Synthesis, characterization, and anticancer activity of some azole‐heterocyclic complexes with gold(III), palladium(II), nickel(II), and copper(II) metal ions

Abstract

Four new complexes of Au(III), Pd(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) ions were synthesized, derived from a novel heterocyclic ligand (L) that has both triazole and tetrazole rings. The ligand synthesis was through successive steps to achieve both heterocyclic rings. The synthesized compounds were characterized using conventional techniques like infrared, ultra violet—visible and proton/carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, metal and thermal analyses, and molar conductivity. All complexes were suggested to have square planar geometry, gold, nickel, and palladium complexes were salts while copper neutral complexes have the chemical formulas; [AuL2]Cl.2H2O, [PdL2]Cl2.2H2O, [NiL2]Cl2.2H2O, and [CuL2]. The cytotoxic effect was studied on breast cancer cell line (MCF‐7 cell line) at different concentrations by using the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay method, for the ligand (L) and complexes. The results showed that gold(III) and nickel(II) complexes have the highest cytotoxicity among all compounds against cancer cell lines.