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Synthesis, characterization and chemosensitivity studies of half-sandwich ruthenium, rhodium and iridium complexes containing к and к aroylthiourea ligands

1 Synthesis, characterization and chemosensitivity studies of half-sandwich 2 ruthenium, rhodium and iridium complexes containing к1(S) and к2(N,S) aroylthiourea 3 ligands 4 5 Agreeda Lapasama, Omar Hussainb, Roger M Phillipsb, Werner Kaminskyc, 6 Mohan Rao Kolliparaa* 7 8 9 a Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, 10 India. E-mail: mohanrao59@gmail.com; kmrao@nehu.ac.in 11 b 12 HD1 3DH, UK 13 c Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA 1 14 Graphical Abstract 15 16 17 2 18 Abstract 19 The reaction of [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2 and [Cp*MCl2]2 (M = Rh/Ir) metal precursors with 20 aroylthiourea ligands (L1-L3) yielded a series of neutral mono-dentate complexes 1-9. The 21 neutral mono-dentate coordination of aroylthiourea with metals via S atom was confirmed by 22 single crystal X-ray diffraction study. Further reaction of mono-dentate complexes 1-9 with 23 excess NaN3 in polar solvent resulted in the formation of highly strained four member ring к2(N,S) 24 azido complexes 10-18. Further these complexes were treated with activated alkynes to isolate 25 triazole complexes, but unfortunately the reaction was unsuccessful. All these complexes were 26 fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. The molecular structures of the 27 representative complexes have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The 28 molecular structures of the complexes revealed typical piano stool geometry around the metal 29 center. The chemosensitivity activities of the complexes 1-9 evaluated against the cancer cell line 30 HCT-116 (human colorectal carcinoma) and ARPE-19 (human retinal epithelial cells) cell line. 31 Of these, complex 3 was the most potent and whilst its potency was less than cisplatin, its 32 selectivity for cancer as opposed to non-cancer cell lines in vitro was comparable to cisplatin. 33 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34 Keywords: Ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, thiourea, chemosensitivity. 3 35 Introduction 36 The discovery of the anticancer activity of cisplatin by Rosenberg led to the development 37 of numerous metal-based compounds as potential drugs in the war on cancer. Platinum based 38 drugs namely cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin are among the most effective anticancer 39 drugs, which have been widely used [1-2]. However, some drawback such as neurotoxicity, 40 nephrotoxicity, intrinsic resistance of some tumors and dose-limiting side effects has limited the 41 use of the platinum diammine compounds, cisplatin and carboplatin [3]. In order to overcome 42 these obstacles and develop safer and more effective remedial agents, intensive efforts have been 43 devoted toward the design and pharmacological evaluation of other metal-based drugs [4-5]. In 44 the search for anticancer agents containing metals other than platinum, ruthenium compounds 45 turned out to be the most promising ones, largely because the ligand exchange kinetics of metal 46 complexes in aqueous solution, (which seem to be crucial for the anticancer activity) is favored 47 [6-7]. Ruthenium has therefore been considered to be an attractive alternative to platinum 48 particularly as many ruthenium compounds are not very toxic and some ruthenium compounds 49 have been shown to be quite selective for cancer cells [8-9]. Following the first in vitro study of 50 arene ruthenium compounds as anticancer agents by Tocher et al., in 1992, the field of antitumor 51 and anti-metastatic arene ruthenium complexes has received considerable attention and several 52 anticancer ruthenium complexes, NAMI-A and KP1019 exerted potent activities against 53 numerous tumor cells [10, 11]. Furthermore, (p-cymene)Ru complexes like [RuCl2(p- 54 cymene)(pta)] (RAPTA-C), show attracted considerable attention due to their promising anti- 55 metastatic activity in vivo activities on the inhibition of metastasis growth, together with a high 56 selectivity and low general toxicity [12]. In addition Cp*rhodium and Cp*iridium complexes 57 have also attracted considerable current interest due to their potential anticancer activity [13-17]. 4 58 Some of the d6 metal complexes of ruthenium (II) [18, 19], rhodium (III) [17] and iridium (III) 59 [20, 21] have also been found to inhibit the tumors by their selective interactions with cellular 60 biomolecules. 61 Aroylthiourea ligands have been noted for their versatility because they are able to 62 coordinate to a wide range of metal ions as neutral, monobasic or dibasic ligands [22]. N, N- 63 Disubstituted thiourea being versatile precursors has been subjected to a various structural 64 modifications in order to prepare a variety of their derivatives with different biological aspects. 65 Some of N, N-disubstituted thiourea themselves are remarkable owing to their pharmacological 66 and biological importance [23]. In vitro studies have revealed that various classes of thiourea are 67 useful as potential antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antitubercular, anti-inflammatory, 68 herbicidal, insecticidal and anticancer agent [24-31]. Thiourea may react with other reagents 69 having different functionalities to yield active compounds of biological significance. The 70 biological importance of both aroylthiourea and the ruthenium-arene unit has prompted us to 71 explore the biological applications of ruthenium-arene complexes containing aroylthiourea 72 ligand. Herein we describe the synthesis of [(arene)MCl2] core complexes containing S donor 73 aroylthiourea ligand and evaluate their cytotoxic properties and non-cancer cells in vitro. 74 In recent years, we have reported many organometallic complexes including half- 75 sandwich platinum group metal complexes containing thiourea ligands [32-34]. Recently we 76 have also reported the synthesis of strained complexes of arene d6 metals containing 77 benzoylthiourea ligand [35]. 78 synthesis of neutral mono-dentate half-sandwich arene ruthenium, rhodium and iridium 79 complexes containing aroylthiourea derivatives and their reactivity with azide. Ligands used in 80 this study are shown in (Chart 1). In continuation of our previous work, herein we report the 5 81 82 Chart 1. Ligands used in present study. 83 2. Experimental Section 84 2.1. Physical methods and materials 85 The reagents used were of commercial quality and used without further purification. 86 Benzoyl chloride, ammonium thiocyanate, aniline and 4-chloroaniline were purchased from 87 Sigma-Aldrich. 4-Nitroaniline was obtained from Alfa Aesar. The syntheses of all the complexes 88 were performed without using any inert atmosphere. All solvents used for syntheses were dried 89 and distilled prior to use according to standard procedures. Starting compounds [(p- 90 cymene)RuCl2]2 were prepared according to reported method [36], and [Cp*MCl2]2 (M = Rh/Ir) 91 complexes were synthesized by using an 92 microwave vials equipped with magnetic stirring bars which is described in experimental 93 section. Infrared (IR) spectra (400-4000 cm-1) were recorded on a Perkin-Elmer 983 94 spectrophotometer with compounds being dispersed as KBr discs. 1H NMR spectra were 95 recorded on a Bruker Avance II 400 MHz instrument using CDCl3 as solvent chemical shifts 96 were referenced to TMS. Mass spectra were obtained from Waters ZQ 4000 mass spectrometer 97 by ESI method using acetonitrile as solvent. Absorption spectra were recorded on a Perkin-Elmer 98 Lambda 25 UV/Vis spectrophotometer in the range of 200-600 nm at room temperature in 99 acetonitrile. Elemental analyses of the complexes were performed on a Perkin-Elmer 2400 CHN 100 analyzer. Anton Paar monowave 50 synthesizer in 10 mL 6 101 102 2.2. Single-crystal X-ray structures analyses 103 The crystal of complexes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 16 and 17 were obtained by slow diffusion 104 of hexane over dichloromethane solution of the corresponding complexes. Single crystal X-ray 105 diffraction measurement was carried out on an Oxford Diffraction Xcalibur Eos Gemini 106 diffractometer at 293 K using graphite monochromated Mo-Kα radiation (λ = 0.71073 Å). The 107 strategy for the data collection was evaluated using the CrysAlisPro CCD software. Crystal data 108 were collected by standard ‘‘phi–omega scan’’ techniques and were scaled and reduced using 109 CrysAlisPro RED software. The structures were solved by direct methods using SHELXS-97 110 and refined by full-matrix least squares with SHELXL-97 refining on F2 [37]. The positions of 111 all the atoms were obtained by direct methods. Metal atoms in the complex were located from 112 the E-maps and non-hydrogen atoms were refined anisotropically. The hydrogen atoms bound to 113 the carbon were placed in geometrically constrained positions and refined with isotropic 114 temperature factors, generally 1.2Ueq of their parent atoms. Crystallographic and structure 115 refinement parameters for the complexes are summarized in Table S1 and Table S2, and selected 116 bond lengths and bond angles are presented in Table 1 and Table 2. Figures (1-7) were drawn 117 with ORTEP3 [38]. 118 2.3. Cell line testing 119 The human colorectal carcinoma cell line HCT116 p53 +/+ cells and the non-cancer 120 human retinal epithelial cell line ARPE-19 were obtained from the American Type Culture 121 Collection. Antiproliferative activity of the compounds was evaluated using the standard MTT 122 (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) cellular viability assay as 123 described elsewhere [39]. Briefly, cells were seeded into 96 well plates at 1.5 x 10 3 cells per well 7 124 and incubated for 24 hours at 37 °C in an atmosphere of 5% CO 2 prior to drug exposure. Stock 125 solution was freshly prepared by dissolving each of the compounds in dimethylsulphoxide 126 (DMSO) at a concentration of 100 mM, which was subsequently diluted with medium to obtain 127 drug solutions ranging from 0.5 to 100 μM. The final DMSO concentration was 0.1% (v/v), 128 which is nontoxic to cells. Cisplatin was dissolved in phosphate buffered saline at a stock 129 concentration of 25 mM. The cells were exposed to a range of drug concentrations for 96 hours 130 and cell survival was determined using the MTT assay. Following drug exposure 20 µL of MTT 131 (0.5 mg/ml) in phosphate buffered saline was added to each well and it was further incubated at 132 37°C for 4 hours in an atmosphere containing 5% CO2. The solution was then removed and the 133 formed formazan crystals was dissolved in 150 µM DMSO. The absorbance of the resulting 134 solution was recorded at 550nm using an ELISA spectrophotometer. The percentage of cell 135 survival was calculated by dividing the true absorbance of treated cell by the true absorbance for 136 controls (exposed to 0.1% DMSO). The IC50 values were determined from plots of percentage 137 survival against drug concentration. Each experiment was performed in triplicate and a mean 138 value obtained and stated as IC50 (µM) ± SD. To compare the response of non-cancer cells to 139 cancer cells, the selectivity index (SI) was also calculated which is defined as the IC50 for ARPE- 140 19 cells divided by the IC50 for HCT-116 cells. Values ˃1 indicate that complexes have selective 141 activity against cancer compared to non-cancer cells in vitro. 142 2.4. General procedure for synthesis of ligands (L1-L3) 143 Freshly prepared benzoyl isothiocyanate was mixed in a 1:1 molar ratio with the desired 144 substituted aniline in dry acetone and the mixture was reflux at 50 0C for about 5 h. On cooling, 145 the reaction mixture was slowly poured into acidified (pH 4–5) chilled water and stirred well 8 146 with a glass rod. The solid, which formed, was separated by filtration and the precipitates were 147 washed with distilled water and dried at room temperature (Scheme 1). 148 149 150 151 Scheme 1. Synthesis of thiourea ligands (L1-L3) 2.5. General preparation of [Cp*MCl2]2 (M = Rh/Ir) 152 RhCl3 .3H2O (0.50 g) or IrCl3 .3H2O (0.50 g) was dissolved in MeOH (3 ml) in a mono- 153 wave vial, and 0.5 ml of 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadiene was added. The vial was placed 154 in the mono-wave instrument the pressure was set at 20 bar and heated to 110 °C with stirring for 155 45 minutes. After cooling to room temperature, the vial was opened. After short vigorous 156 shaking, the precipitate was allowed to settle down, and the solvent was decanted. The 157 microcrystalline product was isolated, washed with diethyl ether (3×5 ml), and dried under 158 vacuum. Yield: (88%) 159 2.6. General procedure for synthesis of neutral complexes (1-9) 160 A mixture of starting metal precursor (0.1 mmol) and ligands (0.2 mmol) were dissolved 161 in dry methanol (10 ml) and stirred at room temperature for 6 hours (Scheme-2). A yellow 162 colored compound precipitated out from the reaction mixture. The precipitate was filtered, 163 washed with cold methanol (5 ml) and diethyl ether (2 x 5 ml) and dried in vacuum. 9 164 165 Scheme 2. Schematic representation for the synthesis of complexes (1-9) 166 2.6.1. [(p-cymene)Ru(к1(S)-L1)Cl2] (1) 167 Yield: (68%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3068-3440 ν(N-H), 1665 ν(C=O), 1213 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 MHz, 168 CDCl3, ppm): 12.91 (s, 1H, NH), 11.29 (s,1H, NH), 8.22 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.82 (d, 1H, J = 8 169 Hz), 7.49 (t, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 7.38-7.45 (m,5H), 7.32 (t, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 5.33 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 5.18 170 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz) 2.82-2.93 (sept, 1H), 2.17 (s, 3H), 1.23 (d, 6H, J = 8 Hz); ESI-MS (m/z): 171 490.96 [M-2Cl]+; UV-Vis { Acetonitrile, λmax nm (ε/10-4 M-1 cm-1)}: 255 (0.95), 364(0.12). Anal. 172 Calc. for C24H26Cl2N2ORuS (562.52): C, 51.24; H, 4.66; N, 4.98. Found: C, 51.30; H, 4.63; N, 173 4.76. 174 2.6.2. [Cp*Rh(к1(S)-L1)Cl2](2) 175 Yield: (72%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3052-3447 ν(N-H), 1667 ν(C=O), 1210 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 MHz, 176 CDCl3, ppm): 13.06 (s, 1H, NH), 11.40 (s, 1H, NH), 8.27 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.48-7.52 (m, 3H), 177 7.43 (d, 2H, J = 12 Hz), 7.41 (d, 1H, J = 4 Hz), 7.38 (d, 2H, J = 12 Hz), 7.29 (t, 1H, J = 12 Hz), 178 1.56 (s, 15H). ESI-MS (m/z): 493.02 [M-2Cl]+; UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm (ε/10-4 M-1 cm- 179 1 180 C, 51.01; H, 4.75; N, 5.15. 181 2.6.3. [Cp*Ir(к1(S)-L1)Cl2](3) )}: 263 (0.45). Anal. Calc. for C24H27Cl2N2ORhS (565.36): C, 50.99; H, 4.81; N, 4.95. Found: 10 182 Yield: (56%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3054-3436 ν(N-H), 1668 ν(C=O), 1211 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 MHz, 183 CDCl3, ppm): 13.06 (s, 1H, NH),11.84 (s, 1H, NH), 8.41 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.60 (t, 1H, J = 8 184 Hz), 7.51-7.56 (m, 4H), 7.45 (t, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.37 (t, 1H, J = 8Hz), 1.65 (s, 15H); ESI-MS 185 (m/z): 581.01 [M-2Cl]+; UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm (ε/10-4 M-1 cm-1)}: 257(0.30), 350 186 (0.067). Anal. Calc. for C24H27Cl2 IrN2OS (654.67): C, 44.03; H, 4.16; N, 4.28. Found: C, 44.01; 187 H, 4.29; N, 4.05. 188 2.6.4. [(p-cymene)Ru(к1(S)-L2)Cl2](4) 189 Yield: (73%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3171-3350 ν(N-H), 1657 ν(C=O), 1206 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 MHz, 190 CDCl3, ppm): 12.96 (s, 1H, NH), 11.36 (s, 1H, NH), 8.27 (d, 2H, J = 4 Hz ), 7.57 (t, 1H, J = 8 191 Hz), 7.50-7.44 (m, 6H), 5.41 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 5.26 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 2.91-2.98 (sept, 1H), 2.24 192 (s, 3H), 1.30 (d, 6H, J = 8 Hz); ESI-MS (m/z): [M-2Cl]+; UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm (ε/10-4 193 M-1 cm-1)}: 260 (0.73), 357 (0.10). Anal. Calc. for C24H25Cl3N2ORuS (596.96): C, 48.29; H, 194 4.22; N, 4.69. Found: C, 48.33; H, 4.22; N, 4.77, 195 2.6.5. [Cp*Rh(к1(S)-L2)Cl2] (5) 196 Yield: (81%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3128-3434 ν(N-H), 1665 ν(C=O), 1211 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 MHz, 197 CDCl3, ppm): 13.10 (s, 1H, NH), 11.50 (s, 1H, NH), 8.34 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.58 (t, 1H, J = 8 198 Hz), 7.49-7.53 (m, 4H, J = 8 Hz), 7.43 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 1.75 (s, 15H); ESI-MS (m/z): 527.19 199 [M-2Cl]+; UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm (ε/10-4 M-1 cm-1)}: 264 (0.38). Anal. Calc. for 200 C24H26Cl3N2ORhS (599.81): C, 48.06; H, 4.37; N, 4.67. Found: C, 47.85; H, 4.42; N, 4.45. 201 2.6.6. [Cp*Ir(к1(S)-L2)Cl2] (6) 202 Yield: (73%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3056-3430 ν(N-H), 1669 ν(C=O), 1204 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 MHz, 203 CDCl3, ppm): 13.06 (s, 1H, NH), 11.88 (s,1H, NH), 8.40 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.60 (t, 1H, J = 8 204 Hz), 7.47-7.55 (m, J = 8 Hz, 4H), 7.44 (dd, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 1.61 (s, 15H); (m/z) ESI-MS: 11 205 617.22 [M-2Cl]+; UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm (ε/10-4 M-1 cm-1)}: 271(0.83), 355 (0.078). 206 Anal. Calc. for C24H26Cl3IrN2OS (689.12): C, 41.83; H, 3.80; N, 4.07. Found: C, 41.84; H, 3.82; 207 N, 4.15. 208 2.6.7. [(p-cymene)Ru(к1(S)-L3)Cl2] (7) 209 Yield: (84%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3164-3467 ν(N-H), 1659 ν(C=O), 1209 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 MHz, 210 CDCl3, ppm): 13.41 (s, 1H, NH), 11.49 (s, 1H, NH), 8.35 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 8.27 (d, 2H, J = 8 211 Hz), 7.77 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.58 (t, 1H, J = 4 Hz), 7.50 (t, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 5.45 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 212 5.30 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 2.91-3.02 (sept, 1H), 2.27 (s, 3H), 1.31 (d, 6H); ESI-MS (m/z): 535.13 213 [M-2Cl]+; UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm (ε/10-4 M-1 cm-1)}: 281 (0.40), 347 (0.22). Anal. Calc. 214 for C24H25Cl2N3O3RuS (607.51): C, 47.45; H, 4.15; N, 6.92. Found: C, 47.43; H, 4.16; N, 6.74. 215 2.6.8. [Cp*Rh(к1(S)-L3)Cl2] (8) 216 Yield: (75%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3238-3435 ν(N-H), 1671 ν(C=O), 1206 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 MHz, 217 CDCl3, ppm): 13.48 (s, 1H, NH), 11.55 (s,1H, NH), 8.27 (d, 4H, J = 8 Hz), 7.75 (d, 2H, J = 8 218 Hz), 7.53 (t, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 7.41 (t, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 1.59 (s, 15H); ESI-MS (m/z): 538.08[M-2Cl]+; 219 UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm (ε/10-4 M-1 cm-1)}: 259 (1.71). Anal. Calc. for C24H26Cl2N3O3RhS 220 (610.36): C, 47.23; H, 4.29; N, 6.88. Found: C, 47.25; H, 4.30; N, 6.74. 221 2.6.9. [Cp*Ir(к1(S)-L3)Cl2] (9) 222 Yield: (79%) ;IR (KBr, cm-1): 3241-3447 ν(N-H), 1671 ν(C=O), 1210 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 MHz, 223 CDCl3, ppm) : 13.53 (s, 1H, NH), 12.03 (s, 1H, NH), 8.42 (d, 2H, J = 4 Hz), 8.34 (d, 2H, J = 8 224 Hz), 7.80 (d, 2H, J = 4 Hz), 7.63 (t, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 7.55 (t, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 1.64 (s, 15H); ESI-MS 225 (m/z): 626.14 [M-2Cl]+; UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm (ε/10-4 M-1 cm-1)}: 275 (1.11), 345 226 (0.22). Anal. Calc. for C24H26Cl2IrN3O3S (699.67): C, 41.20; H, 3.75; N, 6.01. Found: C, 41.19; 227 H, 3.78; N, 6.17. 12 228 2.7. General procedure for synthesis of azido complexes (10-18) 229 For the synthesis of azido complexes 10-18 these two reaction routes are possible-: 230 Route a: A suspension of the corresponding starting complexes 1–9 and NaN3 in 1:5 molar ratios 231 was suspended in dry methanol (10 ml) and stirred at room temperature for 8h (Scheme 3). The 232 solvent was removed to dryness using rotary evaporator. The residue was extracted with 233 dichloromethane, filtered and precipitated with hexane. This accounts for the higher yield of 234 complexes by this route as compared to that obtained by the other route (route b). 235 Route b: In addition, the terminal azido complexes 10, 13, 16 have also been prepared by 236 treatment of azido dimer [(p-cymene)Ru(-N3)Cl]2 with Ligands L1-L3 in dry methanol. The 237 resulting mixture was stirred for 8h at room temperature. After completion of the reaction, the 238 solvent was removed to dryness using rotary evaporator the expected complex was extracted 239 with dichloromethane, filtered, precipitated with hexane and dried in vacuum. 240 241 Scheme 3. Schematic representation for the synthesis of complexes (10-18) 13 242 2.7.1. [(p-cymene)Ru(к2(N,S)-L1)N3] (10) 243 Yield: (68%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3433 ν(N-H), 2030 ν(N3), 1617 ν(C=O), 1192 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 244 MHz, CDCl3, ppm): 12.54 (s, 1H), 8.04 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.51-7.58 (m, 5H), 7.40 (t, 2H, J = 8 245 Hz), 7.28 (d, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 5.24 (d, 1H, J = 4 Hz), 4.67 (d, 1H, J = 4 Hz), 4.62 (d, 1H, J = 4 Hz), 246 4.46 (d, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 2.60-2.70 (sept, 1H), 2.09 (s, 3H), 1.20 (d, 6H, J = 8 Hz). 13C NMR (100 247 MHz,CDCl3, ppm): 186.06, 178.67, 137.58, 135.40, 131.14, 129.20, 128.07, 123.82, 100.86, 248 100.28, 83.90, 83.11, 80.40, 78.57, 31.27, 23.26, 21.76, 18.02; UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm 249 (ε/10-4 M-1 cm-1)}: 284 (0.75), 422 (0.18). 250 2.7.2. [Cp*Rh(к2(N,S)-L1)N3] (11) 251 Yield: (68%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3436 ν(N-H), 2034 ν(N3),1627 ν(C=O), 1191ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 MHz, 252 CDCl3, ppm): 12.74 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.55 (t, 3H, J = 8 Hz), 7.47-7.52 (m, 3H), 253 7.40 (t, 3H, J = 8 Hz), 1.41 (s, 15H); ESI-MS (m/z): 493.16 [M-N3]+. UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax 254 nm (ε/10-4 M-1 cm-1)}: 293 (0.85), 422 (0.18). Anal. Calc. for C24H26N5ORhS (535.97): C, 53.83; 255 H, 4.89; N, 13.08. Found: C, 53.87; H, 4.82; N, 13.11. 256 2.7.3. [Cp*Ir(к2(N,S)-L1)N3] (12) 257 Yield: (56%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3420ν(N-H), 2036 ν(N3), 1618 ν(C=O), 1198 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 258 MHz, CDCl3, ppm): 12.75 (s, 1H), 8.22 (d, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 8.10 (d, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 7.57 (d, 1H, J = 259 8 Hz), 7.48 (t, 3H, J = 4 Hz), 7.40 (d, 2H, J = 4 Hz), 7.33 (d, 1H, J = 4 Hz), 1.65 (s, 15H).13C 260 NMR (100 MHz,CDCl3, ppm): 173.44, 167.77, 145.68, 139.88, 130.33, 129.59, 127.42, 125.25, 261 126.25, 89.45, 9.02; ESI-MS (m/z): 582.80 [M-N3]+. UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm (ε/10-4 M-1 262 cm-1)}: 204 (0.832), 361 (0.41). 263 2.7.4. [(p-cymene)Ru(к2(N,S)-L2)N3] (13) 264 Yield: (71%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3433 ν(N-H), 2030 ν(N3), 1611 ν(C=O), 1193 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 265 MHz, CDCl3, ppm): 12.50 (s, 1H), 8.02 (d, 2H, J = 4 Hz), 7.51-7.58 (m, 3H), 7.46 (d, 2H, J = 8 266 Hz), 7.35 (d, 2H, J = 12 Hz), 5.25 (d, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 4.67 (d, 1H, J = 4 Hz), 4.62 (d, 1H, J = 4 14 267 Hz), 4.46 (d, 1H, J = 4 Hz), 2.59-2.69 (sept, 1H), 2.08 (s,3H), 1.19 (d, 6H); 13C NMR (100 268 MHz,CDCl3, ppm): 189.13, 178.67, 131.97, 129.33, 129.02, 128.79, 128.08, 127.18, 125.17, 269 121.57, 99.67, 97.27, 83.82, 81.96, 80.10, 31.28, 30.18, 22.31, 17.52; UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax 270 nm (ε/10-4 M-1 cm-1)}: 277 (0.92), 443 (0.16). 271 2.7.5. [Cp*Rh(к2(N,S)-L2)N3] (14) 272 Yield: (65%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3423 ν(N-H), 2037 ν(N3), 1621 ν(C=O), 1190 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 273 MHz, CDCl3, ppm): 12.72 (s,1H), 8.20 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.49-7.52 (m, 5H), 7.35 (d, 2H, J = 12 274 Hz), 1.41 (s, 15H); 13C NMR (100 MHz,CDCl3, ppm): 186.76, 176.69, 134.59, 134.35, 131.92, 275 131.66, 129.28, 128.94, 127.61, 127.18, 93.15, 8.72; UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm (ε/10-4 M-1 276 cm-1)}: 265 (0.90), 430 (0.17). Anal. Calc. for C24H25ClN5ORhS (569.91): C, 50.58; H, 4.42; N, 277 12.29. Found: C, 50.65; H, 4.45; N, 12.18. 278 2.7.6. [Cp*Ir(к2(N,S)-L3)N3] (15) 279 Yield: (54%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3402 ν(N-H), 2037 ν(N3), 1619 ν(C=O ), 1194ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 280 MHz, CDCl3, ppm): 8.04 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.47 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.37 (t, 3H, J = 8 Hz), 6.59 (d, 281 2H, J = 12 Hz), 1.68 (s, 15H); ESI-MS (m/z): 612.96 [M-N3]+.UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm 282 (ε/10-4 M-1 cm-1)}: 257 (0.59), 361(0.22). 283 2.7.7. [(p-cymene)Ru(к2(N,S)-L3)N3] (16) 284 Yield: (69%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3432 ν(N-H), 2035 ν(N3), 1627 ν(C=O), 1189 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 285 MHz, CDCl3, ppm):12.98 (s, 1H), 8.26 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 8.03 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.76 (d, 2H, J = 286 8 Hz), 7.53- 7.62 (m, 3H), 5.30 (d, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 4.72 (d, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 4.66 (d, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 287 4.50 (d, 1H, J = 4 Hz), 2.61-2.71 (sept, 1H), 2.10 (s, 3H), 1.21 (d, 6H, J = 8 Hz); ESI-MS (m/z): 288 536.08 [M-N3]+. UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm (ε/10-4 M-1 cm-1)}: 278(1.16), 339 (0.68). Anal. 15 289 Calc. for C24H24N6O3RuS (577.62): C, 49.90; H, 4.19; N, 14.55. Found: C, 49.89; H, 4.23; N, 290 14.68. 291 2.7.8. [Cp*Rh(к2(N,S)-L3)N3] (17) 292 Yield: (58%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3428 ν(N-H), 2034 ν(N3), 1614 ν(C=O), 1193 ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 293 MHz, CDCl3, ppm): 13.13 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 8.13 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.73 (d, 2H, J 294 = 8 Hz), 7.49 (t, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 7.43 (t, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 1.36 (s, 15H); ESI-MS (m/z): 537.08 [M- 295 N3]+. UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm (ε/10-4 M-1 cm-1)}: 269 (0.96), 338 (0.68), 432 (0.16). 296 2.7.9. [Cp*Rh(к2(N,S)-L3)N3] (18) 297 Yield: (62%); IR (KBr, cm-1): 3432 ν(N-H), 2030 ν(N3), 1627 ν(C=O), 1202ν(C=S); 1H NMR (400 298 MHz, CDCl3, ppm): 8.39 (d, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 7.96 (d, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 7.83 (d, 1H, J = 8 Hz), 7.71 299 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.50 (d, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 7.37 (t, 2H, J = 8 Hz), 1.74 (s, 15H); ESI-MS (m/z): 300 628.14 [M-N3]+. UV-Vis {Acetonitrile, λmax nm (ε/10-4 M-1 cm-1)}: 281 (0.44), 344 (0.30). 301 3. Results and discussion 302 3.1. Synthesis of complexes 303 The metal complexes 1-9 were synthesized by the reaction of Ru, Rh and Ir metal 304 precursors with the thiourea ligands L1-L3 in methanol and are represented in (Scheme 2). All 305 these metal complexes were obtained in good yield and are yellow or red in color. They are 306 stable in air as well as in solid state, and are non-hygroscopic. These complexes were isolated as 307 neutral complexes with mono-dentate к1(S) coordination. Azido compounds were synthesized by 308 the substitution of the chloride ligand by azide group following two routes. Treatment of half- 309 sandwich mononuclear complexes 1-9 with five fold of NaN3 in methanol (Scheme 3) resulted in 310 the substitution of the chloride ligand and the formation of highly strained four membered 311 chelated к2(N,S) azido complexes 10-18 (Scheme 3 route a). Similarly, these terminal azido 16 312 complexes 10, 13, and 16 can be prepared from the binuclear p-cymene ruthenium azido 313 complexes [(p-cymene)Ru(-N3)Cl]2 by reacting with ligand L1-L3 in methanol (route b). 314 However, ‘route a’ is more preferable than ‘route b’ as it gives higher percentage yield of the 315 expected complex, hence we reported the yield obtained through this route in the experimental 316 section. Our effort to make triazole complexes by reaction of terminal azido complexes with 317 excess of dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate (MeO2CC2CO2Me) or diethylacetylenedicarboxylate 318 (EtO2CC2CO2Et) in dichloromethane was unsuccessful. Further we have carried out the 319 antibacterial studies for ligands and complexes against four pathogenic bacteria viz., S. aureus, E. 320 coli, B. thuringiensis and P. aeruginosa but none of the compounds showed any activity. All the 321 synthesized complexes are soluble in common organic solvents such as dichloromethane, 322 acetonitrile and acetone but insoluble in diethyl ether and hexane. All the synthesized ligands 323 and complexes were fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. 324 3.2. Spectroscopic characterization of Complexes 325 The IR spectra of free aroyl thiourea ligands showed characteristic stretching frequencies 326 at 3076-3312 cm−1 corresponding to ν(N−H) which also present in the same region in all the 327 complexes indicating that deprotonation does not occur. A strong band observed in the region 328 1657–1661 cm−1 in the FT-IR spectra of the ligands was assigned to the ν(C=O), the stretching 329 vibration ν(C=O) bands remain unaltered upon complexation indicating non participation of 330 carbonyl oxygen in coordination. The characteristic band for ν(C=S) appeared at 1232–1241 cm−1 331 in the spectra of L1-L3 was shifted to lower frequency (1189–1213 cm−1) on complexation 332 indicating involvement of sulfur in coordination to the metal center. 333 The IR spectra of the azido complexes 10-18 showed sharp absorption band at 334 frequencies 2030-2037 cm-1 corresponding to terminal ʋN3. When synthesis via route b the IR 17 335 spectra of these complexes also show absence of the bridging azido band at 2065 cm-1 and the 336 appearance of new bands for terminal azido group in the above mentioned range. This leads us to 337 infer the formation of terminal azido complexes. 338 The 1H NMR spectra of the complexes 1-9 (Figure S1-S8) show a downfield shift in 339 protons of ligand after forming complexes, which is due to the deshielding effect exerted by 340 metal on the ligands. The 1H NMR of the complexes 1-9 show two singlet around 13.53-12.96 341 and 11.88-11.29 which is attributed to the N-H proton signals of thiocarbonyl and carbonyl 342 attached N-H respectively. The appearance of two N-H signals in all the complexes indicates that 343 the N-H group is not involved in bonding. Resonances due to the aromatic ligands protons were 344 all in the expected range of 8.29-7.21 ppm, which indicates the coordination of the thiourea 345 ligand to the metal center. In addition to the signals for the ligand protons, a sharp singlet was 346 observed for all the rhodium and iridium complexes between 1.58-1.63 ppm corresponding to the 347 methyl protons of the Cp* ring. The 1H NMR spectra of complexes 1, 4 and 7 displays a doublet 348 for methyl protons of isopropyl group at 1.23 ppm, 1.30 ppm and 1.31 ppm respectively, a 349 singlet at 2.17 ppm, 2.24 ppm and 2.27 ppm for methyl group, a septet at 2.86 ppm, 2.94 ppm 350 and 2.96 ppm for one proton of isopropyl group of p-cymene moiety. Two doublets were 351 observed in the range 5.18 ppm- 5.45 ppm corresponds to the aromatic protons of p-cymene. 352 The 1H NMR spectra of all the azido complexes 10-18 (Figure S9-S16) show the 353 disappearance of one N–H proton, which strongly supports the deprotonation of one amido 354 hydrogen and this has also been confirmed from molecular structures. The deprotonation of 355 amido hydrogen (NH) resulted in the generation of negative charge on amido nitrogen atom, 356 which leads to the formation of neutral complexes 10-18. The azido complexes show a singlet 357 around 12.50-13.13, which is attributed to one N-H proton signals. The appearance of one N-H 18 358 signal in all the complexes indicates that only one N-H group involved in bonding. Resonances 359 due to the aromatic ligands protons were all in the same range of 8.40-7.27 ppm. The rhodium 360 and iridium complexes displayed only one singlet for the methyl protons of the Cp* group 361 around 1.52-1.75 ppm. The binding of the azide ligand to the ruthenium atom in mononuclear 362 ruthenium complexes leads to the splitting of the p-cymene ring protons upon coordination of the 363 ligand to the p-cymene moiety. The signals associated with the p-cymene ring protons consisted 364 of four doublets around 5.29-4.50 ppm. This unexpected pattern of signals for the p-cymene 365 ligand is consisted with the metal center being chiral upon coordination of the azide ligand and 366 these results correlates well with similar reported complexes [35]. In addition the methine and 367 methyl protons of the p-cymene group exhibited septet around 2.65 ppm and singlet around 2.09 368 ppm. 369 The 13C NMR spectra of the complexes further justify the coordination of the ligands and 370 formation of complexes. The 13C NMR spectra of the representative complexes are provided in 371 the supplementary information (Figures S29-S31). The 13C NMR spectra of the complexes 372 displayed signals associated with the ligand carbons, p-cymene ligand carbons, methyl carbon of 373 Cp* and ring carbon of Cp*. The carbon resonance of the thiocarbonyl (C=S) group appeared in 374 the lower frequency region around 173.44 to 186.76 ppm and the carbonyl (C=O) group 375 appeared in the range of 178.67 to 167.77 ppm. The aromatic carbons signals for the ligands 376 were observed in the range of 121.57 to 145.68 ppm. The methyl, methine and isopropyl carbon 377 resonances of the p-cymene ligand were observed in the region around 17.52 to 31.28 ppm. The 378 signals associated with the ring carbons of the Cp* ligand was observed in the region 89.45 to 379 93.15 ppm in contrast the methyl carbon resonances was observed as a sharp peak at 8.72 and 19 380 9.02 ppm. Overall results from the NMR spectral studies strongly support the formation of the 381 metal complexes. 382 The mass spectra of the complexes are presented in the supplementary information Figure 383 S17-S28. Complexes display their predominant molecular ion peaks at m/z: 490.96, 493.02, 384 581.01, 524.23, 527.19, 617.22, 535.13, 538.08 and 659.12 respectively which correspond to [M- 385 2Cl]+ ion peak. Complexes 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, and 18 display their predominant peaks at m/z: 386 493.16, 582.80, 616.96, 536.08, 537.08, and 628.14 respectively which correspond to [M-N3]+. 387 The appearance of these peaks in its mass spectra clearly indicates the formation of thiourea 388 metal complexes. The peaks corresponding to the loss of the thiourea ligands as well as the arene 389 ring are not observed which indicates the strong metal to ligand and metal to arene bond. The 390 mass spectral values strongly justify the composition and formation of these complexes. 391 The electronic spectra of the complexes were recorded in acetonitrile at 10-4 M 392 concentration at room temperature. The electronic spectra of complexes display two absorption 393 band in the higher energy region around 230-340 nm (figure S32-33). The band in the range of 394 230-280 nm can be assigned as π-π* and n-π * transition. The band in the lower energy region 395 around 345-405 nm can be assigned as metal (dπ) to π* ligand charge transfer (MLCT). 396 3.3. Description of the molecular structures of complexes 397 The molecular structure of the complexes along with the crystallographic numbering 398 schemes is depicted in the Figures 1-7. Because of low theta value the crystal structures of 399 complexes 6 and 17 are presented here to only confirm the structure and composition of 400 molecule. The summary of the crystal data, data collection and structure refinement parameters 401 are summarized in Table S1 and Table S2. Selected bond lengths, bond angles and metal atom 402 involving ring centroid values are listed in Table 1 and Table 2. The crystals of the complexes 2, 20 403 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 16 and 17 suitable for X-ray diffraction study were obtained by slow diffusion 404 of hexane to the concentrated dichloromethane solutions of the compound. By carrying out the 405 single crystal analyses we were able to confirm the variety of bonding modes associated with the 406 ligand. The complexes adopted a piano-stool geometry, where p-cymene and Cp* moiety served 407 as the top of the stool and the three leg sites were occupied by sulfur from ligands and two 408 terminal chlorides. The metal atom in these complexes is situated in a pseudo-octahedral 409 arrangement with the ligand coordinating through the sulfur atom. In complexes 1-9 the thiourea 410 ligands acted as a neutral mono-dentate ligand coordinating metal via S atom. 411 Complexes 2, 3, 5 and 8 crystallized in monoclinic with space group P21/c. Complex 4 412 crystallized in monoclinic system with space group C2/c, whereas Complex 7 crystallized in 413 triclinic system with space group P ͞1. The distance between the metal M to centroid of the p- 414 cymene/Cp* ring are {1.787 (2), 1.778 (3), 1.672 (4), 1.689 (5), 1.665 (7), 1.784 (8) Å}. The 415 metal to sulfur bond distances of complexes 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 were found to be 2.395(1), 416 2.370(2), 2.418(1), 2.366(1), 2.4004(7) and 2.3857 (8) respectively, whereas the M-Cl1 bond 417 distances of complexes 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 were found to be 2.413(1), 2.423(1), 2.426(1), 418 2.440(1), 2.4338(5) and 2.4253(9) and the M-Cl2 bond distances were found to be 2.427(1), 419 2.410 (2), 2.406 (1), 2.425 (1), 2.4319 (7) and 2.411 (1) respectively which are comparable with 420 earlier reported complexes [34]. The C-S bond length in these complexes lie in the range 1.688- 421 1.703 Å which are in good agreement with other related compounds for a C=S double bond [40]. 422 The bond angle values S-M-Cl and Cl-M-Cl are found to be in the range 87.67-94.09º thus 423 suggesting the pseudo octahedral arrangement around the metal center. 424 Further reaction of the mono-dentate thiourea p-cymene ruthenium, Cp* rhodium and 425 Cp* iridium complexes with excess of sodium azide resulted in deprotonation of the amido 21 426 hydrogen which changed the bonding behavior of the thiourea ligand towards both p-cymene 427 ruthenium and Cp* rhodium complexes as confirmed from the molecular structures. X-ray 428 studies of these complexes revealed that upon coordination of azide group to the metal it cause 429 deprotonation of amido N-H and the bonding of the thiourea derivatives were altered. All the 430 thiourea derivatives revealed interesting coordination towards metal upon coordination of the 431 azide group. The p-cymene ruthenium azido complexes 10 and 16 crystallized in monoclinic 432 system with space group P 21/c and P21/n respectively. Whereas the Cp*rhodium azido complex 433 17 crystallized in monoclinic system with space group P21/n. The deprotonation of the amido 434 hydrogen (NH) forced the thiourea ligand to coordinate metal in an anionic bidentate chelating 435 fashion via S and N thus forming a highly strained four membered chelated ring and the 436 oxidation state of metal is balanced by the amido group nitrogen and azide nitrogen. The distance 437 between the metal M to centroid of the p-cymene/Cp* ring in complexes 10, 16 and 17 are 1.675, 438 1.678 and 1.784 Å [41]. The metal to sulfur bond distance of complex 16 is 2.406(1) was found 439 to be slightly longer than complex 17 2.398(2) Å whereas the metal to azide bond distance are 440 2.107(4) and 2.125(5) Å respectively. The C=S bond length in complex 17 is 1.723(4) Å was 441 slightly longer than that in complex 16 1.711(4) Å. The bond angle values N-M-N and N-M-S 442 for complexes 10, 16 and 17 are given in Table 2. The bite angle of complexes 10, 16 and 17 are 443 67.27º, 65.86o and 67º respectively which is the strain angle giving a pseudo-octahedral 444 arrangement of piano stool half sandwich complex. 445 Furthermore, the crystal structure of complex 3 display two different types of interaction 446 intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonding; the first interaction is N-H∙∙∙O between the 447 carbonyl oxygen and amido H-atom (1.907 Å), and the N-H∙∙∙Cl between the other amido 448 hydrogen and Cl-atom attached to iridium metal (2.424 Å). The second is C-H∙∙∙π interaction 22 449 between the benzoyl moiety and the H-atom of aniline (3.517 Å) (Figure S34). Similarly the 450 crystal structure of complex 16 exhibits N-H∙∙∙O interaction between the carbonyl oxygen and 451 amido H-atom (1.902Å), the C-H∙∙∙N interaction between the H-atom of p-cymene and azide 452 nitrogen (2.758 Å), and C-H∙∙∙O interaction between the H-atom of p-cymene and O-atom of 453 nitro group (2.415 Å) (Figure S35). 454 455 456 Figure 1. (a) ORTEP diagram of complex 2 and (b) ORTEP diagram of complex 3 with 50% 457 probability thermal ellipsoids. Hydrogen atoms (except on N) are omitted for clarity. 458 23 459 460 Figure 2. (a) ORTEP diagram of complex 4 and (b) ORTEP diagram of complex 5 with 50% 461 probability thermal ellipsoids. Hydrogen atoms (except on N) are omitted for clarity. 462 463 Figure 3. ORTEP diagram of complex 6 with 50% probability thermal ellipsoids. Hydrogen 464 atoms (except on N) are omitted for clarity. Because of low theta value the crystal structure of 465 complex are presented here to only confirm the structure and composition of molecule. 466 24 467 468 Figure 4. (a) ORTEP diagram of complex 7 and (b) ORTEP diagram of complex 8 with 50% 469 probability thermal ellipsoids. Hydrogen atoms (except on N) are omitted for clarity. 470 471 Figure 5. ORTEP diagram of complex 10 with 50% probability thermal ellipsoids. Hydrogen 472 atoms (except on N) are omitted for clarity. 473 25 474 475 Figure 6. ORTEP diagram of complex 16 with 50% probability thermal ellipsoids. Hydrogen 476 atoms (except on N) are omitted for clarity. 477 478 Figure 7. ORTEP diagram of complex 17 with 50% probability thermal ellipsoids. Hydrogen 479 atoms (except on N) are omitted for clarity. Because of low theta value the crystal structure of 480 complex are presented here to only confirm the structure and composition of molecule. 481 26 482 3.5. Chemosensitivity studies 483 The complexes (1-9) were tested for their cytotoxicity against cancer cell line HCT-116 484 (human colon carcinoma) and non-cancer cell line ARPE-19 (human retinal epithelial cells). The 485 response of the cell lines HCT-116 and ARPE-19 (human retinal epithelial cells) to the test 486 complexes 1-9 and cisplatin is presented in tabular form in Table 3. Complexes 5, 6, and 8 were 487 found to be inactive against both the cell line with IC50 values > 100 M. Complexes 1, 2, 7 and 488 9 were found to be less active against HCT-116 cell line. In contrast complexes 3 and 4 489 displayed moderate activity against both cell lines with IC50 value of 35.172 ± 1.175 and 43.751 490 ± 2.480 M. Of the complexes evaluated complex 3 was the most potent against both cell lines. 491 The selectivity index (SI) is shown in Table 3, which is defined as the ratio of IC50 values in 492 ARPE-19 cells divided by the IC50 of HCT-116 cells. Complex 3 was also the most selective of 493 the novel complexes evaluated with equitoxic activity observed against both HCT-116 and 494 ARPE-19 cells. Whilst these complexes were not as potent as cisplatin, complex 3 has a 495 selectivity index that is comparable to cisplatin (SI=1.078 and 1.233 respectively) and it is 496 therefore the most promising complex in this series. 497 IC50 = concentration of the drug required to inhibit the growth of 50% of the cancer cells (µM). 498 4. Conclusion 499 In this work, we have successfully synthesized d6 half-sandwich metal complexes bearing 500 thiourea ligands and the reactivity of these complexes towards NaN3. The ligands used in this 501 work exhibited interesting binding modes on reacting with sodium azide. Further reactions of 502 mono-dentate complexes 1-9 with NaN3 resulted in deprotonation of amido hydrogen and 503 change the coordination mode of the thiourea derivative from mono-dentate to bidentate 504 chelating mode. This complexes 10-18 coordinate in a highly strained four membered chelated 27 505 к2(N,S) towards the metal atoms rather than the six membered chelated к2(O,S). As there are two 506 amido groups in the thiourea derivative we expect the coordination of the other amido group as 507 well, but the molecular structure revealed that only the amido adjacent to carbonyl group 508 coordinates to metal which may be due to strong electron withdrawing property of aryl group. 509 Chemosensitivity activity of the complexes carried out against HCT-116 cancer cell line 510 displayed that some of the complexes are cytotoxic. Of these, complex 3 was the most potent and 511 whilst its potency was less than cisplatin, its selectivity for cancer as opposed to non-cancer cell 512 lines in vitro was comparable to cisplatin. Further we have carried out the antibacterial studies 513 performed against four pathogenic bacteria viz., S. aureus, E. coli, B. thuringiensis and P. 514 aeruginosa but none of the compounds showed any activity. The complexes were fully 515 characterized by various spectroscopic studies and their molecular structures were established by 516 single X-ray analysis. 517 Acknowledgements 518 Agreeda Lapasam thanks CSIR- HRDG Delhi, India for providing financial assistance in 519 the form of JRF fellowship. We express our sincere thanks to Dr. Krishna Mohan Poluri, IIT 520 Roorkee for their help to carry out the antibacterial studies. 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Bhuvanesh, N. Emi, R. Karvembu, New. J. Chem., 41 (2017) 2672. 31 596 [41] S. Adhikari, W. Kaminsky, M.R. Kollipara J. Organomet. Chem. 848 (2017) 95. 597 598 Table 1. Selected bond lengths (Å) and bond angles (°) of complexes Complexes 2 3 4 5 7 8 M(1)-CNT 1.787 1.778 1.672 1.689 1.665 1.784 M(1)-Cl(1) 2.413(1) 2.423(1) 2.426(1) 2.440(1) 2.4338(5) 2.4253(9) M(1)-Cl(2) 2.427(1) 2.410(2) 2.406(1) 2.425(9) 2.4319(7) 2.411(1) M(1)-S(1) 2.395(1) 2.370(2) 2.418(1) 2.366(1) 2.4004(7) 2.3857(8) C=S(1) 1.689(9) 1.694(6) 1.703(5) 1.688(3) 1.695(2) 1.691(3) Cl(2)- M(1)-Cl(1) 90.52(4) 88.48(5) 88.87(5) 92.75(3) 87.67(2) 90.55(3) S(1)- M(1)- Cl(1) 94.09(4) 91.47(5) 89.58(5) 92.34(3) 92.22(2) 92.69(3) S(1) -M(1)-Cl(2) 92.56(4) 93.735 90.57(5) 92.41(3) 91.28(2) 92.73(3) Bond distances (Å) Bond Angles (º) 599 600 Table 2. Selected bond lengths (Å) and bond angles (°) of complexes Complexes 10 16 17 M(1)-CNT 1.675 1.678 1.784 M(1)-N(1) 2.138(2) 2.152(3) 2.161(3) M(1)-N (azide) 2.127(4) 2.107(4) 2.125(5) M(1)-S(1) 2.399(1) 2.406(1) 2.398(2) C=S 1.713(3) 1.711(4) 1.723(4) C=O 1.220(4) 1.229(5) 1.240(6) N(1)-M(1)-N (azide) 85.7(1) 87.1(1) 90.7(2) N(1)-M(1)-S(1) 67.27(7) 65.86(9) 67.0(1) N(azide)-M(1)-S(1) 87.6(1) 88.8(1) 92.4(1) Bond distances (Å) Bond angle (º) 32 601 602 603 Table 3. Response of HCT-116 (human colon cancer) and ARPE-19 to complexes 1-9 and 604 cisplatin. Each IC50 value represents the mean ± standard deviation from three independent 605 experiments. The IC50 selectivity index is defined as the mean IC50 for ARPE-19 cells divided by 606 the mean IC50 for HCT-116 cells with values greater than 1 representing selective cell kill in 607 cancer cells compared to non-cancer cells. 608 IC50 (μM) Compounds HCT-116 ARPE-19 Selectivity Index Complex 1 52.936 ± 4.815 33.515 ± 1.244 0.633 Complex 2 63.182 ± 1.916 36.604 ± 1.056 0.579 Complex 3 35.172 ± 1.175 37.941 ± 0.964 1.078 Complex 4 43.751 ± 2.480 36.744 ± 0.159 0.838 Complex 5 >100 80.267 ± 1.210 n/a Complex 6 >100 78.252 ± 1.501 n/a Complex 7 75.215 ± 4.733 46.913 ± 2.048 0.623 Complex 8 >100 >100 n/a Complex 9 78.211 ± 8.658 69.301 ± 1.606 0.886 Cisplatin 2.78 ± 1.40 3.43 ± 0.48 1.233 609 33