{
  "abstract": "Rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes in their monometallic forms have been extensively studied, mainly for their potent inhibitory activity against cancer cells. In this study, we report the synthesis, photoluminescence, crystal structure, and in vitro biological screening of five (5) ligands and their corresponding metal complexes. Of the five ligands, three crystal structures were analysed (with one being an oxidized ligand), while four metal complexes were studied. All crystallized in the monoclinic crystal system. The ligands and complexes, under the Beer-Lambert concentration range, displayed tuneable luminescent properties, with emission energies influenced by the electronic nature of the substituents on the backbone of the Schiff Base ligands. The in vitro cytotoxicity of selected compounds was tested against a panel of human cancer cell lines, including pancreatic (PANC-1, CFPAC-1), breast (MCF7, MDA-MB-231), and cervical (CaSki, HeLa) cancers. While most compounds showed moderate activity, complexes Re-2 and Re-3 exhibited interesting cytotoxicity against MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, with IC50 values of 11.42 and 12.07 μM, respectively.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Chemistry",
    "University of the Western Cape",
    "Department of Physics, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 9300",
    "Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa, 7925",
    "University of York"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Lehlohonolo T. Motsieloa"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Thandiwe P. Mazibuko"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Robin E. Kroon"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Saif F. Khan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Karabo Serala"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Suparna Chakraborty"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Sharon Prince"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Angelo Frei"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Orbett T. Alexander",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4926-8342"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0jjt0hp4cn966.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15008197/v1",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "0jjt0hp4cn966",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008197/v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2730|Metal complexes synthesis and properties"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7204999730",
  "pdf_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/pdf/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008197/v1",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-02",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society (ACS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0jjt0hp4cn966.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
      "native_id": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15008197",
      "source": "chemrxiv",
      "url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008197/v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2730|Metal complexes synthesis and properties",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Inert Low-Spin Rhenium(I) Tricarbonyl Complexes of Phosphine-Based Schiff Bases: Integrating Synthesis, Luminescence, Structural Elucidation, and Biological Activity",
  "title_text": "Inert Low-Spin Rhenium(I) Tricarbonyl Complexes of Phosphine-Based Schiff Bases: Integrating Synthesis, Luminescence, Structural Elucidation, and Biological Activity",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0jjt0hp4cn966",
  "venue": "ChemRxiv",
  "versions": []
}