Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of the Cu(II) Metal Complex with 2-p-Hydroxy Benzoic-4-p-Tolyl Imino-5,7-two Hydroxy Benzopyran as a Ligand Derived from Apigenin

Apigenin as a natural flavonoid shows limited antioxidant activities as new drug. The natural flavonoid derivatives as drug have been a hot topic to achieve effective drug innovation. In the paper, a novel Schiff-base ligand, 2-p-hydroxy benzoic-4-p-tolyl imino-5,7-two hydroxy benzopyran, C22H17O4N (Mr = 359.1) has been synthesized by the condensation reaction of p-methyl-anilin and apigenin. The above ligand and its copper (II) complex, [C44H32O8N2Cu] has been synthesized and characterize by IR, UV, MS, HNMR, DSC-TGA, etc. The ligand and metal complex exhibit yellow fluorescence under UV light. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the apigenin and its Schiff base metal complex were determined by superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging methods in vitro. The metal complex was found to process potent antioxidant activity and be better than apigenin.