Cu(II) complexes of hydrazones–NSAID conjugates: synthesis, characterization and anticancer activity

Abstract

The hydrazones of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) diclofenac and ibuprofen are synthesized with aldehydes of pyridine and imidazole and are characterized by 1H, 13C and mass spectroscopy. Cu(II) complexes of hydrazones constructed from these ligands possess square planar geometry for bidentate diclofenac-hydrazone and tridentate ibuprofen-hydrazone conjugates with [Cu(L)2] and [Cu(L)Cl] compositions, respectively. The observed irreversible Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox couple in the range of +0.20 to +0.61 V is due to the substantial distortion in the square-planar geometry. ESR studies indicate the appreciably covalent character within M–L bonding due to extensive delocalization of electron from d x 2 –- y 2 orbital. The hydrazone–NSAID conjugates exhibit substantial cytotoxicity against A-549, HCT-116 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines with ibuprofen-imidazole-hydrazone ligand possessing the lowest IC50 (2.26 µM) amongst the synthesized NSAID-conjugates. Interestingly, its Cu(II) complex also displays excellent anticancer activity against MDA-MB- 231 with IC50 value of 3.58 µM. Such a feature may be ascribed to the synergistic association of Cu(II)–NSAID–hydrazone linkage. Thus, conjugation of NSAID with hydrazone and its complexation with a bioactive metal ion may be regarded as a potential strategy for designing of non-platinum anticancer agents.