Platinum(II) complexes containing ferrocene-derived phosphonate ligands; synthesis, structural characterisation and antitumour activity

Abstract

Platinum ferrocenyl–phosphonate complexes, containing four-membered Pt---O---P(O)---O rings, have been synthesised by the reactions of cis-[PtCl₂(PPh₃)₂] with the ferrocene-derived phosphonic acids Fc(CH₂)nP(O)(OH)₂(n=0–2) [Fc=(η⁵-C₅H₄)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₅)] and 1,1′-Fc′[P(O)(OH)₂]₂ [Fc′=Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)₂] in the presence of Ag₂O. The complexes have been characterised by NMR spectroscopy, together with crystal structure determinations on [Fc(CH₂)nPO₃Pt(PPh₃)₂] (n=1, 2) and [1,1′-Fc′{PO₃Pt(PPh₃)₂}₂]. The complexes [Fc(CH₂)nPO₃Pt(PPh₃)₂] (n=1, 2) show moderate activity against P388 leukaemia cells, whereas the parent phosphonic acids are inactive.