Synthesis and biological evaluation of Cu(II), Zn(II), and Ni(II) 3-(4-nitrophenyl)acrylic acid complexes with diamines as potential urease inhibitors

Five new Cu(II), Zn(II), and Ni(II) 3-(4-nitrophenyl)acrylic acid complexes were synthesized and evaluated for inhibitory activity on jack bean urease. All five complexes were structurally determined by single crystal X-ray analysis. Compared with the positive reference acetohydroxamic acid (IC50 = 13.25 μM), Cu(II) complexes 3 and 4 showed the strongest inhibitory activity against jack bean urease (IC50 = 1.23 and 1.17 μM). Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes also exhibited inhibitory activities (IC50 = 10.09–13.10 μM).