Synthesis, chemical characterization, DNA binding, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities of ferrocence incorporated selenoureas.

Ferrocene-incorporated selenoureas 1-(4-methoxybenzoyl)-3-(4-ferrocenylphenyl)selenourea (P4Me), 1-(3-methoxybenzoyl)-3-(4-ferrocenylphenyl)selenourea (P3Me), and 1-(2-methoxybenzoyl)-3-(4-ferrocenylphenyl)selenourea (P2Me) were synthesized and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, CHNS, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. DNA interaction of the compounds was investigated with cyclic voltammetry, UV-visible spectroscopy, and viscometry, which is a prerequisite for anticancer agents. Drug-DNA binding constant was found to vary in the sequence: K(P4Me) (4.9000 × 10⁴ M⁻¹) > K(P2Me) (2.318 × 10⁴ M⁻¹) > K(P3Me) (1.296 × 10⁴ M⁻¹). Antioxidant (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), antifungal (against Faussarium solani and Helmentosporium sativum), and antibacterial (against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis) activities have also been reported in addition.