Synthesis, characterization and In-silico study of anti-cancer potential of Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes of (E)-2- benzylidenehydrazinecarboxamide

Abstract

In this study, (E)-2-benzylidenehydrazinecarboxamide coordination compounds and mixed ligand metal complexes with oxalic acid or 1,2-diaminocyclohexane were synthesized. Their potential cytotoxic effects and interactions with B-DNA evaluated. This was with a view to demonstrate their potential as anticancer agents for breast cancer. (E)-2-Benzylidenehydrazinecarboxamide (benzaldehyde semicarbazone) coordination compounds of Cu(II) and Ni(II) and mixed ligand metal complexes with oxalic acid and 1,2- diaminocyclohexane were synthesized. The resultant complexes were characterized by physicochemical techniques including melting point measurement, percent metal analysis, solubility, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Electronic and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, were performed to further lucidate the structures of the complexes. The synthesized compounds were examined for their cytotoxic effects and DNA interactions with B-DNA. The results obtained showed that all the ligands used were bidentate ligands. They bound to the metal ions through oxygen and nitrogen atoms. All synthesized compounds showed good cytotoxic activity against brine shrimp nauplii except for the (E)-2-benzylidenehydrazinecarboxamide copper(II) complex. All of the metal complexes, with the exception of the (E)-2- enzylidenehydrazinecarboxamide coordination copper complex, bound to DNA with moderate binding energies. They favoured conventional hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction mostly. The copper complex with 1,2-diaminocyclohexane had the most interaction and a good binding effect to the DNA and better than oxaliplatin, the standard used. This therefore indicated the potential of these compounds as probable chemotherapeutic agents against breast cancer cells.