New Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) Gibberellate Complexes: Synthesis, Structure, and Inhibitory Activity Against COVID-19 Protease

Transition metals such as Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) have been reacted with gibberellic acid (HGA) to give novel complexes, and those have been characterized by physical, spectral and analytical methods. The plant hormone gibberellate acts as a deprotonated bidentate ligand in the complexation reaction with central metal ions in the ratio 1 : 2 (M(n+) : GA). The complexes [M(GA)(2)(H(2)O)(2)], where [M = Mn(II), Co(II), and Ni(II)] form octahedral structures, while [M(GA)(2)] complexes [M = Zn(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II)] display four-coordination geometry. The octahedral structures of Cr(III) and Fe(III) complexes are characterized by the general formula [M(GA)(2)(H(2)O)(Cl)]. Computational study carried out has determined possible interactions of the complexes with COVID-19 (6LU7).