SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL STUDIES OF METAL COMPLEXES OF ASCORBIC ACID WITH MG(II) AND ZN(II) IN WATER-METHANOL MEDIUM.
Abstract
This study describes the synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial evaluation of magnesium(II) and zinc(II) complexes of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) sythesized in water-methanol medium. The complexes were synthesized by a direct mixing method using appropriate Mg(II) and Zn(II) salts and stoichiometric amounts of vitamin C, resulting in stable metal complexes or coordination compounds. The synthesized metal complexes were characterized using standard physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques, including melting point determination, elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. Spectroscopic data confirmed the coordination of vitamin C to the metal ions predominantly through oxygen donor atoms of the enediol and lactone functional groups. The characterization results has suggested the formation of stable metal ligand frameworks with coordination geometries through oxygen donor atom consistent with Mg(II) and Zn(II) ions bidentately. The antimicrobial activities of the synthesized complexes were evaluated against selected bacterial and fungal strains using standard in vitro assays. The results revealed that both magnesium(II) and zinc(II) vitamin C complexes exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to free vitamin C, with the zinc(II) complex showing comparatively higher efficacy. The improved antimicrobial performance is attributed to the chelation effect, which enhances the stability and bioavailability of the ligand and facilitates improved interaction with microbial cell membranes. These findings indicate that Mg(II) and Zn(II) complexes of vitamin C synthesized in aqueous medium possess promising antimicrobial potential and may be useful in the development of safe and effective metal–based antimicrobial agents
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