Synthesis, characterization and antitumor properties of some metal complexes of 3- and 5-substituted salicylaldehyde 2-pyridinylhydrazones.

Complexes of Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Pt(II) with 3- and 5-substituted salicylaldehyde 2-pyridinylhydrazones (XSPH, X = H, 3-NO2, 3-CH3O, 5-Br, 5-Cl, 5-CH3, or 5-NO2) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, conductance measurements, magnetic moments (300-78 K), and spectral studies. On the basis of these studies a monomeric, high-spin, distorted octahedral structure for Mn(XSPH)2 and Fe(XSPH)2, a dimeric, high-spin, five-coordinate structure for Co(XSBH)Cl, a dimeric, low-spin, five-coordinate structure for Ni(XSPH)Cl and Zn(XSPH)(OAc), and a square-planar structure for M(XSPH)Cl.H2O (M = Cu(II) or Pt(II] complexes are suggested. The polycrystalline ESR spectra of Cu(II) complexes are isotropic and suggest dx2-y2 ground state in square-planar stereochemistry. Mössbauer spectral results indicate distorted octahedral structure for iron(II) complexes. All the metal(II) complexes have been screened for their antitumor activity against P388 lymphocytic leukemia test system in mice and have been found to possess no significant activity at the dosages used.