New copper-based complexes with quinoxaline N1,N4-dioxide derivatives, potential antitumoral agents

Taking into account our previous studies on cytotoxic metal compounds, new copper complexes with 3-aminoquinoxaline-2-carbonitrile N1,N4-dioxide derivatives as ligands were synthesized and characterized by different spectroscopic methods. The hypoxic selective cytotoxicity towards V79 cells and the superoxide dismutase-like activity of the complexes were determined and related to physicochemical properties of the compounds. In particular, the copper(II) complex with 3-amino-6-chloro-7-fluoroquinoxaline-2-carbonitrile N1,N4-dioxide showed cytotoxic selectivity in hypoxia being the most lipophilic compound of the series. On the contrary, the complex with 3-aminoquinoxaline-2-carbonitrile N1,N4-dioxide was cytotoxic but not selective and that with 3-amino-7-chloro-6-methoxy-quinoxaline-2-carbonitrile N1,N4-dioxide was not cytotoxic towards V79 cells neither in oxia nor in hypoxia in the assayed conditions. The σm Hammett substituent electronic descriptor was related to the effect in hypoxic conditions and the SOD-like activity was correlated to the effect in normoxia.