Syntheses and spectroscopic studies of potential antitumor copper(II) complexes with 5-phenylazo-3-methoxy salicylidene thiosemicarbazone and N4 substituted thiosemicarbazones.

Five new copper(II) complexes of 5-phenylazo-3-methoxy salicylidene thiosemicarbazone and N4 substituted thiosemicarbazones have been synthesized. They have been characterized by chemical analyses, magnetic, conductance data, and by ultraviolet (UV)--visible, infrared, and electron spin resonance spectra. The complexes have the general formula CuL2, where HL is the ligand. One representative complex has been screened in vitro and in vivo against P388 lymphocytic leukemia cells sensitive and resistant to adriamycin (P388/S and P388/R). It has shown promising growth inhibition activity. We are reporting here for the first time the antineoplastic activity of this complex against experimental tumor systems.