Syntheses, crystal structure, thermal behavior, and anti-tumor activity of three ternary metal complexes with 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzoic acid and heterocyclic compounds

Three complexes, namely complex ( 1 ), complex ( 2 ), and complex ( 3 ), were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric study, and elemental study. Complex ( 1 ) comprises discrete binuclear clusters, where two oxygen atoms of 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzoic acid bridge the two copper atoms. Complex ( 2 ) is a six-coordination structure consisting of four nitrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms in 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzoic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline to furnish a twisted octahedron. Complex ( 3 ) is a six-coordination structure consisting of four oxygen atoms and two nitrogen atoms from the 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzoic acid, methanol, and 2,2′-dipyridyl to furnish a distorted octahedral geometry. Metal complexes’ anti-tumor activity was also investigated by the MTT assay. Of the complexes tested, complex ( 1 ) could induce apoptosis in these A549 lung cancer and Caco-2 colon adenocarcinoma cells and complex ( 2 ) could induce apoptosis in Caco-2 colon adenocarcinoma cells. CCDC for complex ( 1 ) was 1543354, CCDC for complex ( 2 ) was 1546991, and CCDC for complex ( 3 ) was 1543417.