Synthesis, characterization, and antitumour studies of metal chelates of some synthetic curcuminoids

Four new curcuminoid (1,7-diaryl-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-diones) analogues and their vanadyl(IV), cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) chelates of ML2 stoichiometry have been synthesized and characterized by electronic, IR, H-1 NMR, ESR and mass spectral data. The in vitro and in vivo antitumour activity of these 1,7-diarylheptanoids and their copper(II) chelates showed that chelation remarkably enhanced cytotoxic activity and other antitumour properties.