Synthesis, characterization and antitumor activity of a series of polypyridyl complexes

A series of polypyridyl complexes have been synthesized. All polypyridyl complexes and some of the soluble ligands have been assayed for antitumor activity in vitro against the HL-60 (the human leucocytoma) cells, BEL-7402 (the human liver carcinoma) cells, KB (the human nasopharyngeal carcinoma) cells and HELA (the human adenocarcinoma of cervix) cells. The results indicate that several complexes have relative activity against different cell lines. Especially, the complexes [Co(bpy)(2)(pip)](3+), [Co(phen)(2)(pip)](3+), [Ru(bpy)(2)(pztp)](2+) and [Ru(pztp)(2)(bpy)](2+) show relative high activity against four tumor cell lines. Moreover, they are slightly more effective than cisplatin. At the concentration of 100 mug/mL, the complexes show inhibitory rate of 72 approximately 86% for the cancer cells and have no toxicity for MDCK and Vero cells. It is indicated that these complexes can inhibit cancer cells selectively.