Synthesis, characterization of diorganotin(IV) complexes of N-(2-hydroxyarylidene)aminoacetic acid and antitumour screening in vivo in ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells

Some new diorganotin(IV) complexes have been prepared by reacting potassium N-(2-hydroxyarylidene)aminoacetate with R2SnCl2(R = Me,nBu,Ph). The complexes have been characterized by 1H,13C,119Sn NMR, IR and 119mSn Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques in combination with elemental analysis. In the solid state, the complexes possess penta- and hexa-coordinated tin centres. The hexa-coordinated tin complexes were found to dissociate in solution, giving rise to penta-coordinated species as revealed by 119Sn NMR spectroscopy. Antitumour screening in vivo of the complexes L4snPh2,L4SnPh2· Ph3SnCl and L4SntBU2·t Bu2SnCl2 (L4 = N-(2-hydroxyacetophenone)aminoacetate) is also reported. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd