Trinuclear Half‐Sandwich Ru II , Rh III and Ir III Polyester Organometallic Complexes: Synthesis and in vitro Evaluation as Antitumor Agents

• Published in: European journal of inorganic chemistry 2015-03, Vol.2015 (8), p.1433-1444
• Main Authors: Burgoyne, Andrew R., Makhubela, Banothile C. E., Meyer, Mervin, Smith, Gregory S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1434-1948; 1099-0682
• DOI: 10.1002/ejic.201403192

Schiff base ligands obtained from the condensation of 4‐aminophenylmethanol and either 2‐pyridinecarboxaldehyde or salicylaldehyde were used to synthesise bidentate trimeric ester ligands. The trimeric ester ligands were used to prepare a new series of trinuclear polyester organometallic complexes by using the dimeric precursors, [Ru(η 6 ‐ p ‐ i PrC 6 H 4 Me)Cl 2 ] 2 , [Rh(C 5 Me 5 )Cl 2 ] 2 or [Ir(C 5 Me 5 )Cl 2 ] 2 . The Schiff base ligands act as bidentate donors to each metal. All compounds were characterised by NMR and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and EI/ESI mass spectrometry. Model mononuclear analogues were prepared, and the molecular structures of selected compounds were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The mono‐ and trimeric ligands and the metal complexes were evaluated for inhibitory effects against the human ovarian cancer cell lines, A2780 (cisplatin‐sensitive) and A2780 cis R (cisplatin‐resistant), and the model human skin fibroblast cell line, KMST‐6.