The thermal degradation characteristics of selected organoplatinum antitumor agents

The thermal decomposition characteristics of representatives of three classes of organoplatinum compounds have been examined by thermogravimetry. Substituted salicylato(1,2-diaminocyclohexane)platinum(II) compounds undergo thermal decomposition by sequential loss of first the salicylato ligand and then the amine ligand to afford a residue corresponding to the platinum content of the compound. The thermal decomposition of N-arylsalicylaldimino(1,2-diaminocyclohexane)platinum(II) nitrate is more complex, but is also characterized by two major weight losses. Thermal decomposition ofbis-(2-thiophenecarboxylato)platinum(II) is characterized by ligand fragmentation to generate a residual mass corresponding to the platinum content of the compound.