New Pd(II)-mechlorethamine complex: Synthesis, NMR study of hydrolytic activity and in vitro evaluation of antiradical property of new complex and its alkylating precursor

The reaction of PdCl2 with anticancer-alkylating agent mechlorethamine hydrochloride (CH3NH(C2H4Cl)2 = HN2 x HCl), in the molar ratio 1:2, affords the complex [CH3NH(C2H4Cl)2]2[PdCl4] ([H2N2]2[PdCl4]). Novel Pd(II) complex and the complex precursor mechlorethamine hydrochloride were tested for their antiradical property. Both present weak interaction with 2, 29-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation (ABTS). Assays with soybean lipoxygenase and with superoxide anion radicals in vitro showed very high radical scavenging activity of the complex, whereas the complex precursor mechlorethamine hydrochloride presents lower inhibition. Hydrolytic activity of new complex with N-acetylhistidylglycine (AcHis-Gly) was also studied. It was established that regioselective cleavage of the amide bond of the investigated dipeptide had occurred after heating at 60 °C and at pH = 1.5 for 36 h.