Synthesis, Characterization, and Anti-Breast Cancer Properties of Cu(II) Complexes with Schiff Base and Azo Dye Ligands

Haneen Fadhil Abbas; Faris Jassim Aldoghachi; Basil Abdulmahdi Salih; Yun Hin Taufiq-Yap

doi:10.22146/ijc.103683

Synthesis, Characterization, and Anti-Breast Cancer Properties of Cu(II) Complexes with Schiff Base and Azo Dye Ligands

https://doi.org/10.22146/ijc.103683

Haneen Fadhil Abbas⁽¹⁾, Faris Jassim Aldoghachi^(2*), Basil Abdulmahdi Salih⁽³⁾, Yun Hin Taufiq-Yap⁽⁴⁾

(1) Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Basrah, Baghdad Street, Basrah 61004, Iraq; Department of Chemical and Petroleum Refining Engineering, College of Oil and Gas Engineering, Basra University for Oil and Gas, Altijari Street, Basrah 61001, Iraq
(2) Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Basrah, Baghdad Street, Basrah 61004, Iraq
(3) Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Basrah, Baghdad Street, Basrah 61004, Iraq
(4) Catalysis Science and Technology Research Center, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, Jl. Universiti 1, UPM Serdang, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; Institute of Plantation Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Jl. Universiti 1, UPM Serdang, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

This article focuses on the synthesis of three Schiff base ligands derived from 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde (B: BBr, BOCH₃, BNO₂) and three azo dye ligands derived from naphthol (A: ABr, AOCH₃, ANO₂), followed by the preparation of copper(II) complexes with these six ligands in a 1:2 (metal:ligand) ratio. The ligands and complexes were characterized by using ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, FTIR, UV-vis, and ESI-MS. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses of the copper complexes indicated the absence of water molecules in the crystalline coordination, demonstrating high thermal stability. The findings confirmed the formation of square-planar copper complexes. The biological activity of the complexes was evaluated on breast cancer and healthy cells using the MTT assay at different concentrations. The IC₅₀ analysis showed that CuABr, CuBBr, and CuAOCH₃ had a significantly more substantial cytotoxic effect on cancer cells than on healthy cells. CuBOCH₃ and CuBNO₂ also exhibited notable selectivity toward cancer cells, whereas CuANO₂ was more toxic to normal cells. These findings highlight the potential of CuABr, CuBBr, and CuAOCH₃ as promising candidates for further development in targeted breast cancer therapy.

Keywords

metal complexes; Schiff base ligands; azo dye

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/ijc.103683