Dihaloplatinum(II) complexes having diimine ligands: crystal structure, thermal properties, cytotoxicity effects against breast cancer cells and application as a precursor towards nanoparticles

The reaction of potassium tetrachloroplatinate(II) with dimethylsulfide and a mixture of HBr/KBr affords <i>trans</i>-[PtBr₂(SMe₂)₂]; [PtBr₂(Me₂bpy)] (Me₂bpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine) was prepared from the reaction of <i>trans</i>-[PtBr₂(SMe₂)₂] with Me₂bpy. The crystal structure of the yellow form of [PtBr₂(bu₂bpy)] (bu₂bpy = 4,4'-di-<i>tert</i>-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine) was determined by X-ray crystallography. The X-ray single-crystal structure determination of complex [PtBr₂(bu₂bpy)] reveals that the platinum adopts a square planar geometry with a twofold axis through the platinum atoms. Thermal properties of the related series of diimine platinum(II) complexes [PtX₂(bu₂bpy)] (X = Cl, Br, I) reveal that the thermal stabilities increase [PtI₂(bu₂bpy)] 2(bu₂bpy)] 2(bu₂bpy)]. [PtBr₂(bpy)] (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), [PtBr₂(Me₂bpy)] and [PtX₂(bu₂bpy)] (X = Cl, Br, I) were studied by MTT assay against two human breast cancer cell lines of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 with [PtCl₂(bu₂bpy)] having a higher cytotoxic effect towards both cancer cell lines, which shows the significant role of the halide and diimine ligand. Semi-spherical Pt(0) nanoparticles (NPCs) were prepared by the simple calcination of [PtX₂(bu₂bpy)] (X = Cl, Br, I) at 800 °C in air.