Synthesis, structure, urease inhibitory, and cytotoxic activities of two complexes with protocatechuic acid derivative and phenanthroline

Abstract

Two complexes, [Cu^II(L¹)(phen)₂](ClO₄) (1) and [Ni^II₂(L¹)₂(phen)₂(MeOH)₂](ClO₄)₂ (2), with HL¹, a ligand derived from protocatechuic acid (=2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxine-6-carboxylic acid) and phen (=1,10-phenanthroline) were synthesized and characterized by C, H, and N elemental analysis, UV–vis, FT-IR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which revealed that 1 is mononuclear and 2 is dinuclear. Both complexes crystallized in monoclinic space group C2/c. The urease inhibitory activity and in vitro cytotoxic activity of 1 and 2 were tested. The complexes showed strong inhibitory activity against jack bean urease and significantly suppressed the growth of A549, L929, and SW620 cell lines.

Keywords:

• Urease inhibitors
• Cytotoxicity
• Complex
• Protocatechuic acid

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was financial supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 31200090], [grant number 1201029]; Scientific Research Foundation for Returned Scholars, Ministry of Education of China and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation National [grant number 1302006A].