Diorganotin(IV) benzyldithiocarbamate complexes: synthesis, characterization, and thermal and cytotoxicity study

Ammonium benzyldithiocarbamate, represented as NH4L, was prepared and used in the complexation reaction involving three organotin(iv) salts, represented as R2SnCl2 (R = CH3, C4H9, and C6H5). The structures of the synthesized complexes [(CH3)(2)SnL2] (1), [(C4H9)(2)SnL2] (2), and [(C6H5)(2)SnL2] (3) were established using various spectroscopic techniques (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, and Sn-119 NMR) and elemental analysis. Thermal decomposition of the complexes using thermogravimetric analysis under nitrogen showed no definite pathway in the pattern of the complexes even though they are structurally related. X-ray diffraction studies of the final residue showed a common diffraction pattern for the complexes and confirmed SnS as the product of the thermal treatment. Cytotoxicity studies of these complexes against the human tumor cell lines (HeLa and MCF-7) compared favorably with the used standard 5-fluorouracil drug, with complexes 2 and 3 showing very good activity toward the used cell lines.