Ternary copper (II) complexes containing salicylate and nitrogenous chelates such as histamine

In the introduction the chemistry of some bivalent copper complexes of aspirin and salicylate is briefly reviewed and the biological importance of mixed-ligand complexes of bivalent copper is illustrated. The nature of hydroxy-bridged copper (II) complexes and their possible role in the physiological activity of histamine is also discussed. Several neutral, insoluble copper (II) complexes of the type (Chelate-Cu-salicylate) 0-lambda H2O where chelate = 1, 10-phenanthroline (phen), chi = 1; 2,2'-bipyridyl (bipy), chi = 2; histamine (Ha), chi = 1; and where salicylate (sal) = dianion of salicylic acid have been prepared for the first time. They have been characterised by physico-chemical methods and the role of binuclearhydroxy-bridged copper (II) complex ions in their formation is demonstrated. Such complexes may be relevant to the pharmacological action of histamine and of the salicylates, the copper complexes of which are potential anti-inflammatory drugs. Results of some in vivo experiments that have been carried out with mice are also presented.