Coordination compounds of cobalt, nickel, copper, and zinc with N 1,N 2-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethylidene)benzene-1,2-diamine and its derivatives

o-Phenylenediamine reacts with 2-formyl-, 2-acetyl-, or 2-benzoylpyridine in ethanol in the presence of cobalt, nickel, copper, or zinc chlorides to form monomeric complexes ML1-3Cl2 center dot nH(2)O {M = Co, Ni, Cu, Zn; L-1 = N (1),N (2)-bis(pyridin-2-ymethylidene)benzene-1,2-diamine, L-2 = N (1),N (2)-bis(pyridin-2-ylethylidene) benzene-1,2-diamine, L-3 = N (1),N (2)-bis[phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methylidene]benzene-1,2-diamine; n = 0-3}. The condensation products (L-1-L-3) act in the complexes as tetradentate N,N,N,N-ligands. Thermolysis of the complexes occurs in two stages: dehydration (70-95A degrees C) and complete degradation (320-450A degrees C). At concentrations of 10(-5)-10(-7) M, the complexes inhibit in vitro growth and proliferation of HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells.