Synthesis, characterization, and biological activity of a Cu(I) complex with 2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl) acetic acid

A new dicopper(I) complex with 2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl) acetic acid (HL) of the formula [Cu2(dppm)2L(NO3)(CH3OH)] [dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane] was prepared. The complex was structurally characterized by IR, 1H NMR spectra, and elemental analysis. Single crystal X-ray crystallography revealed that this complex is monoclinic, space group P21/c, with a = 13.6552(17) Å, b = 23.123(2) Å, c = 19.257(2) Å, α = γ = 90.00°, β = 106.860(2)°, V = 5818.8(11) Å3, Z = 4, D Calcd = 1.386 mg m−3, F(000) = 2512, goodness-of-fit = 1.015. The complex was also tested in vitro for its cytotoxic activity using human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (BEL-7402) and human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line (Hep-G2); 5-Fluorouracil was used as a positive control substance. The results indicated that the complex exhibited good cytotoxic activity against both human tumor cell lines.