LAUSR

Abstract We report here the preparation of 2-hydroxy-4-(picolinamido)benzoic acid and its aspirin analogue 2-acetoxy-4-(picolinamido)benzoic acid. Both ligands were used to synthesize organoruthenium and -osmium complexes. The compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The molecular structures of Ru and Os complexes of 2-hydroxy-4-(picolinamido)benzoic acid were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. They showed a typical piano-stool configuration and the ligand coordinated as an N , N -bidentate chelator to the metal center. The cytotoxic potential of the selected compounds was evaluated in human colon (HCT116, SW480), non-small cell lung (NCI-H460) and cervical (SiHa) carcinoma cells. Surprisingly none of the compounds exhibited antiproliferative activity given the fact that other metal complexes of aspirin derivatives have shown promising anticancer activity.