Iron(III) benzhydroxamates of dipicolylamines for photocytotoxicity in red light and cellular imaging

Abstract

Benzhydroxamate (BHA) iron(III) complexes [Fe(BHA)(L)Cl]Cl (1, 2), where L is (phenyl)dipicolylamine (phdpa in 1) and (pyrenyl)dipicolylamine (pydpa in 2), were prepared and their photocytotoxicity in visible (400–700 nm) and red (600–720 nm) light was studied. Complex 1 was structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The complexes have high-spin iron(III) centers. Complex 2, with a pyrenyl fluorophore, was used for cellular imaging, showing both mitochondrial and nuclear localization in the fluorescence microscopic study. The complex exhibited photocytotoxicity in red light in HeLa cancer cells, giving IC50 value of 24.4(±0.4) μM, but remained essentially non-toxic in the dark. The involvement of reactive oxygen species and an apoptotic nature of cell death were observed from the cellular studies.