A Mononuclear Nickel(II) Complex: Synthesis, X-ray Structure, Spectroscopic Characterization and Anti-tumor Activity

In this work, an effort has been made to examine the counteranionic behavior of thiocyanide ion towards the stabilization of a dicationic tris(2,2'-bipyridine)nickel(II) complex in crystalline phase. The complex, [Ni(bipy)3].2NCS (1) [bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine] was designed, synthesized and structurally characterized.  The crystal structure analysis reveals that 1 crystallises in a hexagonal system with P6/mcc space group and adopts an octahedral geometry. The nickel(II) complex exhibits important cytotoxic behaviour towards lung cancer cell (A549).  IC50 value is calculated through MTT assay and determined as 131 µG/mol. Relative percentage of morphological changes is further determined and ~63% of the cells are destroyed through apoptosis mode with in 24 h incubation.