Synthesis and biological activity of platinum(II) and palladium(II) thiosalicylate complexes with mixed ancillary donor ligands

A series of mixed-ligand thiosalicylate complexes of the type [M(SC6H4CO2)(PPh3)L] (M=Pt, L=pyridine (py), 4-methylpyridine, imidazole, 4-picolinic acid hydrazide {C5H4N[C(O)NHNH2]-4}; M=Pd, L=pyridine) have been prepared by the one-pot reaction of [PtCl2(cod)] or [PdCl2(cod)] (cod=cycloocta-1,5-diene) with one equivalent of PPh3 and thiosalicylic acid (HSC6H4CO2H) in the presence of the nitrogen base. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies on [Pt(SC6H4CO2)(PPh3)(py)] and the previously reported complex [Pt(SC6H4CO2)(PPh3)(XyNC)] (Xy=2,6-xylyl) indicates that the complexes have different geometries, though in each case the two ligands of highest trans-influence are mutually cis. The reaction of [PtCl2(cod)] with PPh3, thiosalicylic acid and ammonia led to the isolation of crystals of the dinuclear thiosalicylate-bridged complex [Pt(SC6H4CO2)(PPh3)(NH3)Pt(SC6H4CO2)(PPh3)], which was characterised by X-ray crystallography and electrospray mass spectrometry. The conformation of the thiosalicylate ligand can vary widely with values for the dihedral angle between the ligand plane and the platinum(II) coordination plane varying from 12.4 degrees to 70.9 degrees in the seven complexes so far determined. The biological activities of selected platinum and palladium thiosalicylate and related complexes against P388 leukemia cells, bacteria and fungi are also reported. The complex [Pt(SCH2CO2)(PPh3)(2)] shows the highest activity against P388 cells (IC50 671 ng mL(-1)).