Cytotoxicity, alpha-glucosidase inhibition and molecular docking studies of hydroxamic acid chromium(III) complexes

Hydroxamic acids [R(CO)N(OH)R’] are flexible compounds for organic and inorganic analyses due to their frailer structures compared to the carboxylic acid. The syntheses and characterization of benzohydroxamic acid (BHA), its CH₃–, OCH₃–, Cl– para-substituted derivatives and their Cr(III) complexes are reported herein. The metal complexes were synthesized by reacting the hydroxamic acids with chromium(III) chloride hexahydrate in 2:1 molar ratio. The compounds were characterized via melting point, elemental analysis, FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, TGA, mass spectrometry, molar conductance and UV–Visible. Data analysis suggests that each complex has the Cr(III) center coordinated to the carbonyl and hydroxy oxygen atoms of the hydroxamic acids in bidentate O,O manner and two water molecules to form octahedral geometry. Non-electrolytic behavior of the complexes was shown through their low molar conductivity. Cytotoxicity study against HCT116 and alpha-glucosidase inhibition test revealed that all complexes have higher activity than their parent ligands. Molecular docking study shows that the docking of active complexes is thermodynamically favorable and the inhibition efficiency may depend on the types and the numbers of molecular interactions established in the corresponding stable conformers.