Synthesis and crystal structures of 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (L) and its metal complexes: Anticancer activity of [Cu(L)(OAc)]

Abstract

Synthesis and structural characterization of N(4)-substituted 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (<strong>L</strong>) and its two metal complexes [Cu(L)(OAc)] (<strong>1</strong>) and [ZnL(OAc)]₂(<strong>2</strong>) are reported. Between the two complexes <strong>1 </strong>is found to have good anticancer activity against Human lung cancer cell line (A549). Fluorescence microscopy finds the formation of reactive oxygen species on treatment of the cancer cells with <strong>1</strong>. The IC₅₀ value of the complex is measured as 0.72 mM which is lower than that of cisplatin against A549.