Two novel Co(II) complexes with two different Schiff bases: inhibiting growth of human skin cancer cells

Using two flexible Schiff bases, H(2)L(1) and H(2)L(2), two new cobalt II (Co(II))-coordination compounds, namely, Py(3)CoL(1) (1) and Py(3)CoL(2) (2) (Py=pyridine, L(1)=3,5-ClC(6)H(2)(O)C=NC(6)H(3)(O)-4-NO(2), L(2)=3,5-BrC(6)H(2)(O)C=NC(6)H(3)(O)-4-NO(2)) have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. Single crystal X-ray structural analysis revealed that compounds 1 and 2 are both six-coordinate in a distorted octahedral geometry, and the 1D chain structure was formed by the π…π and C-H…O interactions or C-H…Cl interaction. The in vitro antitumor activities of 1, 2 and their corresponding organic ligands Py, L(1), and L(2) were studied and evaluated, in which three human skin cancer cell lines (A-431, HT-144 and SK-MEL-30) were used in the screening tests.