Organotin complexes of pyruvic acid thiosemicarbazone: Synthesis,crystal structures and antiproliferative activity of neutral and cationic diorganotin complexes

The synthesis and spectral characterization of novel neutral and cationic organotin complexes with pyruvic acid thiosemicarbazone, H₂pt (1), SnPh₂(pt)] (2), SnMe₂(Hpt)(H₂O)]Cl (3) and SnPh₂(Hpt)(H₂O)]Cl (4) are reported. The crystal structure of the complexes SnPh₂(pt)] (2) and SnMe₂(Hpt)(H₂O)]Cl (3) have been solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure of complex 2 showed that the ligand is doubly deprotonated at the oxygen and amide nitrogen atoms and is coordinated to the SnPh₂ fragment via two five-membered chelate rings. The monomers of 2 are linked through intermolecular hydrogen bonds of C−H–O type and through π−π intermolecular interactions. The crystal structure of SnMe₂(Hpt)(H₂O)]Cl (3) showed that the ligand is mono-deprotonated at the oxygen atom and is coordinated to the SnMe₂ fragment via two five-membered chelate rings. The counter ion chloride is participated in intermolecular hydrogen bonds. An extended network of intermolecular hydrogen bonds leads to aggregation and a supramolecular assembly. The IR and NMR spectroscopic data of the complexes are reported. The in vitro cytotoxic activity has been evaluated against the cells of three human cancer cell lines: MCF-7 (human breast cancer cell line), T-24 (bladder cancer cell line), A-549(non-small cell lung carcinoma) and a mouse L-929 (a fibroblast-like cell line cloned from strain L). The most active of all was found the diorganotin complex 2. The cytotoxic activity shown by these compounds against all these cancer cell lines indicates that coupling of 1 with R₂Sn(IV) metal center result in metallic complexes with important biological properties and remarkable cytotoxic activity, since they are display IC₅₀ values in a μM range the same or better to that of the antitumor drug cisplatin. Compound 2 is considered as agent with potential antitumor activity, and can therefore be candidate for further stages of screening in vitro and/or in vivo.