Synthesis, structure, spectroscopy and antitumor activity of hydroxy naphthoquinone thiosemicarbazone and its metal complexes against MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line

Abstract

Coordinately unsaturated metal complexes of the stoichiometry [M(HL)Cl] and [Fe(HL)Cl₂].2H₂O have been isolated (where M=Cu(II), Ni(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II); HL=tridentate anion of H₂L <b>3</b>). The X-ray crystal structure for 4-hydroxy-3- methyl-1 ,2-naphthoquinone-I-thiosemicarbazone, 3 has been determined which crystallizes in spacc group P2₁/c, a =7.430(3), b = 10.794(3), c = 17.216(5) Å, β =92.91(3)°, Z = 4, and have 'E' configuration. The Cu(II) <b>3a</b>, Ni(II) <b>3c</b>, Pd(II) <b>3d</b> and Pt(II) <b>3e</b> complexes are found to possess square planar geometries, whereas Fe(III) complex <b>3b</b> possesses a square pyramidal configuration. The <i>in</i> <i>vitro </i>activity of the synthesized compounds examined aga inst human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 clearly indicates that metal complexation enhances antitumor activity, the highest being for the copper complex <b>3a</b>.