Synthesis of new 4-methylesculetin complexes as anti-neoplastic agents and X-ray structure of dimeric bis-bipyridyl-bis-4-methylesculetinato zinc(II)

•Zn(II), Pd(II), Pt(II), MoO22+, Ag(I) complexes of 4-methylesculetin are reported.•The X-ray structure of [Zn2(bpy)2(mesc)2] has been determined.•A theoretical study on H2mesc and its dianion mesc−2 was undertaken.•The complexes were tested against prostate (DU145) and breast (MDAMB231) cancer cells.•[Pd(phen)(mesc)], [Zn(PPh3)2(mesc)] are the highly activity anticancer agents.

The new complexes of 4-methylesculetin (H2mesc), [Zn2(bpy)2(mesc)2], [Zn(PPh3)2(mesc)], Na2[MoO2(mesc)2], (PPh4)2[Mo2O5(mesc)2], [Pd(bpy)(mesc)], [Pd(phen)(mesc)], [Pd(PPh3)2(mesc)], [Pt(PPh3)2(mesc)] and [Ag(bpy)2]. (bpy)H2mesc(NO3), are reported. The complexes were characterized on the bases of elemental analysis, spectroscopic (IR, UV–Vis, mass, 1H, 13C and 31P NMR) and physical (conductivity and thermal) techniques. The ligand (mesc2−) behaves in a binegative bidentate fashion, chelating the metal ions through the deprotonated hydroxy oxygen atoms, except in case of Ag(I), where it was found outside the coordination sphere of the complex. The X-ray crystal structure of [Zn2(bpy)2(mesc)2] has been determined. The bond length of Zn–O(7) is shorter than Zn–O(6). A theoretical study on H2mesc and its dianion mesc−2 was undertaken through computational conformational analysis, indicating the higher basicity of O(7) with respect to O(6). H2mesc and the complexes have been tested as anti-neoplastic agents against human prostate cancer (DU 145) and human breast cancer (MDA-MB231) cell lines.

Graphical abstractNew complexes of 4-methylesculetin (H2mesc) with Zn(II), Pd(II), Pt(II), MoO22+ and Ag(I) are synthesized and characterized. The X-ray crystal structure of [Zn2(bpy)2(mesc)2] has been determined. A theoretical study on H2mesc and its dianion mesc−2 was undertaken. H2mesc and its complexes have been tested as anti-neoplastic agents against human prostate (DU 145) and human breast (MDA-MB231) cancer cell lines.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide