Novel platinum‐based anticancer drug: a complete vibrational study

The introduction of cisplatin to oncology, in the 1970s, marked the onset of the search for novel and improved metal‐based anticancer drugs. Polynuclear Pt^II and Pd^II complexes with linear alkylamines as bridging ligands are a class of potential antineoplastic agents that have shown promising cytotoxicity against low‐prognosis human cancers, such as metastatic breast adenocarcinoma and osteosarcoma. The present study reports an analysis of μ‐N,N′‐bis(3‐aminopropyl)butane‐1,4‐diamine‐κ⁴N,N′:N′′,N′′′]bisdichloridoplatinum(II)], Pt₂Cl₄(C₁₀H₂₆N₄)], denoted Pt₂Spm (Spm is spermine), by vibrational spectroscopy coupled to theoretical calculations. Within the latter, the Density Functional Theory (DFT – mPW1PW/6‐31G*) and Effective Core Potential (ECP – LANL2DZ) approaches were used, in order to ensure the most accurate representation of the molecule and achieve a maximum agreement with the experimental data. The solid‐state geometry of Pt₂Spm corresponds to C_i symmetry, displaying 132 vibrational modes. A complete assignment of the experimental vibrational profile of the system was attained through the combined application of complementary Raman, FT–IR and Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS) techniques. INS allowed an unequivocal identification of the CH₂ and NH₂ rocking modes, not clearly detected by the optical techniques, while Raman measurements led to a clear discrimination of the Pt—N stretching frequencies from the two distinct Pt—N moieties within the chelate. The metal‐to‐metal distances calculated for the molecule under study were found to allow the establishment of effective inter‐ and intrastrand crosslinks with DNA. These results will hopefully help to clarify the mode of action of the compound, at the molecular level, contributing to the development of improved cisplatin‐like chemotherapeutic drugs having a higher efficacy and specificity coupled to lower acquired resistance and deleterious side effects.