Diorganotin(IV) N-acetyl-l-cysteinate complexes: Synthesis, solid state, solution phase, DFT and biological investigations

Diorganotin(IV) complexes of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (H₂NAC; (R)-2-acetamido-3-sulfanylpropanoic acid) have been synthesized and their solid and solution-phase structural configurations investigated by FTIR, Mössbauer, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy. FTIR results suggested that in R₂Sn(IV)NAC (R = Me, Bu, Ph) complexes NAC²⁻ behaves as dianionic tridentate ligand coordinating the tin(IV) atom, through ester-type carboxylate, acetate carbonyl oxygen atom and the deprotonated thiolate group. From ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy it could be inferred that the tin atom is pentacoordinated, with equatorial R₂Sn(IV) trigonal bipyramidal configuration. In DMSO-d₆ solution, NMR spectroscopic data showed the coordination of one solvent molecule to tin atom, while the coordination mode of the ligand through the ester-type carboxylate and the deprotonated thiolate group was retained in solution. DFT (Density Functional Theory) study confirmed the proposed structures in solution phase as well as the determination of the most probable stable ring conformation. Biological investigations showed that Bu₂SnCl₂ and NAC2 induce loss of viability in HCC cells and only moderate effects in non-tumor Chang liver cells. NAC2 showed lower cytotoxic activity than Bu₂SnCl₂, suggesting that the binding with NAC²⁻ modulates the marked cytotoxic activity exerted by Bu₂SnCl₂. Therefore, these novel butyl derivatives could represent a new class of anticancer drugs.