Copper (II) complexes of the anti-inflammatory drug naproxen and 3-pyridylmethanol as auxiliary ligand. Characterization, superoxide dismutase and catecholase--mimetic activities.

The synthesis and spectral characterization of binary copper (II) complex of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug naproxen (Nap) with formula [Cu(2)(Nap)(4)](n) (1) and its ternary complex with 3-pyridylmethanol (3-pym) of formula [Cu(Nap)(2)(3-pym)(2)](n) (2) were investigated. Complex 1 is polymeric consisting of units of the known paddle-wheel dicopper (II) tetracarboxylates of four naproxenate ions bridging the two copper atoms. The units are axially connected through the neighboring carboxylate oxygen atoms. The X-ray molecular structure measurements of complex 2 showed that it is polymeric consisting of mononuclear units having trans-CuN(2)O(2) + O(2) chromophores which are bridged by 3-pyridylmethanol ligands through their methanolic oxygen atoms. The measured superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic activities of the complexes indicated that complexes 1 and 2 are excellent SOD mimics with an IC(50) of 0.30 microM for complex 1 and 0.39 microM for complex 2. The catecholase activities of the complexes toward the aerobic oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (DTBC) to 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone (DTBQ) showed that both complexes have moderate catalytic oxidase activities.