Synthesis, Chemical Characterization, and Biological Screening for Cytotoxic and Antitumor Activity of Novel p-Chlorophenyl Maleanilic Acid and Its Corresponding Chelates

A novel p-chlorophenyl maleanilic acid ligand (L) was prepared from condensation reaction of maleic anhydride with p-chloroaniline. New synthesized organometallic chelates of the proposed general formula [M(CO)4L], where M = Cr, Mo or W, were prepared by reaction of metal hexa carbonyls condensation with bidentate maleanilic acid ligand in inert nitrogen atmosphere. The prepared novel ligand and its organometallic chelates were characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR, mass spectra, 1H-NMR, and thermal analyses. The results obtained refer to an octahedral structure of the prepared organometallic chelates. The free ligand and its chromium chelate were screened for antitumor activity in vitro against cell lines of HCT-116 (human colon carcinoma), hepG-2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma), and MCF-7 (human breast carcinoma). The results obtained referred to a high antitumor activity of both novel ligand and its chromium chelate.