Synthesis, catalytic and biological applications of palladium(II) and copper(II) complexes containing L-leucine enamine barbiturate ligand

In this PhD thesis, a polydentate ligand with an enamine structure derived from a barbituric acid derivative was synthesized, and its coordination with transition metals was investigated. In the first step of the study, an ONO-type ligand containing L-leucine was prepared using appropriate reagents. The presence of amino and carboxyl functional groups in the ligand structure enabled the formation of strong and directional coordination bonds with transition metals, thereby supporting the formation of stable pincer-type complexes. Using this ligand, Pd(II) and Cu(II) complexes were synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic methods, including NMR, IR, X-ray diffraction, and elemental analysis. The catalytic performance of the Pd(II) complexes was evaluated through model reactions such as the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling and ketones α-alkylation. In addition, the biological activities of the ligand and the Cu(II) complexes were tested against various bacterial and fungal strains, assessing both their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The results demonstrated that barbiturate enamine ligands containing L-leucine are capable of forming metal complexes with significant potential for both catalytic and biological applications.