Synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxic activity of copper(II) and platinum(II) complexes of 2-benzoylpyrrole and X-ray structure of bis[2-benzoylpyrrolato(N,O)]copper(II)

Abstract Copper(II) and platinum(II) complexes of 2-benzoylpyrrole (2-BZPH) were synthesized and characterized with IR, 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopies and coordination geometry with ligands arranged in transoid fashion. The crystal structure of [Cu II (2-BZP) 2 ] was determined by X-ray diffraction. Death of complex treated Jurkat cells was measured by flow cytometry. The bis-chelate complexes [Cu II (2-BZP) 2 ] and [Pt II (2-BZP) 2 ] adopt square-planar coordination geometry with ligands, arranged in transoid fashion. Concentrations of 1–10 μM Platinum(II) complexes reduced cell survival from 100% to 20%, in contrast to the copper(II) complex which caused no cell death at a concentration of 10 μM. While the Pt II complexes may have damaged DNA to induce cell death, treatment with the Cu II complex did not induce Jurkat cell death.