Synthesis, Superoxide Dismutase Mimetic and Anticancer Activities of Metal Complexes of 2,2-Dimethylpentanedioic Acid(2dmepdaH(2)) and 3,3-Dimethylpentanedioic acid(3dmepdaH(2)): X-Ray Crystal Structures of [Cu(3dmepda)(bipy)](2). 6H(2)O and [Cu(2dmepda)(bipy)(EtOH)](2). 4EtOH (bipy = 2,2'Bipyridine).

2,2-dimethylpentanedioic acid (2dmepdaH(2)) and 3,3-dimethylpentanedioic acid (3dmepdaH(2)) reacted with copper(II) acetate to give [Cu(2dmepda)(H(2)O)(3)](2) (1) and [Cu(3dmepda)(H(2)O)(3)](2) (2). Reaction of (1) and (2) with 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2'-bipyridine yielded [Cu(2dmepda)(phen)(H(2)O)](2)0.5phen (3), [Cu(2dmepda)(bipy)(H(2)O)](2) (4), [Cu(2dmepda)(bipy)(EtOH)](2). 2EtOH (4A), [Cu(3dmepda)(phen)(H(2)O)](2) (5), and [Cu(3dmepda)(bipy)(H(2)O)](2). (6). The structures of (4A) and (6) each consists of a [Cu(bipy)(dicarboxylate)(solvent)](2) dimer. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic activity of the novel copper complexes and their manganese analogues was investigated. The dimethyl sulphoxide(DMSO) soluble complexes (1)-(4) and (6) were assessed for their cancer chemotherapeutic potential towards hepatocellular carcinoma and kidney adenocarcinoma cell lines. The 1,10-phenanthroline containing complex [Cu(2dmepda)(phen)(H(2)O)](2)0.5phen (3) was the most potent with activity that compares well to that of cisplatin.