Dimethyltin(IV) carboxylate compounds; synthesis, characterization and in vitro cytotoxic activity

Six dimethyltin(IV) carboxylate compounds of the general formula Me2SnX2, where X = 1/2 O2(CO)2 (oxalate), 1/2 O2(CO)2CH2 (malonate), 1/2 O2(CO)2CH = CH (maleate), 1/2 O2(CO)2C-CH2CH2CH2 (cyclobutyl dicarboxylate), O(CO)C6H11 (cyclohexane carboxylate) and O(CO)CMe3 (pivolate) have been prepared and characterized physicochemically and spectroscopically. The cytotoxic activities of these carboxylates have been studied against HeLa, Hep-2, RD, L20B and P388 cell lines using the MTT-colorimetric assay. These activities were compared with the cytotoxic activities of the three reference standards, cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin. The compounds were X = 1/2 malonate, 1/2 maleate, cyclohexane carboxylate and pivolate exhibited a range of significant activities against the cell lines used, whereas no cytotoxic activities were exhibited by the rest of the six compounds. The significance of these results is given and discussed.