Hydroxynaphthoquinone Metal Complexes as Antitumor Agents X: Synthesis, Structure, Spectroscopy and In Vitro Antitumor Activity of 3‐Methyl‐Phenylazo Lawsone Derivatives and Their Metal Complexes Against Human Breast Cancer Cell Line MCF‐7

Abstract

The C‐3 substituted phenylazo derivatives of lawsone (2‐hydroxy‐l,4 p‐naphthoquinone, III) were synthesized and characterized. The X‐ray crystal structure was determined for the ligand 3‐(3′‐methyl phenylazo) lawsone. The copper complexes of these derivatives were found to possess 1:2 metal stoichiometry and square planar geometries with intermolecular stackings, resulting in antiferromagnetic exchange interactions. The in vitro activity of all the synthesized compounds was examined against human breast cancer cell‐line, MCF‐7, which revealed enhanced activities for the metal complexes, the highest activity being observed for the copper compound of 3‐(3′‐methyl phenylazo) lawsone.