LAUSR

Abstract New organic ligands 3-(pyridine-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-thiocarboxamides (L) have been synthesized by a two or three step reaction sequence starting from substituted benzaldehydes and 2-acetyl pyridine. Copper(II) complexes with LCuCl 2 composition were obtained by the reactions of these ligands with CuCl 2 ·2H 2 O. The crystal structure of two synthesized complexes has been determined by X-ray analysis. Copper atoms located in a strongly distorted square piramidal environment and coordinated by pyrazoline and pyridine nitrogen atoms, thiocarbamoyl sulfur atom and two chloride-anions. All complexes undergo reversible or quasi-reversible electrochemical reduction at 0.45–0.28 V with the formation of Cu(I) containing intermediates. The cytotoxicity of copper containing complexes, comparable to cisplatin and doxorubicin, was demonstrated using cancer cell lines MCF-7, A549 and HEK293.