Novel binuclear copper(II) complexes with sulfanylpyrazole ligands: synthesis, crystal structure, fungicidal, cytostatic, and cytotoxic activity

Abstract

New binuclear Cu(II) tetraligand complexes (six examples) with sulfanylpyrazole ligands were synthesized. EPR Studies have shown that in solution the complexes are transformed to the mononuclear one. Fungicidal properties against Candida albicans were found for the Cu complexes with benzyl and phenyl substituents. An in vitro evaluation of the cytotoxic properties of copper chelates against Hek293, Jurkat, MCF-7, and THP-1 cells identified the copper complex with the cyclohexylsulfanyl substituent in the pyrazole core as the lead compound, whereas the copper complex without a sulfur atom in the pyrazole ligand had virtually no cytotoxic or fungicidal activity. The lead Cu(II) complex was more active than cisplatin. Effect of S-containing Cu complex on apoptosis and cell cycle distribution has been investigated as well.