Unveiling a novel terpolymer-metal complex: A detailed exploration of synthesis, characterization, and its potential as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent

In an innovative approach to push the boundaries of antimicrobial and antioxidant strategies, we present the synthesis and characterization of a novel terpolymer derived from N-Phenyl-p-phenylenediamine and 2-aminopyrimidine with formaldehyde in the presence of dimethylformamide as a reaction medium through polycondensation technique. Leveraging this terpolymer as a ligand, we introduce an intriguing terpolymer-metal complex, created with Ni (II) metal ion. In our pursuit to validate the structure and properties of these substances, we performed meticulous characterizations using important spectral studies such as FTIR, electronic, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. This provided us with a unique fingerprint for the (N-Phenyl-p-phenylenediamine-2-aminopyrimidine-formaldehyde) terpolymeric ligand (PAF) and its metal complex. In addition, the molecular weights of PAF terpolymer were established using gel permeation chromatography. Upon investigation, PAF terpolymer and PAF-Ni complex exhibited impressive antimicrobial activity, tested by the disc-diffusion technique. Both demonstrated potency against a range of harmful bacterial and fungal strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. In an extension to their biological applications, we evaluated the free radical scavenging activity of PAF terpolymer and PAF-Ni complex using the DPPH assay. The complex PAF-Ni showcased an enhanced scavenging activity 73.94% (IC50 = 17.58) compared to the ligand PAF 63.06% (IC50 = 27.61) at 100 μg/ml indicating its potential role in oxidative stress management.