Organotin complexes with Schiff’s base ligands: insights into their cytotoxic effects on lung cancer cells

Organotin(IV) complexes can be used in chemotherapy due to its lipophilicity which can be affected by the availability of Sn coordination bond and bond stabilization between ligand and Sn(IV). In this study, three types of tri-organotin(IV) complexes which are, Ph₃SnL, Me₃SnL, and Bu₃SnL derived from Schiff base ligand were synthesized by the reaction of methyl dopa with p-dimethyaminobenzaldehyde. All prepared complexes were charechterised using nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR. The ¹H NMR). The results confirm the coordination of the organotin(IV) moieties to the ligand. The cytotoxicity of tri-organotin(IV) complexes was evaluated against the A549 human lung cancer cell using MTT assay. Ph₃SnL showed a high cytotoxic effect among othger complexes, Bu₃SnL also showed a significant cytotoxic effect, while Me₃SnL demonstrated a relatively lower effects. These findings highlight the potential of the tri-organotin(IV) complexes, particularly Ph₃SnL and Bu₃SnL, as promising candidates for further modification as anticancer agents. The results obtained from this study can be used to understand the structure–activity of organotin(IV) complexes and their applications as anti-cancer activity.