Synthesis, characterization, and antitumor activities of two copper(II) complexes with pyrazole derivatives

Abstract

Two mononuclear copper(II) complexes with pyrazole derivatives, 1,1′-(anthracen-9-ylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrazole) (L¹ ) and 9-(4-(di(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)phenyl)-9H-carbazole (L² ), of formulae [CuL¹(CH₃CN)₂](ClO₄)₂ (1) and [CuL²(CH₃CN)₂](ClO₄)₂ (2) were prepared. Both complexes were confirmed by IR, MS, ¹H NMR, and elemental analyses. Complex 1 was also characterized by X-ray crystallography, confirming that copper(II) is coordinated by four nitrogen atoms from two L¹ and two oxygen atoms from two perchlorates. Furthermore, all ligands and complexes were tested in vitro for their antitumor activities using mouse melanoma cell line B16-F10, HepG2 human hepatoma cell line, and A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cell line. Both complexes displayed potent cytotoxicity and are promising substrates for further investigations.

Keywords:

• Pyrazole derivative
• Copper(II) complex
• Antitumor activity

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant for the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21071001, 51142011, and 21101001), Department of Education of Anhui Province (KJ2010A030), Foundation for the Scientific Innovation Team of Anhui Province (2006KJ007TD), the 211 Project of Anhui University, Ministry of Education Funded Projects Focus on returned overseas scholar.