In vitro cytotoxicity activity of novel Schiff base ligand–lanthanide complexes

A Schiff base ligand (SBL), N 2 , N 3 -bis (anthracen-9-ylmethylene) pyridine-2, 3-diamine, was synthesized through the condensation of 2,6-diaminopyridine and anthracene-9-carbaldehyde using a 1:2 ratio. 1 H NMR spectra confirmed the observation of non-involvement aromatic carboxylic proton in SBL. A novel series of lanthanide (i.e., praseodymium (Pr), erbium (Er), and ytterbium (Yb))-based SBL metal complexes was successfully synthesized, and their functional groups were elaborately demonstrated using UV–visible, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and fluorescence spectroscopy analyses. FT-IR spectral studies revealed that SBL behaved as a bidentate ligand and it was structured with metal ions by the two azomethine nitrogens. The synthesized SBL-based metal complexes were elaborately performed for cytotoxicity activity versus Vero, human breast cancer (MCF7), and cervical (HeLa) anticancer cell lines.