Copper(II) complexes with thioether based SNS pincer ligand: Synthesis, characterization and antiproliferative activity

Abstract

In this study, the SNS pincer type 2,6-bis[[(4-bromophenyl)thio]methyl]pyridine ligand (L) (1) and its novel Cu(II) complexes ([Cu(k3-L)(X)2]·nH2O (X=Cl, SCN, ClO4)) were synthesized and characterized by using NMR, UV-Vis, FT-IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, molar conductivity and elemental analysis techniques. The synthesized Cu complexes exhibited a triangular bipyramidal structure. The compounds were found to have non-electrolytic behavior. The antiproliferative activities of these compounds and a positive control drug were tested in three different cancer cell lines including colon, lung and liver. The results obtained using the MTT method showed that the three metal complexes prepared from the ligand containing the pyridine nucleus were found to have higher antiproliferative effects in all tested cancer cell lines compared to the positive control drug cisplatin.