Metal complexes as anticancer agents: 2. Synthesis, spectroscopy, magnetism, electrochemistry, X-ray crystal structure and antimelanomal activity of the copper (II) complex of 5-amino-1-tolylimidazole-4-carboxylate in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells

The copper complex [Cu(ATICAR)2(H2O)]·2H2O (ATICAR=5-amino-1-tolylimidazole-4-carboxylate) has been prepared and characterized by its crystal structure determination. The ligand geometry around the copper(II) center is best described as predominantly square pyramidal (2/3) with a trigonal bipyramidal component (1/3). The ATICAR ligands act as bidentates to form the distorted square pyramid base of N2O2 donor atoms and a coordinated water molecule at the apex is held with a Cu–O bond that is unusually short (2.148 Å) for square pyramidal copper(II). Compound exhibits a dose-dependent antiproliferative effect on the growth of the B16F10 melanoma cell line while its lower IC50 value establish advantage by copper complexation.