Synthesis and characterization of a novel o-tolyltelluronic trimethyltin ester and its cytotoxic assessment in vitro.

A new arenetelluronic triorganotin ester, namely (Me3Sn)4[o-Me-PhTe(μ-O)(OH)O2)]2 (1) has been prepared by the reaction of o-tolyltelluronic acid and Me3SnCl in the presence of potassium hydroxide. The complex was fully characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR ((1)H, (13)C, (119)Sn) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Structure analysis revealed that the complex crystallized as Sn4Te2 units and a 1D linear chain was formed by intermolecular C-HO interactions. Cytotoxic assessments showed that the complex can induce apoptotic cell death via accumulation of ROS, collapse of the MMP and activating caspase-3. The results indicated that ROS is crucial to the cytotoxicity induced by the complex.