Anion-directed structural tuning of two azomethine-derived Zn2+ complexes with optoelectronic recognition of Cu2+ in aqueous medium with anti-cancer activities: from micromolar to femtomolar sensitivity with DFT revelation

Herein, two novel mononuclear transition metal Zn 2+ complexes have been synthesised using a tridentate clickable Schiff base ligand, HL (2-methyl-2-((pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)propan-1-ol) and the polyatomic monoanions N 3 − and ClO 4 − .