Synthesis, characterization, crystal structure and antitumor activity of organotin(IV) compounds bearing ferrocenecarboxylic acid

Four new organotin(IV) complexes [(Bu3Sn)(FcCOO)](n) (1), [(mu-Bu2Sn)(2)(mu-Bu(2)SnFcCOO)(2)(mu(3)-O)(2)(mu-OCH3)(2)](2) (2), [Ph3Sn(FcCOO)(H2O)](phen) (3) and [{Ph3Sn(FcCOO)}(2)(4,4'-bipy)] (4) [Fc = (eta(5)-C5H5)Fe(eta(5)-C5H4)] have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, (H-1 and C-13) NMR spectra and X-ray single-crystal diffraction analyses. The structure analyses show that all tin atoms in complexes 1-4 are five-coordinated with trigonal bipyramid geometry. Complexes 1-4 and FcCOOH undergo reversible one-electron oxidations in methanol solution. The antitumor activities of complexes 1-4 have also been tested. Complexes 1 and 2 exhibit medium activity towards P388 cell lines and Hela cell lines. Complexes 3 and 4 exhibit medium activity towards P388 cell lines but strong activity towards Hela cell lines. This may result from complexes 3 and 4 including the neutral molecules 1,10-phenanthroline and 4,4'-bipy. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.