Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Molecular Structure, cilt.1373, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Metal complexes offer a flexible framework for the innovation of novel anticancer pharmacophores, and they yield stable compounds in conjunction with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. A series of benzimidazole-based N-heterocyclic carbene rhodium(I) complexes (1a–f) were synthesized via an in situ deprotonation route employing [Rh(OMe)(COD)]2 as a metal salt. The reactions proceeded smoothly under mild conditions to afford air- and moisture-stable products in high yield. The complexes were fully characterized by FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that rhodium-BNHC complexes have a slightly distorted quasi-square-planar geometry. By MTT assay, the in vitro cytotoxicity of complexes 1a-f, compared with cisplatin, was assessed against HCT116 (human colon cancer) and SH-SY5Y (human brain cancer) cell lines, in addition to the healthy BEAS-2B (human healthy lung cell) cell line. All tested complexes exhibited significant cytotoxic efficacy against HCT116 and SH-SY5Y, with IC50 values varying between 37.8 to 7.5 µM, surpassing that cisplatin. Complex 1a and 1b showed the highest potency towards SH-SY5Y with IC50 values of 7.52 ± 0.35 µM and 8.33 ± 0.43 µM, respectively, alongside a marked selectivity over the normal BEAS-2B cell line. The mechanism of cellular demise was elucidated through flow cytometric analysis, specifically identifying programmed cell death within the SH-SY5Y neoplastic cell line, with the proportions in the late apoptotic phase fluctuating between 59.02% and 27.44%. Further, the complexes that underwent cell death via apoptosis were further evaluated by examining the caspase 3/7 activation assay.