Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, X-ray study and in vitro cytotoxicity of 5-hydroxycoumarin derivatives and their copper complexes

We have synthesized a series of bromo derivatives of 5-hydroxycoumarin and two new Cu(II) complexes with 6-acetyl-8-bromo-5-hydroxy-4,7-dimethylcoumarin (L2) and 6-acetyl-3,8-dibromo-5-hydroxy-4,7-dimethylcoumarin (L3) ligands, designed as potential active compounds against human cancer cell lines. The elemental analysis, mass spectroscopy, NMR and infrared spectroscopy have been used for basic characterization of analyzed compounds. The X-ray crystal structure analysis for one representative organic compound, 3,6,8-tribromo-5-hydroxy-4,7-dimethylcoumarin (c) has been performed. It has shown that coumarin system is nearly planar and the Br⋯Br interaction is a very characteristic feature of the molecular association for organic ligands. The complexes, Cu(L2)2·3H2O and Cu(L3)(ClO4)·2.5H2O, have been found as four-coordinated and contain copper in the +2 oxidation state according to X-ray absorption spectroscopy. All the compounds have been screened in vitro for their cytotoxic activity against mouse fibroblast and human prostate cancer cells. The coordination products of brominated ligands have shown to be more active than the free ligands and demonstrate significant in-vitro cytotoxicity against human prostate cancer cells (DU145).