Synthesis, characterization and antitumor activity of Cu(II), Zn(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes containing tridentate α-N-heterocyclic thiosemicarbazone

According to the National Cancer Institute (INCA), for the period of 2023-2025, an estimated 704.000 new cases of cancer per year are expected in Brazil. Cisplatin was the first metal-based chemotherapy drug approved for clinical use in the treatment of cancer. Despite their clinical effectiveness, platinum-based compounds are associated with severe side effects. In this sense, the increased incidence of cancer and the limitations of conventional drugs have driven the search for new chemotherapeutic agents capable of overcoming these limitations. Particularly, α-N-heterocyclic thiosemicarbazones and their metal-based derivatives have appeared to be promising antitumor agents. This work addresses the synthesis of new complexes of the type [MX(TPCl-k³N,N,S)] {X = Cl, N₃; M= Cu(II), Zn(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II); TPCl= N-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)hydrazine-1-carbothioamide}.