Platinum complexes with imino ethers or cyclic ligands mimicking imino ethers: synthesis, in vitro antitumour activity, and DNA interaction properties.

Both trans- and cis-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(L)] compounds have been synthesized, L representing either the imino ether HN=C(OMe)Me having a Z or E configuration at the C=N double bond, or the cyclic ligands N = C(OMe)CH2CH2CH2 and N = C(Me)OCH2CH2 (compounds 1-4 for trans geometry and 5-8 for cis geometry, respectively). The cyclic ligands mimic the imino ether ligands but, differently from imino ethers, cannot undergo change of configuration. In a panel of human tumor cells, trans compounds inhibit growth much more than transplatin.