A nickel(II) complex with the nucleobase analog 6-trifluoromethyluracil

The increase in cancer incidence, together with acquired resistance to conventional treatments, reinforces the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches. Skin cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm globally, and nucleic acid analogues like 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) have been used clinically to treat patients affected by this disease. At the same time, coordination chemistry has been consolidating itself as a promising strategy in the development of new anti-tumour agents. Among the metals of interest, nickel(II) remains a particularly attractive candidate with high therapeutic potential. In this manner, the present work describes the synthesis, full structural characterisation and preliminary antiproliferative studies of a novel nickel(II) complex with the nucleobase analogue 6-trifluoromethyluracil and auxiliary ligand 2-2'-bipyridine.