New binary and ternary platinum(II) formamidine complexes: Synthesis, characterization, structural studies and in-vitro antitumor activity

• Binary and ternary Pt(II) complexes were synthesized and characterized.
• The structures are geometrically optimized and the computed vibrations and transition are compared with the experimental.
• The energies of the HOMO and LUMO orbitals of the complexes were computed and interpreted.
• The cytotoxicity of some complexes was tested with promising IC50 values.

A series of new binary and ternary platinum(II) complexes of the type [Pt(L1-4)Cl2].xH2O and [Pt(L1-4)ox].xH2O where L = formamidine ligands and ox = oxalate, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility, UV–vis, infrared (IR), mass spectroscopy, thermal analysis and theoretical calculations. The spectroscopic data indicated that the formamidine ligands act as bidentate N2 donors. The complexes (1–8) are diamagnetic and the optimization of their structures indicated that the geometry is distorted square planar with Cl–Pt–Cl, O–Pt–O and N–Pt–N bond angles ranged 81.73°–95.82° which is acceptable for the heteroleptic complexes. The electronic energies (a.u.) of the complexes (−893.53 to −1989.84) indicate that the complexes are more stable than the ligands. The energies of the HOMO (−0.218 to −0.244) and LUMO (−.0111to −0.134) orbitals of the complexes were negative which indicates that the complexes are stable compounds. The dipole moment of the complexes (6.23–19.89 Debye) indicates that the complexes are polarized. The complexes are thermally stable as shown from their relatively higher overall activation energies (889–2066 kJ mol-1). The complexes are proved to have a good cytotoxicity with IC50 (μM) against MCF-7 (0.040–0.117), HCT-116 (0.085–0.119) and HepG-2 (0.058–0.131) cell lines, which open the field for further application as antitumor compounds.

A series of new binary and ternary platinum(II) complexes of the type [Pt(L1-4)Cl2].xH2O and [Pt(L1-4)ox].xH2O where L = formamidine ligands and ox = oxalate, were synthesized and characterized. The complexes are proved to have a good cytotoxicity with IC50 (μM) against MCF-7 (0.040–0.117), HCT-116 (0.085–0.119) and HepG-2 (0.058–0.131) cell lines, which open the field for further application as antitumor compounds.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide