Synthesis, characterization, crystal structures, in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of palladium(II) and zinc(II) complexes with 2-formyl and 2-acetyl pyridine N(4)-1-(2-pyridyl)-piperazinyl thiosemicarbazone

The present paper includes synthesis and spectral characterization of the novel prepared palladium(II) and zinc(II) complexes with 2-formyl pyridine N(4)-1-(2-pyridyl)-piperazinyl thiosemicarbazone, HFo4Npypipe, 1 and the 2-acetyl pyridine N(4)-1-(2-pyridyl)-piperazinyl thiosemicarbazone, HAc4Npypipe, 2. The Pd(II) complexes [PdCl(Fo4Npypipe)], 3, [PdCl(Ac4Npypipe)], 4 and the Zn(II) complexes [ZnCl2(Fo4Npypipe)], 5 and [ZnCl2(Ac4Npypipe)], 6 have been characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopic studies. The crystal structure of the complexes [PdCl(Fo4Npippy)], 3 and [PdCl(Ac4Npippy)], 4, have been solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The electronic, IR, UV/Vis, and NMR spectroscopic data of the complexes are reported. The results of the cytotoxic activity of 1–6 have been evaluated in vitro against the cells of three human cancer cell lines: MCF-7, T24, A-549 and a mouse L-929 (a fibroblast-like cell line cloned from strain L). For selected compounds 2 and 6 the acute toxicity and antitumor activity were evaluated on leukemia P388-bearing mice. The Zn(II) compounds 5 and 6 are considered as agents with potential antitumor activity, and can therefore be candidates for further stages of screening in vitro and/or in vivo.

Graphical abstractThe present paper includes synthesis and spectral characterization of the novel prepared palladium(II) and zinc(II) complexes with 2-formyl pyridine N(4)-1-(2-pyridyl)-piperazinyl Thiosemicarbazone, HFo4Npypipe, 1 and the 2-acetyl pyridine N(4)-1-(2-pyridyl)-piperazinyl thiosemicarbazone, HAc4Npypipe, 2. The Pd(II) complexes [PdCl(Fo4Npypipe)], 3, [PdCl(Ac4Npypipe)], 4 and the Zn(II) complexes [ZnCl2(Fo4Npypipe)], 5 and [ZnCl2(Ac4Npypipe)], 6 have been characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopic studies. The crystal structure of the complexes [PdCl(Fo4Npippy)], 3 and [PdCl(Ac4Npippy)], 4, have been solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The results of the cytotoxic activity of 1–6 have been evaluated in vitro against the cells of three human cancer cell lines: MCF-7, T24, A-549 and a mouse L-929. For selected compounds 2 and 6 the acute toxicity and antitumor activity were evaluated on leukemia P388-bearing mice. The cytotoxic activity shown by these Zn(II) compounds 5 and 6 against MCF-7 and T24 cell lines indicate that coupling of 1 and 2 to Zn(II) metal center result in metallic complexes with important biological properties and remarkable cytotoxic activity, since they are display IC50 values in a μM range better to that of the antitumor drug cis-platin.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide