Synthesis, structure, spectroscopic and in vitro antitumour studies of a novel gallium(III) complex with 2-acetylpyridine 4N-dimethylthiosemicarbazone

The reaction of 2-acetylpyridine N-4-dimethylthiosernicarbazone (HL) with GaCl3 in absolute ethanol in 1:1 molar ratio yielded the complex [GaL2][GaCl4]. The crystal structure of the gallium(III) complex has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods. Infrared, electronic, ESI mass and H-1, C-13, N-15 and Ga-71 NMR spectra, as well as the thermal behaviour are reported. The cytotoxicity assay in several human cancer cell lines (SW480, SK-BR-3 and 41 M) suggests that the gallium(III) complex might be endowed with promising antitumour properties. In vitro cytotoxic activity exceeds that of all other tested gallium(III) complexes and is slightly higher than that of HL. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Inc.