Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of new dimethylamino-functionalised and heteroaryl-substituted titanocene anti-cancer drugs

From the carbolithiation of N,N-dimethylamino fulvene (3a) and different ortho-lithiated heterocycles (furan, thiophene and N-methylpyrrole), the corresponding lithium cyclopentadienide intermediate (4a-c) was formed. These three lithiated intermediates underwent a transmetallation reaction with TiCl₄ resulting in dimethylamino-functionalised titanocenes 5a-c. When these titanocenes were tested against LLC-PK cells, the IC₅₀ values obtained were of 240, and 28 μM for titanocenes 5a and 5b, respectively. The most cytotoxic titanocene 5c with an IC₅₀ value of 5.5 μM is found to be almost as cytotoxic as cis-platin, which showed an IC₅₀ value of 3.3 μM, when tested on the LLC-PK cell line, and titanocene 5c is approximately 400 times better than titanocene dichloride itself.     

Bioorganometallic fulvene-derived titanocene anti-cancer drugs

6-Substituted fulvenes are interesting and easily accessible starting materials for the synthesis of novel substituted titanocenes via reductive dimerisation, carbolithiation or hydridolithiation reactions, which are followed by a transmetallation reaction with titanium tetrachloride in the latter two cases. Depending on the substitution pattern, these titanocenes prove to be bioorganometallic anti-cancer drugs, which have significant potential against advanced or metastatic renal-cell cancer. Patients bearing these stages of kidney cancer have a poor prognosis so far and therefore real progress in the area of metal-based anti-cancer drugs may come from this simple and effective synthetic approach. This tutorial review provides an insight into the synthesis of fulvene-derived titanocenes and their activity in preclinical experiments.     

Novel titanocene anti-cancer drugs derived from fulvenes and titanium dichloride

Starting from 6-(p−N,N-dimethylanilinyl)fulvene (1a) or 6-(pentamethylphenyl)fulvene (1b) [1,2-di(cyclopentadienyl)-1,2-di(p−N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)ethanediyl] titanium dichloride (2a) and [1,2-di(cyclopentadienyl)-1,2-bis(pentamethylphenyl)ethanediyl] titanium dichloride (2b) and their corresponding dithiocyanato complexes (3a, 3b) were synthesized. Titanocene 2b did not show a cytotoxic effect, but when 2a was tested against pig kidney carcinoma cells (LLC-PK) or human ovarian carcinoma cells (A2780/cp70) inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of 2.7 × 10⁻⁴ and 1.9 ×  10⁻⁴ M, respectively, were observed.     

Palladium complexes: new candidates for anti-cancer drugs

Platinum complexes which are most studied metal complexes due to their importance as adjuvant therapy of cancers aiming to induce tumor-cell-death. Some of the platinum-based antitumor drugs like cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin, have several disadvantages including side effects, cisplatin-resistant tumors, limited solubility in aqueous media, and so on. Thus, to achieve lower undesirable toxicity, enhanced solubility, and tumor selectivity, significant amount of work have been devoted to the preparation of modified platinum complexes. One of the ways to design the new anti-tumor agents related to cisplatin is to change the nature of central metal ion. Among the non-platinum metal complexes studied for cancer treatment, palladium(II) derivatives were readily chosen due to their structural analogy with those containing Pt(II) complexes. This review focuses on anti-tumor property of Pd(II) complexes and makes comparisons with similar property of cisplatin. Then, in the review, palladium(II) complexes have been classified according to their leaving ligands into palladium(II) complexes. In the last part, the most important factors affecting on the anti-tumor activity of the Pd(II) complexes were discussed. These factors are encouraging more researches in this field, for future applications.     

三个新茂钛催化剂的合成及苯乙烯间规聚合

合成了三个新茂钛催化剂:茂基三呋喃甲氧基钛,茂基三(四氢呋喃甲氧基)钛,茂基三苄氧基钛,其结构均经元素分析、^1HNMR、^1^3CNMR、IR及MS确证。它们与甲基铝氧烷(MAO)组成的催化体系对苯乙烯间规均聚合有良好的催化活性。     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of new 1,2,4-thiadiazole derivatives and their zinc complexes

A new polyfunctional ligand of the thiadiazole family was synthesized. Cytotoxic properties with respect to leukemic cell lines, radiation stability, predicted permeability through the blood–brain barrier and cardiotoxicity of the new ligand and its precursor were determined. New zinc complexes with N-{2-[5-(3-chloro-4-methylphenylamino)-1,2,4-thiadiazol-3-yl]-1-methylethyl}-N-(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl)-amine as the ligand have been obtained.     

Synthesis and preliminary cytotoxicity studies of indole-substituted vanadocenes

Abstract  

From the reaction of various 6-indolylfulvenes (1a–1e) with Super Hydride (LiBEt₃H), followed by transmetallation with vanadium tetrachloride (VCl₄), six indole-substituted vanadocenes; bis-[(1-methylindol-2-yl)methylcyclopentadienyl] vanadium (IV) dichloride (3a), bis-[(1-methyl-5-methoxyindol-2-yl)methylcyclopentadienyl] vanadium (IV) dichloride (3b), bis-[(1-methylindol-3-yl)methylcyclopentadienyl] vanadium (IV) dichloride (3c), bis-[(1-methyl-5-methoxyindol-3-yl)methylcyclopentadienyl] vanadium (IV) dichloride (3d), a dihydrochloride derivative of bis-[(1-methyl-3-dimethylaminomethylindol-2-yl)methylcyclopentadienyl] vanadium (IV) dichloride (3e), and bis-[(1-methyl-5-methoxyindol-3-yl)methylcyclopentadienyl] vanadium (IV) diselenocyanate (3f), were synthesised. The six vanadocenes 3a–f were tested for their cytotoxicity through MTT-based in vitro tests on CAKI-1 cell lines in order to determine their IC50 values. Vanadocenes 3a–f were found to have IC50 values of 48 (±4), 24 (±4), 9.2 (±1.8), 2.5 (±0.8), 2.3 (±0.7) and 22 (±7) μM.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of methoxy benzyl substituted titanocenes

From the reaction of 6(2-methoxy-phenyl)fulvene (1a), 6(3-methoxy-phenyl)fulvene (1b), 6(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)fulvene (1c) and 6(3,4,5-trimethoxy-phenyl)fulvene (1d) with LiBEt₃H, lithiated cyclopentadienide intermediates 2a-d were synthesised. These intermediates were then transmetallated to titanium with TiCl₄ to give benzyl substituted titanocenes bis-[(2-methoxy-benzyl)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (3a), bis-[(3-methoxy-benzyl)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (3b), bis-[(3,4-dimethoxy-benzyl)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (3c) and bis-[(3,4,5-trimethoxy-benzyl)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (3d). The three titanocenes 3a-c were characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction, while the structure of the fourth titanocene 3d was elucidated through a DFT calculation. All four titanocenes had their cytotoxicity investigated through preliminary in vitro testing on the LLC-PK (pig kidney epithelial) cell line in order to determine their IC₅₀ values. Titanocenes 3a-d were found to have IC₅₀ values of 97, 159, 88 and 253 μM, respectively. All four titanocene derivatives show significant cytotoxicity improvement when compared to unsubstituted titanocene dichloride.     

Synthesis and preliminary cytotoxicity studies of achiral pyrrolyl-substituted titanocenes

From the reaction of various 6-pyrrolylfulvenes (3a–3d) with Super Hydride (LiBEt₃H), lithiated cyclopentadienide intermediates (4a–4d) were synthesised. These intermediates were then transmetallated with titanium tetrachloride TiCl₄ to yield the pyrrolyl-substituted titanocenes bis-[((1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-pyrrole)2-)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (5a), bis-[((1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-pyrrole)2-)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (5b), bis-[((2,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-pyrrole)2-)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (5c), bis-[((2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-pyrrole)2-)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (5d). Titanocene 5b crystallised and was characterised by X-ray crystallography. The four titanocenes 5a–5d were tested for their cytotoxicity through MTT-based in vitro tests on CAKI-1 cell lines in order to determine their IC₅₀ values. Titanocenes 5a–5d were found to have IC₅₀ values of 440 (±35), 68 (±14), 105 (±30), and 36 (±7) μM.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of quinoline-3-carbonitrile derivatives

<正>A series of quinoline-3-carbonitrile derivatives were designed and synthesized.Their cytotoxicity in vitro against four cancer cell lines(A549,HT-29,MDA-MB-231 and SMMC-7721) were evaluated by standard MTT assay.The pharmacological results showed that most of the prepared compounds displayed excellent selective cytotoxicity toward SMMC-7721 cell line.Among them, compounds 7c,7e,11b,11f and 11g were more active than Gefitinb against SMMC-7721 cell line.     

Proliferative and antiproliferative effects in substituted titanocene anticancer drugs

Substituted titanocenes like ansa-titanocenes, diarylmethyl-substituted and benzyl-substituted titanocenes, are known for their cytotoxic potential and they can be synthesised using 6-arylfulvenes. Nevertheless, in the case of using 6-(4-morpholin-4yl-phenyl) fulvene (5a) or 6-{[bis-(2-methoxyethyl)amino]phenyl} fulvene (5b) the synthetic possibilities seem to be limited, but the morpholino and the bis-(2-methoxyethyl)amino substituent are in terms of an improved water solubility and drug availability in the cell very interesting groups. The corresponding benzaldehydes, which are the starting material for the synthesis of these fulvenes, were not commercially available and therefore, a modified synthetic approach had to be introduced. Nevertheless, the reactivity of the obtained fulvenes was unexpected and only the ansa-titanocene bis-[{[bis-(2-methoxyethyl)amino]phenyl}cyclopentadienyl] titanium(IV) dichloride (6b) and the benzyl-substituted titanocene [1,2-di(cyclopentadienyl)-1,2-di(4-morpholin-4yl-phenyl)-ethanediyl] titanium dichloride (8a) could be obtained and characterised. When the benzyl-substituted titanocene (8a) was tested against pig kidney cells (LLC-PK) an anti-proliferative effect, resulting in an IC₅₀ value of 25 μM, was observed. This IC₅₀ value is in the lower range of the cytotoxicities evaluated for titanocenes up to now. The ansa-titanocene (6b) showed surprisingly, when tested on the same cell line, a proliferative effect.     

Anticancer drugs based on alkenyl and boryl substituted titanocene complexes

The alkenyl-substituted titanocene complex [Ti(η⁵-C₅H₅)(η⁵-C₅H₄{CMe₂(CH₂CH₂CHCH₂)})Cl₂] (1) has been synthesized and characterized using traditional methods. The reaction of 1 with 9-BBN gave the boryl substituted complex [Ti(η⁵-C₅H₅)(η⁵-C₅H₄{CMe₂(CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂BC₈H₁₄)})Cl₂] (2). The cytotoxic activity of 1 and 2 was tested against tumour cell lines human adenocarcinoma HeLa, human myelogenous leukemia K562, human malignant melanoma Fem-x, human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-361 and normal immunocompetent cells peripheral blood mononuclear cells PBMC and compared with those of the reference complexes [Ti(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Cl₂] (R1), [Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄Me)₂Cl₂] (R2) and [Ti(η⁵-C₅H₅)(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)Cl₂] (R3). Complex 1 showed higher cytotoxic activities on HeLa, Fem-x and K562 (IC₅₀ values from 96.6 ± 3.4 to 149.2 ± 2.9 μM) than the reference complexes R1, R2 and R3 which presented IC₅₀ values from 173.3 ± 6.0 to >200 μM. On the other hand, boryl substituted complex 2, present slightly lower cytotoxic activities than 1 on HeLa, Fem-x and K562 (IC₅₀ values from 155.6 ± 5.5 to 167.9 ± 4.2 μM). However, 2 was the most active of the studied complexes against MDA-MB-361 (IC₅₀ value of 161.1 ± 0.1 μM). Structural studies based on DFT calculations of 1 and 2 have also been carried out in order to gain a possible insight into the relationship between metal complex structure and cytotoxicity.     

Novel achiral indole-substituted titanocenes: Synthesis and preliminary cytotoxicity studies

A series of eight new titanocene dichloride derivatives has been synthesised and characterized. Four compounds from the series are lypophilic indole-functionalised titanocenes and four are hydrochloride salts of their dimethylaminomethyl-functionalised counterparts, which are water soluble. The compounds were tested for their in vitro cytotoxicities against the human kidney cancer cell line CAKI-1 and their results are compared with previously synthesised structural analogues. Surprisingly, two of the compounds showed no activity against the CAKI-1 cell line; however six compounds exhibited medium to high potency with IC50 values as low as 7.0 μM. These six complexes were tested further on this cell line using the co-solvent Soluphor P, which has been shown to improve both solubility and cytotoxicity of similar complexes. One of the compounds carrying a N-methylindole-substituent was obtained in the form of single crystals and allowed for the characterisation by X-ray crystallography; the compound crystallised in the space group P2₁/n (#14) with four molecules present in the monoclinic unit cell.     

Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxicity of new rotundic acid derivatives

Rotundic acid (RA, 1), a natural compound, exhibits potent tumor cell growth inhibiting properties. To date there are no reports on derivatives of RA. Furthermore, the 28-COOH position of RA might make it unstable and induced serious gastrointestinal side effects when it was applied in vivo. Therefore, in order to explore and make use of this compound, eight new amino acid derivatives of RA at the 28-COOH position were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxicities in vitro on three tumor cell lines including A375, HepG2 and NCI-H446. As a result, a few of these new amino acid derivatives showed stronger cytotoxicity. Compound 5a was found to have the best inhibition activity on the three tested human tumor cell lines with IC(50) values of less than 10 μM compared with RA treatment. Meanwhile, the cytotoxicity of compound 6b was significantly higher than that of RA on the A375 cell line and almost the same as RA on the HepG2 and NCI-H446 cell lines. Hence, compounds 5a and 6b may serve as potential lead compounds for the development of new anti-tumor drugs.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of achiral azaindole‐substituted titanocenes

From the reaction of 1‐methyl‐1 H‐pyr‐rolo[2,3‐b]pyridine ( 1a ),1‐(methoxymethyl)‐1 H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridine ( 1b ), 1‐isopropyl‐1 H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridine (1c ), and 1‐(4‐methoxybenzyl)‐1 H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridine ( 1d ) under Vilsmeier–Haak conditions, the corresponding aldehydes in position 3 ( 2a–2d ) were synthesized. These aldehydes were transformed in the corresponding fulvenes ( 3a–3d ) by the Knoevenagel condensation and treated with Li[BEt₃H] to obtain the corresponding lithiated cyclopentadienide intermediates ( 3′a–3′d ). These intermediates were, finally transmetallated to titanium with TiCl₄ to yield the 7‐azaindol‐3‐yl‐substituted titanocenes bis {[(1‐methyl‐1‐H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridin‐3‐yl)methyl] cyclopentadienyl} titanium(IV) dichloride ( 4a ), bis{[(1‐methoxymethyl‐1‐H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridin‐3‐yl)methyl]cyclopentadienyl} titanium(IV)dichloride ( 4b ), bis{[(1‐Isopropyl‐1‐H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridin‐3‐yl)methyl]cyclopentadienyl} titanium(IV) dichloride ( 4c ), and bis{[(4‐methoxybenzyl‐1‐H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridin‐3‐yl)methyl]cyclopentadienyl} titanium(IV) dichloride ( 4d ). All the titanocenes had their cytotoxicity investigated through MTT‐based preliminary in vitro testing on the Caki‐1 cell lines to determinate their IC₅₀ values. Titanocenes 4a–4c were found to have IC₅₀ values of 120 ± 10, 83 ± 13, and 54 ± 12, µM respectively, whereas 4d showed no cytotoxic activity. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 22:148–157, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.20668     

Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxicity studies of chitosan-coated tea polyphenols nanoparticles

Chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) were prepared by ionic gelation method using carboxymethyl chitosan and chitosan hydrochloride as carriers of tea polyphenols. The characteristics of chitosan-coated tea polyphenols nanoparticles (CS-TP NPs) were determined by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and FT-IR spectroscopy. It was found that the synthesized CS-TP NPs were non-spherical in shape with an average size of 407±50nm. Meanwhile, the drug content and encapsulation rate of the nanoparticles was 8-16% and 44-83%, respectively. These CS-TP NPs also demonstrated sustained release of tea polyphenols in PBS. The antitumor of CS-TP NPs towards HepG2 cancer cells was investigated. The result showed that CS-TP NPs retained significant antitumor activities.     

Synthesis,characterization and biological studies of alkenyl‐substituted titanocene(IV) carboxylate complexes

The carboxylate compounds [Ti(η⁵‐C₅H₅)(η⁵‐C₅H₄{CMe₂(CH₂CH₂CH?CH₂)})(O₂CCH₂SXyl)₂] (2; Xyl = 3,5‐Me₂C₆H₃) and [Ti(η⁵‐C₅H₅)(η⁵‐C₅H₄{CMe₂(CH₂CH₂CH?CH₂)})(O₂CCH₂SMesl)₂] (3; Mes 1 = 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂) were synthesized by the reaction of [Ti(η⁵‐C₅H₅)(η⁵‐C₅H₄{CMe₂(CH₂CH₂CH?CH₂)})Cl₂] (1) with 2 equivalents of xylylthioacetic acid or mesitylthioacetic acid, respectively. Compounds 2 and 3 were characterized by spectroscopic methods. The cytotoxic activity of 1–3 was tested against human tumor cell lines from four different histogenic origins—8505C (anaplastic thyroid cancer), DLD‐1 (colon cancer) and the cisplatin sensitive A253 (head and neck cancer) and A549 (lung carcinoma)—and compared with those of the reference complex [Ti(η⁵‐C₅H₅)₂Cl₂] (R1) and cisplatin. Surprisingly, the cytotoxic activities of the carboxylate derivatives were lower than those of their corresponding dichloride analogue (1). However, complexes 1–3 were more active than titanocene dichloride against all the studied cells with the exception of complex 2 against A253 and A549 cell lines. DNA‐interaction tests were also carried out. Solutions of all the studied complexes were treated with different concentrations of fish sperm DNA, observing modifications of the UV spectra with intrinsic binding constants of 2.99 × 10⁵, 2.45 × 10⁵, and 2.35 × 10⁵ M ^?1 for 1–3. Structural studies based on density functional theory calculations of 2 and 3 were also carried out. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

ESR studies on oxidation state of titanocene and zirconocene catalysts

An on‐line electron spin resonance (ESR) technique was applied to investigate the oxidation states of the metallocene catalysts CpTiCl₃, CpZrCl₃, Cp₂TiCl₂, and Cp₂ZrCl₂. These metallocene catalysts were activated by modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO). It was found that the titanocene catalysts (CpTiCl₃ and Cp₂TiCl₂) were readily reduced to the trivalent state while the zirconocene catalysts (CpZrCl₃ and Cp₂ZrCl₂) were quite stable with respect to reduction. The concentrations of the trivalent species Ti(III) and Zr(III) showed linear relationships with the concentrations of metallocene catalyst precursors. However, their slopes were always smaller than unity indicating the existence of bimetallic interactions of the active sites. The ESR detectable Ti(III) and Zr(III) concentrations initially increased with the MAO/catalyst ratio and then leveled off after an 800–1000 Al/catalyst molar ratio. The deactivation processes were followed as a function of aging time over a range of temperature (25–100°C). The decay curves strongly depended on aging temperature with higher temperature giving faster decay rates. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1465–1472, 1999     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of a new class of potent decapeptide macrocycles

Described are the syntheses of five decapeptides that are C-2-symmetrical derivatives of the natural product pentapeptide sansalvamide A. Derivatives were made using a succinct convergent synthesis. These analogues share no structural homology to current cancer drugs, are cytotoxic at levels on par with existing drugs treating cancers, and demonstrate selectivity for drug-resistant pancreatic cancer cell lines over noncancerous cell lines. These molecules are excellent chemotherapeutic leads in the search for new anticancer agents.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of artemisinin derivatives containing lipophilic alkyl carbon chains

[reaction: see text] Cytotoxic artemisinin derivatives have been synthesized by a modular approach of "artemisinin + linker + lipophilic alkyl carbon chain". A strong correlation between the length of the carbon chains and the cytotoxicities against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) was revealed. Notably, compared with artemisinin (IC(50) = 97 microM), up to 200-fold more potent cytotoxicity (IC(50) = 0.46 microM) could be achieved by attachment of a C(14)H(29) carbon chain to artemisinin via an amide linker.