Studies on the synthesis, characterization, cytotoxic activities and plasmid DNA binding of platinum(II) complexes having 2-subsituted benzimidazole ligands

Abstract

The aim of this study was to synthesize and evaluate the cytotoxic activities and plasmid DNA interaction of some new platinum(II) complexes, which may have potent cytotoxic activity and low side effects, with benzimidazole derivatives containing some amino acid residues as substituents in their 2 position. Seven 2-subtituted benzimidazole derivatives (1–7) (2-(H, methyl isopropyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl 1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl or 4-hydroxybenzyl)benzimidazole, respectively), seven platinum(II) complexes with two chlorido leaving groups (1a–7a) and six platinum(II) complexes with an oxalato leaving group (2b–7b) bearing the benzimidazole carrier ligand were synthesized. The chemical structures of the compounds were characterized by their elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, and HRMS spectra. The compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against human HeLa cervical cancer cell lines. The interaction of all the ligands and their complexes with plasmid DNA and their restriction endonuclease reactions with BamHI and HindIII enzymes were investigated by agarose gel electrophoresis. Compounds 1a, 3a, 3b, 6, 7a and 7b, having 2-(H, isopropyl, 1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl or 4-hydroxybenzyl)benzimidazole carrier ligands, have moderate in vitro cytotoxic activity, close to that of carboplatin.