Thiohydrazone copper(II) complexes. The relationship between redox properties and superoxide dismutase mimetic activity.

The redox behaviour of copper(II) complexes with the open chain ligand, benzilbisthiosemicarbazone, and the macrocyclic one [3,4,10,11-tetraphenyl-1,2,5,8,9,12,13-octaazacyclotetradeca-7,14- dithione- 2,4,9,11-tetraene] has been explored by cyclic voltammetry. The half-wave potential values for the copper(II)/copper(I) redox couple and the spectral data obtained on dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution agree with the superoxide dismutase (SOD)-mimetic activity of the complexes. The macrocyclic complexes show more positive reduction potential and more activity than the open chain derivatives. From our results it follows that the structure and conformation of ligand has influence on the redox potential of central atom in coordination compound. The changes in the coordination sphere are connected with the change of biological function of compounds represented by SOD-mimic activity. In addition, the L1H6 derivatives show quasireversible waves associated to Cu(II)/Cu(III) process.