Synthesis, structure and cytotoxic activity of cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) chloride complexes with acetamidrazones.

CoII, NiII and CuII chloride complexes with acetamidrazone derivatives (L1)-(L8) have been prepared, by reacting the corresponding metal chloride with the ligand in a 1:2 ratio, and characterised by chemical analysis and physical measurements. The ligand behaviour and the geometry have been assigned on the basis of i.r. spectroscopy, electronic reflectance spectra and molar conductivity values and only, where possible, the geometry has been confirmed as octahedral by X-ray structure determination. Complexes cytotoxicity on a human cellular line of adenocarcinoma was also tested. Three of the complexes present a weak cytotoxicity in vitro.