2-Acetylpyridine- and 2-benzoylpyridine-derived thiosemicarbazones and their antimony(III) complexes exhibit high anti-trypanosomal activity

Complexes [Sb(2Ac4oClPh)Cl2] (1), [Sb(2Ac4oFPh)Cl2] (2), [Sb(2Ac4oNO2Ph)Cl2] (3), [Sb(2Bz4oClPh)Cl2] (4), [Sb(2Bz4oFPh)Cl2] (5) and [Sb(2Bz4oNO2Ph)Cl2] (6) were obtained with 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-ortho-chlorophenyl thiosemicarbazone (H2Ac4oClPh) and its N(4)-ortho-fluor (H2Ac4oFPh) and N(4)-ortho-nitro (H2Ac4oNO2Ph) analogues, and with the corresponding 2-benzoylpyridine-derived thiosemicarbazones (H2Bz4oClPh, H2Bz4oFPh, H2Bz4oNO2Ph). The studied compounds are excellent inhibitors of Trypanosoma cruzi growth. H2Bz4oClPh and complexes (4) and (1) were the most trypanosomicidal.Upon coordination of H2Ac4oClPh to antimony(III) in 1, the therapeutic index (TI) goes from 10.58 to 14.35. However, the best values of TI were found for H2Bz4oClPh (TI = 1240) and H2Ac4oNO2Ph (TI = 773). Structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies did not allow the establishment of correlations between the anti-trypanosomal activity and physico-chemical parameters, but correlations were found between the cytotoxicities and physico-chemical properties.

Antimony(III) complexes were obtained with 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-ortho-X-phenyl thiosemicarbazones (X = Cl, H2Ac4oClPh; X = F, H2Ac4oFPh; X = NO2, H2Ac4oNO2Ph) and with the corresponding 2-benzoylpyridine-derived thiosemicarbazones (H2Bz4oClPh, H2Bz4oFPh, H2Bz4oNO2Ph). All studied compounds were highly active against Trypanosoma cruzi.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► The studied compounds proved to be excellent inhibitors of Trypanosoma cruzi growth.
► In some cases coordination to Sb(III) improved thiosemicarbazones’ activity.
► All studied compounds proved to be more active than the reference drug nifurtimox.
► Some of the studied compounds were 55- to 70-fold more active than nifurtimox.
► SAR correlations were found between cytotoxicities and physico-chemical properties.