Synthesis, structural characterization and antitumor activity of 2-(di-p-tolylstibano)- and 2-(di-p-tolylbismuthano)-N-p-tolylbenzamide

•Organoantimony and bismuth compounds with an amide moiety as the pendant arm were prepared.•The analyses showed the presence of intramolecular interactions between the group 15 elements (Sb, and Bi) and oxygen.•The organobismuth compound showed enhanced antitumor activity than the organoantimony compound in all the tested cell lines.

Novel organoantimony and bismuth compounds, 2-(di-p-tolylstibano)- and 2-(di-p-tolylbismuthano)-N-p-tolylbenzamide (2 and 3), bearing an amide moiety as the pendant arm were synthesized and characterized by NMR, IR, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and elemental analyses. The molecular structures of compounds 2 and 3 showed the presence of intramolecular interactions between the antimony/bismuth and carbonyl oxygen atoms in the solid state, respectively. The central atoms (Sb and Bi) exhibited a pseudo trigonal bipyramidal structure. Compounds 2 and 3 showed potent antiproliferative activity in all the tested cell lines. In particular, compound 3 containing bismuth was more sensitive than compound 2 containing antimony.

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