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PreprintCC BYChemRxiv

Inert Low-Spin Rhenium(I) Tricarbonyl Complexes of Phosphine-Based Schiff Bases: Integrating Synthesis, Luminescence, Structural Elucidation, and Biological Activity

  • Lehlohonolo T. Motsieloa1,2
  • Thandiwe P. Mazibuko1,2
  • Robin E. Kroon3
  • Saif F. Khan4
  • Karabo Serala4
  • Suparna Chakraborty4
  • Sharon Prince4
  • Angelo Frei1,5
  • Orbett T. Alexander1,2
5 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Chemistry
  2. 2University of the Western Cape
  3. 3Department of Physics, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 9300
  4. 4Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa, 7925
  5. 5University of York
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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.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@misc{motsieloa2026inert,
  title = {{Inert Low-Spin Rhenium(I) Tricarbonyl Complexes of Phosphine-Based Schiff Bases: Integrating Synthesis, Luminescence, Structural Elucidation, and Biological Activity}},
  author = {Lehlohonolo T. Motsieloa and Thandiwe P. Mazibuko and Robin E. Kroon and Saif F. Khan and Karabo Serala and Suparna Chakraborty and Sharon Prince and Angelo Frei and Orbett T. Alexander},
  howpublished = {ChemRxiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.26434/chemrxiv.15008197/v1},
  url = {https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008197/v1},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - UNPB
TI  - Inert Low-Spin Rhenium(I) Tricarbonyl Complexes of Phosphine-Based Schiff Bases: Integrating Synthesis, Luminescence, Structural Elucidation, and Biological Activity
AU  - Lehlohonolo T. Motsieloa
AU  - Thandiwe P. Mazibuko
AU  - Robin E. Kroon
AU  - Saif F. Khan
AU  - Karabo Serala
AU  - Suparna Chakraborty
AU  - Sharon Prince
AU  - Angelo Frei
AU  - Orbett T. Alexander
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/02
PB  - ChemRxiv
DO  - 10.26434/chemrxiv.15008197/v1
UR  - https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008197/v1
AB  - 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.
ER  -