Synthesis, crystal structure and biological evaluation of a main group seven-coordinated bismuth(III) complex with 2-acetylpyridine N4-phenylthiosemicarbazone

Up to now, bismuth(III) complexes with thiosemicarbazones have been comparatively rare. Here, a bismuth(III) complex [Bi(L)(NO3)2(CH3CH2OH)] (1) (HL = 2-acetylpyridine N(4)-phenylthiosemicarbazone) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The cytotoxicity data suggest that 1 exhibits higher in vitro antiproliferative activity in four human cancer cells tested. Its possible apoptotic mechanism has been evaluated in HepG2 cells.