Organotin(IV) 4-methoxyphenylethanoates: Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, X-ray structures and in vitro anticancer activity against human prostate cell lines (PC-3)

A series of organotin(IV) carboxylates, [Bu2SnL2] (1), [Et2SnL2] (2), [Me2SnL2] (3), [Bu3SnL]n(4), [Me6Sn2L2]n(5), [Ph3SnL]n(6) and [Oct2SnL2] (7), where L = O2CCH2C6H4OCH3-4, have been synthesized. These complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and multinuclear NMR (1H, 13C and 119Sn). Based on spectroscopic results, the ligand appeared to coordinate to the Sn atom through COO moiety. Single crystal analysis has shown a bridging behavior of ligand in tributyl- and trimethyltin(IV) derivatives, and a chelating bidentate mode in diethyltin(IV) complex. Bioassay results have shown that these compounds have good antibacterial, antifungal and antitumor activity. The activity against prostate cancer cell lines (PC-3) decreased in the order 1 > 5 > 2 > 3 > 7.