Synthesis, structural characterization and selective anticancer activity of [AgI(L)(PPh3)]2(NO3)2 [L = N(4)-substituted 2-acetylpyridine-N (4)-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone]

A dinuclear silver(I) complex [Ag(L)(PPh3)](2)(NO3)(2) [L = 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone] (1) has been synthesized and X-ray crystallographically characterized. From X-ray structural characterization each of the Ag(I) centers in 1 has been found to have distorted square pyramidal structure. The compound 1 is found to show selective anticancer activity against liver cancer cells Hepa1-6. The reactivity of 1 against the cancer cells was found through formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) induced mitochondrial death.

Automated summary

This article reports the synthesis and structural characterization of a dinuclear silver(I) complex 1, which exhibits selective anticancer activity against liver cancer cells. The anticancer activity of 1 is achieved through induction of mitochondrial death via Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS).