Synthesis of 8-hydroxyquinolium chloroacetate and synthesis of complexes derived from 8-hydroxyquinoline, and characterization, density functional theory and biological studies

8-Hydroxyquinolium chloroacetate (L-1) was synthesized and characterized. The results suggest that L-1 loses ethyl chloroacetate ion on coordination at low pH (2-5) and consequently it behaves as 8-hydoxyquinoline (L-2). Cu2+, Co2+, Pt4+, Pd2+, Au3+, Ag+ and Nd3+ complexes derived from L-2 have been synthesized and characterized using spectral, magnetic and thermal measurements. L-2 acts as a neutral bidentate ligand in the case of Cu2+, Co2+, Pt4+, Pd2+ and Nd3+ complexes and as a mononegative bidentate ligand in the case of Au3+ and Ag+ complexes. Octahedral geometry is proposed for Cu2+, Co2+ (grey) and Pt4+ complexes and square-planar for Co2+ (green), Pd2+ and Au3+ complexes. The bond lengths, bond angles, chemical reactivities, binding energies and dipole moments for all compounds were evaluated using density functional theory and molecular electrostatic potential for L-1. Superoxide dismutase radical scavenger-like activity and cytotoxic activity of the complexes towards HepG2 liver cancer cells has been screened. Cytotoxicity measurements show that Ag+ and Pd2+ complexes have the highest cytotoxic activity while L-1, Cu2+, Co2+ (grey), Co2+ (green), Pt4+ and Nd3+ complexes have no cytotoxic activity. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.