Synthesis, spectral characterization and eukaryotic DNA degradation of thiosemicarbazones and their platinum(IV) complexes.

The condensation products of acetophenone (or its derivatives), salicylaldehyde and o-hydroxy-p-methoxybenzophenone with thiosemicarbazide and ethyl- or phenyl-thiosemicarbazide are the investigated thiosemicarbazones. Their reactions with H(2)PtCl(6) produced Pt(IV) complexes characterized by elemental, thermal, mass, IR and electronic spectral studies. The coordination modes were found mononegative bidentate in the acetophenone derivatives and binegative tridentate in the salicylaldehyde derivatives. The complexes were analyzed thermogravimetrically and found highly stable. Some ligands and their complexes were screened against Sarcina sp. and E. coli using the cup-diffusion technique. [Pt(oHAT)(OH)Cl] shows higher activity against E. coli than the other compounds. The degradation power of the tested compounds on the calf thymus DNA supports their selectivity against bacteria and not against the human or related eukaryotic organisms.