The beneficial effect of cyclohexyl substituent on the anticancer activity of diiron vinyliminium complexes.

Novel diiron vinyliminium complexes, [FeCp(CO)(μ-CO){μ-η:η-C(R)CHCNMe(R)}]CFSO (2a-f; R = 4-CHOMe, Cy or Me; R = Cy, CHCy or 4-CHOMe; Cy = cyclohexyl, Cp = η-CH), were synthesized by alkyne insertion reaction from the corresponding diiron aminocarbyne precursors, and isolated in 53-98% yields. The reactions of selected vinyliminium complexes with NCHCOEt and MeONa, followed by -methylation, afforded the new hydrazone-vinyliminium [FeCp(CO)(μ-CO){μ-η:η-C(R)C(NMeNCHCOEt)CN(R)(R)}]X (4a-c; R = Me or CHPh; R = Cy, CHPh or Me; R = 4-CHOMe or Ph; X = NO or CFSO), in 53-67% yields. Compounds 2a-f and 4a-c were fully characterized by IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and the structures of 2a-c were ascertained by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Moreover, DO solubility, Log  coefficients and the fraction of each complex preserved in aqueous media after 72 hours at 37 °C were determined by H NMR and UV-Vis methods. The antiproliferative activity of 2a-f and 4a-c was measured on the mouse colon CT26 and human glioblastoma U87 cancer cell lines, and on the retinal pigment epithelial RPE-1 non-cancerous cell line. Complexes 2a,d,e, which all bear R = Cy, stand out for their performance and their selectivity towards cancer cells. To give insight into the mechanism of action, the effect of 2a, 2d, 2e, 2f, 4b and 4c on the mitochondrial respiration was evaluated in CT26 cells (Seahorse Mito stress test), revealing a correlation between the effectiveness of the complexes and their influence on the mitochondrial metabolism.