Synthesis, structural characterization and cytotoxicity of nickel(II) complexes containing 3,3-dialkyl/aryl-1-benzoylthiourea ligands

Six square planar Ni(II) complexes of 3,3-dialkyl/aryl-1-benzoylthiourea derivatives have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, and electronic, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopic techniques. A cis-O2S2 disposition in complexes 3, 4 and 5 was confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The cytotoxicity of the 3,3-dialkyl/aryl-1-benzoylthiourea molecules and their complexes was measured against human ductal breast carcinoma cell line (T47D). Cytotoxicity increased after the complexation of the ligands to nickel(II). In particular, the study showed that complexes 3 and 4 are the most cytotoxic against T47D cell lines while they did not affect the normal human dermal fibroblast cell line (HDF).