Design, spectral, molecular modeling, antimitotic, analytical and mechanism studies of phenyl isothiocyanate Girard's T derived metal complexes

The ligand N-{[(phenyl amino) thioxomethyl] hydrazino carbonyl methyl} trimethyl ammonium chloride (PTHAC) was prepared by the refluxing phenyl isothiocyanate and Girard-T (trimethyl ammonium-acethydrazide) in a molar ratio (1:1). The metal complexes derived from NiCl(2).6H(2)O, CuCl(2).2H(2)O and Co(CH(3)COO)(2).6H(2)O were synthesized and purified. The PTHAC and its Cu(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) metal complexes(1–3) were characterized using a variety of various instrumental performances such as elemental analysis, magnetic moment, spectra (IR, UV–Vis, (1)H NMR, mass) and thermal analysis (TGA and DTG).The results of element analysis, magnetic moment, spectra (IR, UV–Vis, (1)H NMR, mass), and thermal (TGA and DTA) analyses provide the structures of the produced ligand and its (1–3) complexes. According to the spectroscopic results, PTHAC acts as an O, N and S tridentate donor, creating a mononuclear complex with copper(II), cobalt(II), and nickel(II) ions with an octahedral geometry. All of the atomic properties, including bond lengths, bond angles, HOMO, LUMO, dipole moments, and charges, have been determined. The cytotoxic activities of the PTHAC and the produced (1–3) complexes against breast carcinoma cells have been studied and correlated to the molecular modeling. When compared to the free ligand, CoII-L, and NiII-L, the CuII-L complex inhibits breast cancer cell growth more effectively. Furthermore, the PTHAC ligand was successfully applied for separation via flotation and spectrophotometric determination of Co(II) in several natural water, certified ore and pharmaceutical samples using oleic acid surfactant (HOL). At pH 6.5, PTHAC reacted with Co(II) to create a dark green (1:1) Co(II):PTHAC complex that was floated significantly using oleic acid (HOL) surfactant. The different experimental variable affecting the separation procedure e.g. pH, concentration of Co(II), HOL, PTHAC, temperature etc.…, were investigated. Co(II) had a linear range of (0.1–7.0) mgL(−1). In the aqueous and scum layers, the molar absorptivities for the coloured complex are 0.14 × 10(4) and 0.16 × 10(5)Lmol(−1) cm(−1), respectively. The LOD was 0.04 mgL(−1), which is related to Sandell sensitivity of 3.7 × 10(−3) µg cm(−2) with a preconcentration factor of 200 and a RSD, % (n = 5) less than 4.2%. In addition, the mechanisms involved in the process of coordination of PTHAC with Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) and the mechanism involved in the process of flotation of the PTHAC-Co(II) complex using HOL surfactant were elucidated. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13065-023-01033-x.