Synthesis,crystal structures,characterization and antitumor activities of two copper(II) complexes of a sulfonamide ligand

An N-sulfonamide (HL = N-(5-(4-methoxyph-enyl)-[1, 3, 4]–thiadiazole–2-yl)-naphtalenesulfonamide) and two of its Cu(II) complexes, [Cu(L)₂(py)₂] (C1) and [Cu(L)(phen)₂](L)1.25(MeOH) (C2), were synthesized. The X-ray crystal structures of the complexes have been determined. In complex C1, the copper atom is four-coordinated, forming a CuN₄ chromophore, while in complex C2, the copper atom is five-coordinated, forming a CuN₅ chromophore. The ligand acts as monodentate, coordinating the metal through a single thiadiazole N atom. The molecules from the reaction medium (pyridine and phenanthroline) are also involved in coordination to the copper atoms. The complexes have a square planar (C1) and slightly distorted square pyramidal (C2) geometries. The compounds were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. Nuclease activity studies of the complexes confirm their capacity to cleave DNA. Both complexes also have SOD-like activity, but weaker than the native Cu₂Zn₂SOD activity. Cytotoxicity studies were carried out on melanoma cell line B16F10 and on normal retinal epithelial cell line (D407) and confirmed that C2 inhibits the growth of B16F10 cells, in a dose-dependent manner. Also, C2 displays a cytoselective profile, since it is not toxic to the D407 cell line. The results of the cell cytotoxicity studies are in concordance with the DNA cleavage and SOD mimetic activity studies and indicate that complex C2 has a high biological activity.