Syntheses, structures, and the in vitro anticancer mechanism of triorganotin (IV) complexes based on 4,4′‐stilbenedicarboxylic acid

Abstract

Five triorganotin (IV) complexes, [(Ph3Sn)2L] (1) [(Me3Sn)2L]n (2), [(n‐Bu3Sn)2L]n (3), [(n‐Bu 3Sn)2L(4,4′‐bpy)]n (4), [(n‐Bu3Sn)2L(bpe)]n (5) [H2L = 4,4′‐stilbenedicarboxylic acid, 4,4′‐bpy = 4,4′‐bipyridine, bpe = 4,4′‐vinylenedipyridine], were successfully prepared and structurally characterized by FT‐IR, elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy, PXRD, and X‐ray crystallography. Complex 1 is a monomer containing two tin atoms, and 1D infinite chains can be formed between the monomers through CH···π interactions. Complexes 2 and 3 represent 2D network structures containing tetranuclear 38‐membered rings. Meanwhile, complexes 4 and 5 are 1D chain‐like structures and form the 2D network and 3D stereo structure via CH···O intermolecular interactions, respectively. The anticancer activities of the complexes were investigated against different cancer cells (A549, HeLa, and HepG‐2). Complexes 1 and 3–5 showed superior anticancer activity. Meanwhile, the anticancer mechanism of complex 1 was studied with the results that complex 1 can promote the production of excessive reactive oxygen species, induce mitochondrial membrane permeability depolarization, and release proapoptotic factors from mitochondria into the cytosol, followed by caspase‐3 activation, nuclei damage, and apoptosis. Excitingly, complex 1 also has good antimetastatic ability toward HepG‐2 cancer cells.