Experimental and theoretical exploration of molecular structure and anticancer properties of two N, N′–disubstituted thiocarbamide derivatives

Two new compounds N-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-N’-(phenoxycarbonyl) thiocarbamide (1) and N-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-N’-(4-nitrobenzoyl) thiocarbamide (2), have been derived by the reaction of phenoxycarbonyl isothiocyanate/4-nitrobenzoyl isothiocyanate with 2-chloro-4-nitroaniline. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic (FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR, UV–Visible) and single crystal X-ray studies. Both the crystal structures are symmetrical and planar with anti-periplanar orientation of C[dbnd]O and C[dbnd]S group. The molecular structure and vibrational properties of the compounds studied at B3LYP/6-311G ++ (d, p) level of density functional theory further concrete the experimental results. These compounds were screened for their in vitro cytotoxicity activity against seven human cancer cell lines; cervical (2008 and C13*), colorectal (HT29 and HCT116) and ovarian carcinoma (A2780, A2780/CP and IGROV-1). Compound 2 exhibited significant activity against all the cell lines whereas compound 1 demonstrated appreciable activity only against ovarian carcinoma cell lines.