Abstract

The novel 2-hydroxy-benzaldehyde-ferrocenyl-sulfonylhydrazone ligand [(eta(5)-C5H5)Fe(eta(5)-C5H4SO2NH-N = CH-C6H4-2-OH)] (HL) and its nickel(II), palladium(II) and copper(II) complexes (1a-c) have been synthesized. All compounds were characterized using conventional spectroscopic and analytical techniques (infrared, H-1 and C-13 NMR, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis). The proposed molecular structures of HL, 1a and 1c were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity of the new ligand and its corresponding metal complexes was evaluated against the chloroquine-sensitive (NF54) strain of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, and showed only modest activities in the micromolar range.