomeration process, which facilitates the assembly of elementary particles, pose challenges in eliminating this phenomenon due to the necessity of employing high temperatures to finalize the growth of ligand and complex crystals under preparation. The study therefore enhances the effective surface area, which contributes to the quantitative effect, to generate new energy levels that facilitate electron movement. This characteristic inherent in the ligand and their synthesized metal complexes renders these compounds applicable in various domains. of biology and medicine as a treatment and the extent of the suitability of these compounds.

In order to eliminate colorectal cancer (CaCo-2) [29, 30], and the possibility of using it or applying it as a medicine, will be explained later in our current study.

MTT test

The cytotoxic effects of CaCo-2, and HDFn were evaluated using Intron Biotech’s ready-made MTT assay kit, which contained 1 mL of MTT solution in 10 vials, plus 50 mL of diluent in two vials. Tumor cells were cultured at concentrations ranging from 1 × 10⁴ to 1 × 10⁶ cells/mL in 96-well microplates, with a final volume of 200 µL of complete nutrient medium per well. The plates were then covered with sterile parafilm strips, gently agitated, and incubated at 37°C with 5% CO₂ for 72 hours. Following the incubation period, the medium was discarded, and bifold sequential concentrations of the compounds (400, 200, 100, 50, and 25 mg/mL) were added, with three replicates per concentration, in addition to controls containing cells treated with serum-free medium. The plates were then re-incubated under the same conditions for a 4-hour exposure. Subsequently, 20 µL of each compound was added to the wells and left to stand for 24 hours. Then, 10 µL of MTT solution was added to each well, and the incubation was repeated for an additional 4 hours. Finally, the medium was carefully discarded, and 100 µL of the solubilization solution was added to each well for 5 minutes. Absorbance was then measured using an ELISA reader at 575 nm. The absorption values were subjected to statistical analysis in order to calculate the required concentration of each compound to induce a 50% reduction in cell viability, using the equation:

Y = D + (A – D) / (1 + 10^(x – logC)B).

The anticancer activity of the synthesized palladium complex was evaluated against the human colorectal cancer cell line (CaCo-2) using the MTT assay. CaCo-2 cells were exposed to a series of concentrations of the complex (25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μg/mL) to assess its effect on cell viability, as illustrated in Figure 8. The reduction in CaCo-2 cell viability (%) after 72 hours of incubation with the palladium complex is summarized in Table 3 and Figure 8.

Compound %   inhibition      
  12.5 (μg/mL) 25 (μg/mL) 50 (μg/mL) 100 (μg/mL) 200 (μg/mL)
Ascorbic acid 30.71+1.0753 43.055+ 1.1040 53.973+1.2908 65.818+1.9516 76.389+1.4773
Complex 20.100+0.8533 24.884 +1.009 32.446 +3.1428 43.287+0.8737 51.311+2.0389
Table 3. The Antioxidant Effects of the Ligand and its Pd (II) Complex.

The results demonstrated a concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability, with an IC₅₀ value of 112.8 μg/mL. Significant cytotoxic effects were observed starting at 25 μg/mL, with a progressive increase in cell death up to 400 μg/ mL (P < 0.05, n = 6). These findings indicate that the palladium complex exhibits a potent antiproliferative effect against CaCo-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Additionally, notable morphological changes were observed in treated CaCo-2 cells. The pronounced cytotoxic activity of the complex may be attributed to its ability to induce apoptosis and cytotoxicity within cancer cells by reducing the proportion of cells in the G₀/G₁ and G₂/M phases of the cell cycle and by suppressing the mRNA expression of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein. This inhibition, in turn, promotes the activation of pro-apoptotic gene expression in cancer cells [31, 32]. Importantly, the palladium complex exhibited minimal cytotoxicity toward normal human dermal fibroblast neonatal (HDFn) cells, with an IC₅₀ value exceeding 100 μg/mL, as shown in Figure 5, suggesting its selective toxicity toward cancerous cells (Table 4).

Figure 5. Cytotoxicity Effect of Pd Complex on Colorectal Cancer Cell Line.

Conc.( μg/ml)   HDFn   CaCo-2
Conc. Mean SD Mean SD
400 65.23933 2.315969 49.57567 2.974289
200 75.347 2.363498 66.281 1.279967
100 88.46433 0.707244 74.92267 0.928419
50 94.86867 0.267313 88.73467 1.871192
25 96.142 0.291464 94.25167 0.406382
Table 4. The Impact of Pd Complex of CaCo-2 cells at 37°C Compared to a Control Cell Line at the Same Dose.

Microscopic analysis revealed a clear differential effect of the compound Pd complex on healthy fibroblasts (HDFn) compared to colon cancer cells (CaCo-2). HDFn cells retained their high density and characteristic normal morphology, with typical fibrous lines and elongation, and exhibited strong surface adhesion without any signs of cellular stress or apparent toxicity. This suggests that the compound exhibits low cytotoxicity towards healthy cells.

In contrast, CaCo-2 cells showed a marked decrease in number after treatment with the compound, and many appeared shrunken, spherical, or detached from the surface. Their morphological characteristics are generally associated with loss of viability and the initiation of cell death mechanisms such as apoptosis or necrosis. Large voids were also observed under the microscope, confirming the strong inhibitory effect of the compound Pd complex on cancer cell growth. Based on these results, the compound Pd complex exhibits high selectivity towards cancer cells, significantly inhibiting colon cancer cell growth with very limited effect on healthy cells. This selectivity highlights the importance of this compound as a promising candidate for anticancer therapeutic potential, while minimizing side effects on healthy tissues Figure 6 shows microscopic images of a Pd complex effect on healthy cells and treated cancer cells.

Figure 6. Microscopic Images of a Pd Complex Effect on HDFn Cells and CaCo-2 Cells.

Antioxidant activity

The authors investigated the efficacy of the synthesized complex in scavenging free radicals by the stable DPPH free radical scavenging assay. DPPH is a stable radical due to the separation of the extra electron and the peak absorption at around 517 nm. Individuals frequently utilize DPPH’s scavenging capability to assess the efficacy of various compounds in combating free radicals. Table 5 indicates that a concentration of 200 μg/mL of the complex exhibited the highest scavenging activity at 51.31 %. A higher concentration of the complex correlates with an increased percentage of free radicals it can scavenge. The synthesized complex has a similar free radical scavenging activity to that of the positive antioxidant ascorbic acid, particularly at concentrations between 50 and 100 g/mL (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Antioxidant Activity of Pd (II) Complex Using DPPH.

The concentrations of 200, 25, and 12.5 µg/ml showed the least action in comparison to ascorbic acid, which acted as a positive control. Pd complexes exhibit superior efficacy in scavenging DPPH compared to the associated free molecules [33, 34].

Molecular docking study

MOE is the new docking module (MOE, Vs. 2015) that is used to model how the tested drug interacts with functional cell proteins [35]. This simulation approach was applied to all synthesized ligands and complexes against the 2X6E protein. This study is an initial assessment designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the efficacy of the tested molecule (inhibitor) against the chosen pathogen. 2X6E shows how the Aurora-molecule looks in three dimensions. A kinase enzyme attached to a medication that stops colorectal cancer It is a protein enzyme that belongs to the serine/threonine kinase family. To begin, each molecule that was evaluated went through an energy minimization process to set up stable structures. Next, the MMFF94x force field adds atomic charges and controls the potential energy and other settings. We put that chemical in a new database as an MDB file so that it could be utilized for docking experiments. Second, after removing the water molecules, hydrogen atoms were added to the amino acid receptors of each selected co-crystalline protein. Then, the potential energy was set, the site finder was controlled, and the domains over the alpha-site sphere were set [36]. So, the two sides are ready to simulate each process. The important interaction parameters were determined, and then the docking began till the process was finished. Using the London dG scoring algorithm, each process had an average of 30 poses. This was more than twice as good as the triangular Matcher approaches. In terms of extracted as ligand type, interaction type, receptors, bond length, and energy score value. The only Hbonding that works must be less than 3.5 Å. The docking validation patterns, surfaces, and maps were obtained following the ligand interaction process over line domains. To determine the ranking of inhibition efficiency, it is necessary to take into account the scoring energy, bond lengths, and receptors [37]. As presented in Table 5 and in Figure 8.

Compounds S (kcal/mol) RMSD Ligand Receptor Interaction Distance E (kcal/mol)
Ligand -7.01385784 2.35927749 6-ring CG LEU 139 (A) pi-H 3.81 -0.6
6MBD-DMP     6-ring CA GLY 142 (A) pi-H 4.35 -1.3
Pd (II) Mixed ligand -7.31439209 1.95499635 PD 62 O LEU 139 (A) metal 2.01 -2.2
      PD 63 OD1 ASP 274 (A) metal 2.2 -5.4
      6-ring CA GLY 140 (A) pi-H 3.97 -0.8
      6-ring CA GLY 216 (A) pi-H 4 -0.6
Table 5. Docking Interaction Data for the Compounds, Ligand (6MBD-DMP), and Pd (Il) Complex for Ligand with the Active site of the Receptor of Colorectal Cancer. Aurora kinase A (AURKA) (PDB ID: 2X6E).

Figure 8. 2D and 3D Plot of the Interaction Between: (A) ligand (6MBD-DMP), and (B) Pd (II) Complex for Ligand with the Active site of the Receptor of Colorectal Cancer Aurora-A kinase (AURKA) (PDB ID: 2X6E) (D) Target Structure.

In conclusion, this study presents the synthesis and analysis of a novel ligand (6-MBTAMP) and its with three of its complexes: gold and palladium and silver. Theoretical data indicate that both complexes are square planar, while silver is tetrahedral, which is supported by magnetic and spectral evidence. The donor atoms coupled to the Au and Pd ion, with the ligand (6-MBTAMP) functioning as a bidentate ligand via coordinating through the nitrogen atom of the azo group and the oxygen atom of the carboxyl group. Molecular docking was employed to assess the activity of the metal complex against the colorectal cancer receptor protein, acquired from the (AURKA) protein data library. The oxidative status of the generated molecule was evaluated by assessing DPPH. The combined results indicated that the Pd (II)-complex had enhanced antioxidant activity relative to the free ligand (6-MBTAMP). Furthermore, the antitumoral efficacy against colorectal cancer cells (CaCo-2) demonstrated that the Pd (III) complex exhibited an IC50 of 112.8 μg/ml, indicating a more potent cytotoxic effect than the free ligand.

Acknowledgements

The authors express their sincere gratitude to the Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Al-Qadisiyah, for providing the necessary facilities and support to carry out this research work.

Statement of Transparency and Principles

• The authors declare no conflict of interest.

• The study was approved by the Research Ethics

Committee of the authors’ affiliated institution.

• The study data are available upon reasonable request.

Originality Declaration for Figures

All figures included in this manuscript are original and have been created by the authors specifically for the purposes of this study. No previously published or copyrighted images have been used. The authors confirm that all graphical elements, illustrations, and visual materials were generated from the data obtained in the course of this research or designed uniquely for this manuscript.

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