The fascinating chemical properties of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes showed them to be a suitable class of complexes to be investigated for their applications as drugs in the treatment of the infectious disease or cancer. In particular, the great structural versatility provided a library of compounds with a low cytotoxic profile, suitable candidates as new anticancer agents.1 Their key features are the easy design of the ligand structure that allows the modulation of the hydro-/lipo-philicity balance, responsible for the selectivity against the target tissue. In the last years, we have developed several classes of coinage metal-NHC complexes obtained from the precursors {[HB(HImR)3]Br2} (R = Bz, Mes and t-Bu), {[H2B(HBzTz)2]Br}, {H2C(HTzR)2} and {H2C(HImR)2} (R = (CH2)3SO3- or (CH2)2COO-).2 Recently we have focused the research work on new 11th group metal-NHCs complexes obtained from the water soluble ligands HIm1R,3RCl (R = COOCH3, COOCH2CH3 or CON(CH2CH3)2),3 the zwitterionic water soluble precursors NaHIm1R,3R (R = (CH2)3SO3-),4 NaHIm1R,3R,4R’’ (R = (CH2)3SO3-, R’’ = H, CH3)5, NaHBzIm1R,3R (R = (CH2)3SO3-),5 NaHIm1R,3R’,4R’’ (R = (CH2)3SO3-, R’ = Bz, R’’ = H)5 and {[HBzIm1R,3R’]Br} (R = (CH2)3SO3Na, R’ = Bz).5 More recently we have synthesized and investigated the cytotoxic activity of the novel NHC ligand precursor [HTz(pNO2Bz)2]Br, and the corresponding metal complexes M[Tz(pNO2Bz)2]Br (M = Cu(I), Ag(I) or Au(I)).6 We have also carried out a detailed analysis of molecular and cellular pharmacology, allowing to elucidate the role of the metallic core in determining the biological properties.

The “golden era” of carbenes: chemistry of coinage metals N-Heterocyclic Carbene complexes as anticancer drugs

MARINELLI, MARIKA;DEL BELLO, FABIO;PELLEI, Maura;SANTINI, Carlo
2016-01-01

Abstract

The fascinating chemical properties of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes showed them to be a suitable class of complexes to be investigated for their applications as drugs in the treatment of the infectious disease or cancer. In particular, the great structural versatility provided a library of compounds with a low cytotoxic profile, suitable candidates as new anticancer agents.1 Their key features are the easy design of the ligand structure that allows the modulation of the hydro-/lipo-philicity balance, responsible for the selectivity against the target tissue. In the last years, we have developed several classes of coinage metal-NHC complexes obtained from the precursors {[HB(HImR)3]Br2} (R = Bz, Mes and t-Bu), {[H2B(HBzTz)2]Br}, {H2C(HTzR)2} and {H2C(HImR)2} (R = (CH2)3SO3- or (CH2)2COO-).2 Recently we have focused the research work on new 11th group metal-NHCs complexes obtained from the water soluble ligands HIm1R,3RCl (R = COOCH3, COOCH2CH3 or CON(CH2CH3)2),3 the zwitterionic water soluble precursors NaHIm1R,3R (R = (CH2)3SO3-),4 NaHIm1R,3R,4R’’ (R = (CH2)3SO3-, R’’ = H, CH3)5, NaHBzIm1R,3R (R = (CH2)3SO3-),5 NaHIm1R,3R’,4R’’ (R = (CH2)3SO3-, R’ = Bz, R’’ = H)5 and {[HBzIm1R,3R’]Br} (R = (CH2)3SO3Na, R’ = Bz).5 More recently we have synthesized and investigated the cytotoxic activity of the novel NHC ligand precursor [HTz(pNO2Bz)2]Br, and the corresponding metal complexes M[Tz(pNO2Bz)2]Br (M = Cu(I), Ag(I) or Au(I)).6 We have also carried out a detailed analysis of molecular and cellular pharmacology, allowing to elucidate the role of the metallic core in determining the biological properties.
2016
9788867680269
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11581/399226
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