Following observations that bis(3,5-diisopropylsalicylato)diaquazinc(II), [Zn(II)(3,5-
DIPS)(2)(H(2)O)(2)], had anti-
convulsant activity, bis(acetylsalicylate)diaquazinc(II), [Zn(II)(aspirinate)(2)(H(2)O)(2)], and the Zn(II) ternary
1,10-phenanthroline (phen),
2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (
neocuproine, NC) or
dimethyl sulfoxide (
DMSO) complexes of Zn(II)3,5-diisopropylsalicylate,
salicylate, and acetylsalicylate were synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. Anti-
convulsant and Rotorod toxicity activities of these complexes were determined to examine their anti-
convulsant and undesirable central nervous stimulant or depressant activities of these Zn(II)
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent complexes. Bis(3,5-diisopropylsalicylato)-1,10-phenanthorlinezinc(II), [Zn(II)(3,5-
DIPS)(2)(phen)], (1) has one bidentate phen
ligand and two mono-deprotonated 3,5-DIPS
ligands. One of the carboxylates bonds in an asymmetric chelating mode. The Zn(II) atom exhibits a distorted bicapped rectangular pyramidal environment N(2)O(2)OO (4+1+1 *). In the
neocuproine complex, bis(3,5-diisopropylsalicylato)-2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthorlinezinc(II), [Zn(II)(3,5-
DIPS)(2)(NC)] (2), the Zn(II) atom has a much more distorted bicapped rectangular pyramidal environment, N(2)O(2)O(2) (4+2 *), compared to 1. The two carboxylate
ligands exhibit the same asymmetric coordinating mode with longer metalloelement-
oxygen bond distances compared to 1. The space group of [Zn(II)(aspirinate)(2)(H(2)O)(2)] (3), which has been reported as Cc is corrected to C2/c. The
zinc atom exhibits a (4+2 *) bicapped square pyramidal environment. While the two ternary
phenanthroline-containing complexes, 1 and 2, evidenced weak protection against maximal electroshock (MES)- and subcutaneous
Metrazol (scMET) induced
seizures, [Zn(II)(3,5-
DIPS)(2)(
DMSO)(2)], [Zn(II)(aspirinate)(2)(H(2)O)(2)], and bis(salicylato)-1,10-phenanthorlinezinc(II), [Zn(II)(
salicylate)(2)(phen)], were found to be particularly useful in protecting against MES and scMET
seizures and [Zn(II)(aspirinate)(2)(H(2)O)(2)] and [Zn(II)(
salicylate)(2)(phen)] were found to have activity in protecting against Psychomotor
seizures, without causing Rotorod toxicity. Activities of these and other Zn(II) complexes of
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents are consistent with the well-known anti-inflammatory responses of Zn(II)-dependent
enzymes. There was also some evidence of Rotorod toxicity consistent with a mechanism of action involving
sedative-
hypnotic activity of recognized anti-epilepticdrugs.