1. Introduction

Curcumin, a component of Curcuma Longa rhizomes is a phenolic compound that has a series of beneficial properties such as antitumor activity, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant[1-5]. This series of beneficial properties has caused an explosive growth in the interest of the academic community to understand how this compound acts, for example, in preventing cancer. Thus, a series of studies are ongoing, including phase of clinical trials, against a great number of diseases such as cancer, psoriasis and Alzheimer's disease[5-9].

In the biological conditions, curcumin can coordinate with metallic ions through the acetylacetonate group. In almost all work reported in literature, complexes of curcumin formed is of the type ML₂ where the metallic ion has electrical charge +2, and complex of the type ML₃, when the ion metallic has electrical charge +3[10-15]. Many these complexes were evaluated for various biological activities and very interesting results have been reported[15-21]. An interesting example refers to a palladium complex containing bypyridine and curcumin, that induces both cell growth inhibition as apoptosis of human prostate cancer cells (LnCaP, PC3, and DU145), through the production of ROS and JNK phosphorylation associated with GSTp1 down regulation[22]. Curiously, palladium complex containing only the curcumin has not been studied and, it would be interesting, since this neutral compound can be more active and useful.

These observations encouraged us to furtherinvestigations. Thus, in the present study; we report the thermal and spectral characterization of complex of palladium containing curcumin. Subsequently, their biological properties will be evaluated.

2. Results & Discussion

A palladium complex containing curcumin as ligand was synthesized using a methodology different of the described in literature for [Pd(Curc-H)2]4Ace[23]. The structure this compound was proposed considering only elemental analysis data. In this work, the complex containing curcumin, [Pd(Curc-H)₂].2H₂O, was characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, IR, UV-Vis and thermogravimetric analysis. The chemical structure of the ligand and their palladium complex are presented in Figure 1.

The results of the elemental analyses (C, H, N and Pd) are in accordance with the proposed structure.

The molar conductance measurement of the palladium complex was performed in DMF solution (with a concentration of 1×10^-) at room temperature. The value obtained (4.02 S·cm² ·mol^-1) indicates that the compound is nonelectrolytes[24].

Figure 1. Structure of curcumin and of palladium complex obtained

IR spectra

The IR spectrum of the free ligand (Curc-H) was performed just for comparison to the corresponding complex isolated. The characteristic absorptions in the 3500 to 2800 cm^-1 region were observed, corresponding to νOH, νCH (aromatic) and νCH. An absorption at 1628 cm^-1 corresponding to νC=O group.

In the IR spectrum of complex, the peak due νC=O was found to be shifted towards lower wavenumbers. Thus, it is possible to ascertain the coordination of the oxigen of the C=O group to metal. Was also observed that the complex had no broad band in the 2800–3400 cm^-1 range, related to the stretching of intramolecular H in the enol function, which indicates that the carbonyl group of the ligand is really coordinated to Pd(II).

The remaining characteristic bands and signals of free ligand were not affected by metal coordination and these results suggest that the ligand is bonded to the metallic ion via-diketone group group.

Electronic spectra

In order to confirm the metal binding to ligand, we have analyzed the spectra in the UV-visible regions in acetonitrile (Figure 2).

The UV-visible absorption spectrum of the curcumin (1x10^-3molL^-1) displays two bands centered at 261 and 417 nm. On the other hand, the spectrum of the complex showed four peaks in the ultraviolet region (262, 406, 430, and 454 nm). The observation that the main band of the ligand (417 nm, -* transition) have shifted to slightly higher energy, is an indicative of involvement of the carbonyl group of curcumin in metal complexation[21]. The splitting observed in the spectrum of the complex too is consistent with the coordination of the ligand to metal.

Figure 2. Electronic spectrum of the curcumin and its palladium complex (acetonitrile, 1.0 x 10-5 mol L-1)

Thermal analyses

The thermal stability of the curcumin complex was followed in the temperature range between 25–850℃ in N2 atmosphere. The weight loss of the prepared compound displays a good agreement with the stoichiometry. The TG/DTA curve for the complex [Pd(Curc-H)2].2H2O (Figure 3) shows a series of events weight loss. The first one, in the range of 50 to 110℃ (endothermic event), corresponds to the loss of two water molecules (calculated: 4.10%; found: 4.26%). Events at 150-810℃ range are attributed to ligand thermal decomposition. At 900℃, there is a residue that was identified by X-ray diffractometry as elemental palladium, ICDD data bank (International Center for Diffraction Data) number 5-681. The percentage of palladium fits well with the proposed formula. % Pd calcd. for complex: 12.13; Found: 12.40.

Figure 3. TGA/DTA curves for palladium complex

3. Conclusions

A complex of palladium was isolated with curcumin and characterized by spectroscopic and thermals techniques. The results show that the palladium ion bind to curcumin occurs via the oxygen atoms of the -diketone group. Thermal studies supported the chemical formulation of this complex and showed that the same decompose in various steps. Considering the structure of compound obtained, the investigation of its biological properties is desirable to determine their possible utility as drug, thus, later their properties of cytotoxity and antioxidant will be performed in our laboratory.

4. Experimental

Starting materials

The reagents are commercially available (Aldrich). All other reagents chemicals were of analytical grade, purchased from different sources, and used without further purification.

Physical measurements

Conductivity studies were carried out with a Digimed DM 31 conductivity meter using a cell of constant 1.00 cm^-1, spectroscopic grade dimethylformamide (Merck) (_M = 1.20 μs/cm^-1) and tetraethylammonium bromide (_M = 78.39 μs/cm^-1) as a standard.

Elemental analyses (C, H and N) were performed using a Perkin-Elmer 2400 CHN Elemental Analyser. Palladium content was determined by atomic absorption on a Hitachi spectrophotometer model 8200.

IR spectra were registered in KBr pellets on a Shimadzu FTIR-Irprestige-21 spectrometer.

Spectrophotometer UV-2501 PC Shimadzu was used for UV and visible absorption measurements.

Thermogravimetric analyses (TG/DTA) were obtained on a TGA-50 Shimadzu, using 6.0 mg samples packed in aluminum crucible. Samples were heated at 10℃/min from room temperature to 900℃, in a dynamic nitrogen atmosphere (flow rate = 200 mL/min). The residue was analyzed by X-ray diffratometry on a Siemens D5000 apparatus using a copper tube and radiation Cu Ka = 1.54178 Å, with 2 angle varying from 0 to 90°.

Synthesis of complex

of K₂PdCl₄ (0.5 mmol) previously dissolved in water was added to 5 mL of a methanolic solution of curcumin (1.0 mmol) at 60℃. After 2h, the pH was then adjusted to 9.0 by adding triethylamine dropwise and the mixture was stirred for 24h. The solid formed was separated by filtration, washed with methanol and water, and dried under vacuum.

Complex -[Pd(Curc-H)₂].2H₂O

Yield: 65 %. Color: Brown. Anal. Calcd. for [Pd(C₂₁H₁₉O₆)₂]2H₂O: C, 57.45; H, 4.78 %; N, 0%; Pd, 12.13 Found: C, 57.31; H, 4.56 %; N, 0%; Pd, 12.06. IR spectra in KBr, ν (cm^-1): 3500, 2931, 2840, 1623, 1597, 1511, 1460, 1427, 1391, 1275, 1214, 1166, 1125, 1030, 971, 845, 820, 850, 724, 613, 564.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was supported by grants of CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brazil) and FAPEMIG (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa de Minas Gerais, Brazil).