Synthesis,characterization, DNA binding studies and in vitro cytotoxicity of platinum(II)-dihalogenido complexes containing bidentate chelating N-donor ligands

Platinum(II) complexes, Pt(L_x)X₂] (1–6), where X = Br or I and L_x = 2,2′-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives (5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (5-Mebpy), 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (4-Mebpy), and 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline (5-NH₂phen)) were prepared. The complexes were characterized by the elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, infrared, and multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁹⁵Pt) 1-D and 2-D NMR spectroscopies, and by single-crystal X-ray analysis of Pt(4-Mebpy)I₂] (4). All the platinum(II) complexes (1–6) were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines A2780 and A2780R, and against non-malignant MRC5 cell line. All the complexes were nontoxic up to the 50 μM concentration, although they were found to readily bind to calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA), as determined by spectrophotometric titration (K_b ≈ 10⁷ M^?1) and ethidium bromide displacement assay.