Palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes containing benzimidazole ligands: Molecular structures, vibrational frequencies and cytotoxicity

(1H-benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)-(4-methoxyl-phenyl)-amine (L1), (1H-benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)-(4-methyl-phenyl)-amine (L2) and their Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes have been synthesized as potential anticancer compounds and their structures were elucidated using a variety of physico-chemical techniques. Theoretical calculations invoking geometry optimization, vibrational assignments, 1H NMR, charge distribution and molecular orbital description HOMO and LUMO were done using density functional theory. Natural bond orbital analysis (NBO) method was performed to provide details about the type of hybridization and the nature of bonding in the studied complexes. Strong coordination bonds (LP(1)N11 → σ*(MCl22)) and (LP(1)N21 → σ*(MCl23)) (M = Pd or Pt) result from donation of electron density from a lone pair orbital on the nitrogen atoms to the acceptor metal molecular orbitals. The experimental results and the calculated molecular parameters revealed square-planar geometries around the metallic centre through the pyridine-type nitrogen of the benzimidazole ring and secondary amino group and two chlorine atoms. The activation thermodynamic parameters were calculated using non-isothermal methods. The synthesized ligands, in comparison to their metal complexes were screened for their antibacterial activity. In addition, the studied complexes showed activity against three cell lines of different origin, breast cancer (MCF-7), Colon Carcinoma (HCT) and human heptacellular carcinoma (Hep-G2) comparable to cis-platin.