A New Isoindoline Based Schiff Base Derivative as Cu(II) Chemosensor: Synthesis, Photophysical, DNA Binding and Molecular Docking Studies

A new chemo sensor 2-(4-methylbenzylideneamino)-isoindoline-1,3-dione (PDB) was synthesized and characterized by UV-Vis., IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR spectral and elemental analysis. Its photophysical properties in organic solvents with different polarity were studied. The sensitivity of the PDB in different pH solutions was investigated and the results indicated that PDB would be able to act as an efficient "off-on-off" switch for pH. This chemosensor displayed high selectivity towards Cu(2+) in the presence of metal ions Ba(2+), Cd(2+), Co(2+), Hg(2+), Ni(2+), Pb(2+), K(+) and Zn(2+) in DMF/H2O solution. Furthermore DNA binding and molecular docking studies were also carried out to investigate the biological potential of the test compound. The interaction of compound (PDB) with Ct-DNA was examined by absorption, CD spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and viscosity measurements. In silico studies revealed that the test compound (PDB) showed good affinity towards the target receptor d (CGCGAATTCGCG)2 with the binding energy of -7.70 kcal/mol.