Synthesis, characterization, X-ray crystal structure and in vitro antitumour activity of sodium bis(2-(3′,6′,9′-trioxadecyl)-1,2-dicarba-closo- dodecaborane-1-carboxylato)triphenylstannate

Sodium bis[2-(3',6',9'-trioxadecyl)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane-1-carboxylato]triphenylstannate, [(CH3OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OCH2CH2)-1,2-C2B10H10-9-COO)(2)SnPh3](-) Na+, compound 1, was synthesized by the 1:1 condensation of triphenyltin(IV) hydroxide with 2-(3,6',9'-trioxadecyl)-1,2-dicarbacloso-dodecaborane-1-carboxylic acid and crystallized in the presence of sodium bicarbonate. Its structure was determined by spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction. The structure of 1 consists of trigonal bipyramidal [Sn(Ph)(3)(L)(2)](-) anions and Na+ cations coordinated by oxygen atoms of polyoxaalkyl chains of different stannate anions, forming cation-anion chains elongated along the c axis. Compound 1 is significantly more active in vitro against seven tumour cell lines of human origin than 5-fluorouracil, cis-platin, carboplatin, and previously reported organotin carboranecarboxylates, but is less active than organotin polyoxaalkylcarboxylates. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.