Synthesis, structure and biological activity of copper(II) complexes of 4-(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,7-dimethyl-1,4,7-triazonane-2,6-dione and 4-(2-pyridylethyl)-1,7-dimethyl-1,4,7-triazonane-2,6-dione.

Four mononuclear copper(II) complexes 1-4 have been synthesized with two new N-functionalized macrocyclic ligands L(1) and L(2). All complexes are well characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, elemental analyses and conductivity measurements. Results suggest that Cu(II) ion has N(2)O coordination from ligand and S(2) from two coordinated solvent molecules (SCH(3)CN for 1 and 3 while CH(3)OH for 2 and 4). The crystal structure of a representative complex 3 strengthen the proposed formulations for other isostructural copper(II) complexes. The structure of 3 shows few interesting features including rare bent mode of the coordinated CH(3)CN molecules. All complexes were assayed for in vitro antimicrobial activity against clinically isolated resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris; and standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, P. aeruginosa, Klebsiella planticola and Escherichia coli. Results indicate that the copper complexes possess notable antimicrobial properties with MIC values of 62.5-500 microg/ml. Studies on the U87 cancerous cell lines show potent cytotoxicity with IC(50) and IC(90) values of 2.9-93.5 and 30-250 microg/ml, respectively. In vitro toxicity tests demonstrate that all copper complexes are less cytotoxic than that of gentamycin on normal HEK cell lines. These copper complexes show the potential to act as antimicrobial and anticancer agent.