Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Bioactive Ferrocenyl Substituted Hydrazones

A series of ferrocenyl substituted hydrazones (I-VII) derived from ferrocene carboxaldehyde and substituted hydrazides have been prepared and characterized by FTIR, H-1 NMR spectroscopy, and crystallographic studies. The single-crystal X-ray analysis for III center dot 0.5H(2)O center dot 0.5CH(3)CN (CIF file CCDC no. 1968937) further authenticates the structural motif of the synthesized compounds. The C(11) of ferrocene carboxaldehyde is linked with N(1) of the hydrazide moiety with a bond length of 1.283(5) angstrom, confirming the binding of the two structural units present in the final product. They were preliminarily screened for their antimicrobial activity and demonstrate good results. The free radical scavenging activity for the compounds (III, IV) has been found to be more than 90% when compared with the ascorbic acid. The total antioxidant capacity and total reducing power assays for VI show significant activity whereas the data for the other compounds are also encouraging. Quantum chemical calculations at the DFT level predict that compound II is the softest while VII is the hardest within the series, resultantly II can be used as a synthon for further chemical reactions.