Platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes with dithiocarbamates and amines: synthesis, characterization and cell assay

The [M(ESDT)Cl] n (M=Pd or Pt; ESDT=EtO 2CCH 2(CH 3)NCS 2 −, methylamino-acetic acid ethyl ester-dithiocarboxylate) species have been reacted with various amines (py, pyridine; PrNH 2, n-propylamine; c-BuNH 2, cyclobutylamine; en, ethylenediamine) in dichloromethane or chloroform with the aim to obtain mixed ligand complexes. The neutral complexes [M(ESDT)(L)Cl] (L=py, PrNH 2 or c-BuNH 2) and the ionic species ([M(ESDT)(L) 2]Cl and [M(ESDT)(En)]Cl) have been isolated, and characterized by IR and proton NMR spectroscopies. The crystal structure of [Pd(ESDT)(PrNH 2)Cl] has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The behaviour of the complexes in various solvents was described on the basis of the proton NMR spectra. The complexes and the dithiocarbamato intermediates have been tested for in vitro cytostatic activity against human leukemic HL-60 and HeLa cells.