Synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxicity study of organotin(IV) complexes involving different dithiocarbamate groups

Abstract

Organotin(IV) complexes involving two different dithiocarbamate groups: N-methyl-N-phenyldithiocarbamate (L1) and N-ethyl-N-phenyldithiocarbamate (L2) are reported. The complexes have been characterized using spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis, and were represented as [(CH3)2Sn2L1L2] (1), [(C4H9)2Sn2L1L2] (2) and [(C6H5)2SnL1L2] (3). The crystal structures of [(CH3)2Sn2L1L2] (1) and [(C4H9)2Sn2L1L2] (2) are also reported. The structure indicated that both ligands bonded to the Sn atom by displacing the chloride ions from the organotin moiety. Complex (1) gave trigonal bypyramidal geometry; while a distorted skew trapezoidal-bipyramidal geometry occurred in complex (2). Thermal studies of the complexes by TG/DTG analysis showed that the stability of the complexes was influenced by the bond length/strengths of the tin-sulfur bonds. Although, no similarity in their decomposition pathways, all the complexes yielded tin sulfides as final residues. The complexes were screened for cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells and compared to the standard drug, 5-Fluorouracil (5FU). The result obtained showed that the complexes displayed better cyto-selectivity against the HeLa cell compared to the standard drug. Complex 1 gave the best IC50 values compared to the rest of the complexes. The cytotoxic action displayed by the complexes showed their potential as anticancer agents.