Anticancer diiron aminocarbyne complexes with labile N-donor ligands.

The novel diiron amine complexes [FeCp(CO)(NHR')(μ-CO){μ-CN(Me)(Cy)}]CFSO [R' = H, 3; Cy, 4; CHCHNH, 5; CHCHNMe, 6; CHCH(4-CHOMe), 7; CHCH(4-CHOH), 8; Cp = η-CH, Cy = CH = cyclohexyl] were synthesized in 49-92 % yields from [FeCp(CO)(μ-CO){μ-CN(Me)(Cy)}]CFSO, 1a, using a straightforward two-step procedure. They were characterized by IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and the structure of 7 was confirmed through X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 3-8 and the acetonitrile adducts [FeCp(CO)(NCMe)(μ-CO){μ-CN(Me)(R)}]CFSO (R = Cy, 2a; Me, 2b; Xyl = 2,6-CHMe, 2c) were assessed for their water solubility, octanol-water partition coefficient and stability in physiological-like solutions.

Gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes show strong proapoptotic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in A2780 and endothelial cells.

A series of eight gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes [Au(IMes)(Ln)] based on 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazole-2-ylidene (IMes) and 7-azaindole derivatives (HLn), where n = 1-8 for HL1 = 5-fluoro-7-azaindole, HL2 = 5-bromo-7-azaindole, HL3 = 3-chloro-7-azaindole, HL4 = 3-iodo-7-azaindole, HL5 = 5-bromo-3-chloro-7-azaindole, HL6 = 5-bromo-3-iodo-7-azaindole, HL7 = 4-chloro-2-methyl-7-azaindole and HL8 = 7-azaindole, was prepared, characterised and studied for their in vitro anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. The complexes showed significant cytotoxicity on human ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780, IC ≈ 8-19 μM and A2780R, IC ≈ 8-19 μM) and lowered toxicity in normal HaCat and MRC-5 cells. Cellular effects of the selected complexes 1 and 7 were evaluated in A2780 cells using flow cytometry.

The effect of a varying pyridine ligand on the anticancer activity of Diiron(I) bis-cyclopentadienyl complexes.

The new diiron complexes [FeCp(CO)(L)(μ-CO){μ-CN(Me)(Cy)}]CFSO (L = pyridine, 3a; 4-aminopyridine, 3b; 4-dimethylaminopyridine, 3c; 4-trifluoromethylpyridine, 3d; nicotinic acid, 4; Cp = η-CH, Cy = CH = cyclohexyl) were synthesized in moderate to high yields using two distinct synthetic routes from the precursors 1 (L = CO, for 4) and 2 (L = NCMe, for 3a-d), respectively. All products were characterized by IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and the structures of 3b and 3d were ascertained by X-ray diffraction studies. The behavior of the complexes in aqueous solutions (solubility, Log P, stability) was assessed using NMR and UV-Vis methods.

Strong anticancer activity of copper(ii) and zinc(ii) complexes containing naturally occurring lapachol: cellular effects in ovarian A2780 cells.

Copper(ii) and zinc(ii) complexes with lapachol (HLap) of the composition [M(Lap)(N-N)] and [Cu(Lap)(HO)(terpy)]NO (4), where M = Cu (1-3) or Zn (for 5-7), and N-N stands for bathophenanthroline (1 and 5), 5-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline (2 and 6), 2,2'-bipyridine (3), 2,2';6',2''-terpyridine (terpy, 4) and 1,10-phenanthroline (7), were synthesised and characterised. Complexes 1-5 revealed strong antiproliferative effects against A2780, A2780R, MCF-7, PC-3, A549 and HOS human cancer lines and MRC-5 normal cells, with IC values above 0.5 μM, and reasonable selectivity index (SI), with SI > 3.

Cellular Effects of Cationic Copper(II) Schiff Base Complexes: Anti-Inflammatory and Antiproliferative Properties.

A series of potassium isothiocyanato-(N-salicylidene-aminoacidato) cuprates (1-5) with the general formula of the monomeric unit K[Cu(sal-aa)(NCS)] ⋅ xHO (x=0 or 2), containing a Schiff-base ligand (Hsal-aa) derived from natural amino acids such as glycine, DL-α-alanine, DL-valine, DL-phenylalanine and β-alanine, and salicylaldehyde, was screened for in vitro antiradical and major cellular effects against selected cancerous and normal cells. The complexes exhibited strong antioxidant properties against superoxide in vitro and a protective effect on DNA under Fenton-like reaction conditions. Screening of their cellular effects revealed moderate in vitro cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines (A2780, A2780R and MCF-7), with IC values of 25-35 μM, and relatively low toxicity to normal fibroblast MRC-5 cells (with IC values>50 μM).