Synthesis and biological activity of ferrocenyl derivatives of the non-steroidal antiandrogens flutamide and bicalutamide

A series of ferrocenyl derivatives of the two non steroidal antiandrogens flutamide and bicalutamide have been prepared. Ferrocenyl bicalutamide complexes were initially synthesized in their racemic forms, and subsequently prepared as pure (R) and (S) enantiomers, and their structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. Most of the complexes retain a modest affinity for the androgen receptor and show an antiproliferative effect on both hormone-dependent (LNCaP) and -independent (PC-3) prostate cancer cells. Ferrocenyl derivatives of bicalutamide are the most cytotoxic (IC₅₀ values on PC-3 around 15 μM); however, they are less potent than the ferrocenyl derivatives of ethynyltestosterone or nilutamide (IC₅₀ around 5 μM).