Development of bimetallic titanocene-ruthenium-arene complexes as anticancer agents: relationships between structural and biological properties

J Med Chem. 2010 Oct 14;53(19):6923-33. doi: 10.1021/jm1004804.

Abstract

A series of bimetallic titanium-ruthenium complexes of general formula [(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(μ-η(5):κ(1)-C(5)H(4)(CR(2))(n)PR'R'')TiCl(2)](η(6)-p-cymene)RuCl(2) (n = 0, 1, 2 or 4; R = H or Me; R' = H, Ph, or Cy; R'' = Ph or Cy) have been synthesized, including two novel compounds as well as two cationic derivatives of formula [(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(μ-η(5):κ(1)-C(5)H(4)(CH(2))(n)PPh(2))TiCl(2)] [(η(6)-p-cymene)RuCl](BF(4)) (n = 0 or 2). The solid state structure of two of these compounds was also established by X-ray crystallography. The complexes showed a cytotoxic effect on human ovarian cancer cells and were markedly more active than their Ti or Ru monometallic analogues titanocene dichloride and RAPTA-C, respectively. Studies of cathepsin B inhibition, an enzyme involved in cancer progression, showed that enzyme inhibition by the bimetallic complexes is influenced by the length of the alkyl chain in between the metal centers. Complementary ESI-MS studies provided evidence for binding of a Ru(II) fragment to proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cathepsin B / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cattle
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Coordination Complexes / chemical synthesis*
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry
  • Coordination Complexes / pharmacology
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Binding
  • Ruthenium*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Titanium*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Ruthenium
  • Titanium
  • Cathepsin B