Synthesis, characterization, photoluminescence properties and cytotoxic activities of Sm(III) complexes of β-diketones

•The new homoleptic Sm(III) complexes of β-diketone derivatives were synthesized.•The β-diketone ligands caused an antenna effect and complexes exhibited Sm(III)-based f-f transitions.•Complexes showed in vitro antiproliferative activities towards the HTB-54 cell line.•[Sm(MPBP-1,3PPon)3]•H2O) did not show cytotoxic effect on healthy cells (BEAS-2B) Three new homoleptic six-coordinate Sm(III) complexes have been synthesized from β-diketone ligand with different substituent groups. The structural characterization of these compounds has been investigated using elemental analysis, UV-Vis and FT-IR approaches. Then, their photoluminescence properties of the synthesized Sm(III) complexes have been examined. In addition to the ligand-based emission, the complexes showed Sm(III) based f-f transitions at 570-830 nm range. Also, the cytotoxic activities of the complexes have been studied against to human epidermoid carcinoma cell (HTB-54) and normal bronchus epithelial cell (BEAS-2B). According to result, the [Sm(MPBP-1,3PPon)3]·H2O) (IC50: 11.05 μM) complex was more active than [Sm(BMP-1,3PPon)3]·2H2O (IC50: 58.64 μM) and [Sm(BCP-1,3PPon)3]·H2O (IC50: >500 μM) complexes. Moreover, the [Sm(MPBP-1,3PPon)3]·H2O complex showed no effect on normal cell (BEAS-2B). This result shows that complex [Sm(MPBP-1,3PPon)3]·H2O has the potential to be as chemotherapeutic drug. [Display omitted]