Zn(II)-isatin-3-thiosemicarbazone complexes with phosphines or diamines for hydrogen storage and anticancer studies

Abstract

• Novel six zinc(II) mixed ligand complexes of isatin-3-thiosemicarbazone (HITC) and phosphines or diamines were successfully prepared. • The complex [Zn 2 (ITC) 2 µ-(dppm) 2 ]Cl show the ability to store 2.33 wt% of hydrogen. • The complexes showed that the value of cell viability was only 3% for [Zn(ITC)(Bipy)]Cl at a concentration of 400 μM, while it did not exceed 10% for the rest of the tested complexes. Novel six zinc(II) mixed ligand complexes of isatin-3-thiosemicarbazone (HITC) and phosphines or diamines were successfully prepared. These coordination materials were all diagnosed using C.H.N, molar conductivity, FTIR and 1 H, 13 C, 31 P NMR measurements. The analyzes indicated that zinc(II) complexes possess a tetrahedral shape and the ligand (ITC) showed only one coordination mode, negatively charged ITC bounded as a bidentate chelate through the exocyclic nitrogen and the negatively charged sulfur atoms. Four complexes were tested as anti-ovarian cancer, and the results demonstrated that these coordination compounds have a high ability to prevent the growth of tumor cells. The value of cell viability was only 3% for [Zn(ITC)(Bipy)]Cl at a concentration of 400 μM, while it did not exceed 10% for the rest of the tested complexes. Moreover, the hydrogen storage ability of some complexes were examined under different pressures (0–90 bar) at 77 K. The results demonstrate that the complex [Zn 2 (ITC) 2 µ-(dppm) 2 ]Cl 2 is a potential material for storing hydrogen in physical absorption.