Two zinc (Zn) complexes,
[Zn2(DAT)2Cl4] (I) and
[Zn2(DAT)2(NO3)4] (II), were prepared by grinding
3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole (C2H5N5, DAT) with Zn precursors such as ZnCl2 and Zn(NO3)2, respectively. This solid-state reaction gives
the corresponding Zn complex as the sole product in over 99% yield.
This mechanochemical method promotes the selective formation of Zn
complexes different from those obtained using the conventional solution-based
route. The crystal structures of the two complexes were analyzed by
single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex (I) crystallizes
in the monoclinic space group P21/c, whereas complex (II) crystallizes in the
triclinic space group P
1̅. Each
complex is characterized by the presence of a characteristic DAT-bridged
dimer with one DAT ligand per Zn atom, and the DAT ligand provides
a bridge between the two Zn metals. All Zn centers of (I) and (II) adopted a slightly distorted tetrahedral
geometry. Both complexes contain a hexanuclear Zn2N4 ring, but their ring structures are different. Complex (I) possesses a boat geometry, while complex (II) has a nearly planar structure. The Zn-bound chlorides of complex
(I) form intermolecular N–H···Cl
hydrogen bonds that link neighboring molecules. In complex (II), the O atoms in the nitrate groups are hydrogen-bonded
to the DAT ligand via O···H–N linkages. Both
complexes exhibit blue emissions in the solid state at ambient temperature.
They were evaluated as anticancer agents in HeLa, NCCIT, and MCF-7
cancer cell lines, exhibiting promising anticancer activities.