Synthesis,characterization and in vitro antitumor activity of some arylantimony ferrocenecarboxylates and crystal structures of C5H5FeC5H4CO2SbPh4 and (C5H5FeC5H4CO2)2Sb(4‐CH3C6H4)3

A series of arylantimony ferrocenecarboxylates with the formula (C₅H₅FeC₅H₄CO₂)_nSbAr_(5?n) (n = 1, 2; Ar = C₆H₅, 4‐CH₃C₆H₄, 3‐CH₃C₆H₄, 2‐CH₃C₆H₄, 4‐ClC₆H₄, 4‐FC₆H₄) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR and mass spectra. The crystal structures of (C₅H₅FeC₅H₄CO₂)₂Sb(4‐CH₃C₆H₄)₃ and C₅H₅FeC₅H₄CO₂SbPh₄ were determined by X‐ray diffraction. Four human neoplastic cell lines (HL‐60, Bel‐7402, KB and Hela) were used to screen these compounds. The results indicate that these compounds at 10 µM show certain in vitro antitumor activities. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.