Synthesis, crystal structure and biological properties of a cis-dichloridobis(diimine)copper(II) complex.

The mechanisms of interaction of inorganic complexes with DNA are important in the design and development of new metal-based drug molecules. The limitations of cis-platin have encouraged the design and development of new metal-based target-specific anticancer drugs having reduced side effects. The complex cis-dichloridobis(1,2,5-thiadiazolo[3,4-f][1,10]phenanthroline-κ2N1,N10)copper(II), [CuCl2(C12H6N4S)2], has been synthesized and characterized. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c. The covalent binding of the complex with DNA was studied by absorption spectroscopy. The anticancer activity of the complex on the Human Lung Carcinoma (A549) cell line was investigated by MTT assay. The complex exhibits higher toxicity than cis-platin and induces an apoptotic mode of cell death.