Organomercury (II) complexes with anti-carcinogenic agents. I. Synthesis and characterization.

A few organomercury (II) complexes involving anti-carcinogenic ligands have been synthesized. The compounds are of the type p-MeOC6H4HgL1 (I), p-NO2C6H4HgL2 (II), p-MeOC4H4HgL3 (III) and p-MeC6H4HgL4 (IV) (HL1-6-mercaptopurine, HL2-6-thioguanine, HL3-5-fluorouracil, L4-phenyldithiocarbazate). Their composition has been determined from elemental analysis. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) studies demonstrate that the compounds are pure. Conductance measurement reveal that these derivatives are non-electrolytes. From IR and UV spectral studies the bonding modes of the ligands to the mercury (II) ion have been elucidated. The stoichiometry of the compounds has been confirmed on the basis of 1H and 13C NMR spectra. Some preliminary results of anti-neoplastic activity are reported.