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Synthesis and structures of cycloalkylidene-bridged cyclopentadienyl metallocene catalysts: effects of the bridges of ansa-metallocene complexes on the catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization.

A series of cycloalkylidene-bridged cyclopentadienyl metallocene complexes, [(CH(2))(n)C(C(5)H(4))(2)MCl(2)] (M = Ti, n = 4 (4), 5 (5), 6 (6); M = Zr, n = 4 (7), 5 (8), 6 (9); M = Hf, n = 4 (10), 5 (11), 6 (12)), have been synthesized and applied to ethylene polymerization after activation with methyl aluminoxane (MAO). The cycloalkylidene-bridged titanocene catalysts exhibit much higher activities than the corresponding zirconocene and hafnocene analogues, and have the highest activities at higher temperatures. In comparison, the silacyclopentylidene-bridged metallocene complexes [(CH(2))(4)Si(C(5)H(4))(2)MCl(2)] (M = Ti (13), Zr (14)) and isopropylene-bridged metallocene complexes [Me(2)C(C(5)H(4))(2)MCl(2)] (M = Ti (15), Zr (16)) have also been synthesized and applied to ethylene polymerization. In both cases, the titanocene complexes show much higher activities than the corresponding zirconocene analogues, especially at a lower temperature. The molecular structures of complexes 4-9 have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The structure-activity relationships, especially the effects of the bridges of ansa-metallocene complexes, are discussed.

Journal Article↗

Ethene-Norbornene Copolymerization Using Homogenous Metallocene and Half-Sandwich Catalysts: Kinetics and Relationships between Catalyst Structure and Polymer Structure. 2. Comparative Study of Different Metallocene- and Half-Sandwich/Methylaluminoxane Catalysts and Analysis of the Copolymers by 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

The kinetics of ethene-norbornene copolymerizations using the metallocenes iPr[(3-R-Cp)Ind]ZrCl2 (with R = methyl or tert-butyl), MeCH[Cp]2ZrCl2, iPr[(3-R-Cp)Flu]ZrCl2 (with R = H, methyl, isopropyl, or tert-butyl), and Me2Si[(3-tert-butyl-Cp)Flu]ZrCl2 and half-sandwich catalysts Me2Si[Me4CpNtBu]TiCl2, Me2Si[Me4CpNtBu]ZrCl2, Me2Si[FluNtBu]ZrCl2, R-(+)-Me2Si[Me4CpNCH(CH3)-1-naphthyl]TiCl2, and C2H4[Me4CpNMe2]Cr(eta1,eta1-C4H8) together with methylaluminoxane as cocatalyst, have been investigated at 70 degreesC in a concentrated solution of norbornene in toluene and under an ethene pressure ranging from 4 to 60 bar (58-870 psi). The ethene reaction rates were measured during the copolymerization process at various ethene concentrations and the ethene reaction orders were determined. In some cases fractional ethene reaction orders higher than 1 were found, indicating a complex mechanism. The microstructure of the copolymers were analyzed by 13C NMR spectroscopy. The highest norbornene contents were achieved using metallocenes with sterically less demanding ligands such as MeCH[Cp]2ZrCl2. Unexpectedly, low norbornene contents (<50 mol %) were achieved with the half-sandwich catalysts. Depending on the catalyst structure, the microstructure of the copolymers consists of mainly isolated norbornene units, alternating monomer sequences or short norbornene microblocks with a maximum length of two or three. Additionally, the tacticity of the norbornene microblocks could be controlled by the catalyst structure. A mechanistic model, based on chain migratory insertion, is presented to explain the different copolymer structures through nonbonding steric interactions between monomer, growing polymer chain, and ligand system. On the basis of this model, penultimate effects (Markov statistic second order) caused by the last two inserted monomer units can be assumed.

Journal Article↗

Antitumour metallocenes: structure-activity studies and interactions with biomolecules.

The metallocene dihalides are a relatively new class of small, hydrophobic organometallic anticancer agents that exhibit antitumour properties against numerous cell lines including leukemias P388 and L1210, colon 38 and Lewis lung carcinomas, B16 melanoma, solid and fluid Ehrlich ascites tumours and several human colon and lung carcinomas transplanted into athymic mice. Titanocene dichloride 1 has been the most widely studied metallocene and the drug is currently in phase II clinical trials. Formation of metallocene-DNA complexes has been implicated in the mechanism of antitumour properties of the metallocenes, as both titanocene dichloride 1 and vanadocene dichloride 2 inhibit DNA and RNA synthesis, and titanium and vanadium accumulate in nucleic acid-rich regions of tumour cells. However, in contrast to the well characterized platinum-based anticancer drugs, the active species responsible for antitumour activity in vivo has not been identified and the mechanism whereby irreparable DNA damage and/or structural modification of DNA or other cellular targets occurs is poorly understood. This review will focus on recent studies that have been carried out in order to identify the biologically active species and more fully understand the molecular level mechanism of action of the metallocene dihalides. Studies with nucleotides, oligonucleotides, DNA and proteins including topoisomerases, protein kinase C and transferrin have provided important insight into potential cellular transport mechanisms and the interaction of metallocenes with biomolecular targets. New structure activity studies including the design of hydrolytically stable metallocenes and the preparation of highly water soluble amino acid analogues have not led to improved anticancer activity of titanocene dichloride 1. The vastly different chemical and hydrolytic stability of each of the metallocenes points to a unique mechanism of action of each metallocene in vivo.

Animals↗

Organometallic anticancer agents: the effect of the central metal and halide ligands on the interaction of metallocene dihalides Cp2MX2 with nucleic acid constituents.

The interactions of the metallocene dihalides Cp2MX2 (M = Ti, Mo, Zr, Hf) and Cp2TiX2 (X = F, Cl, Br, I) and the nucleic acid building blocks D-ribose-5'-phosphate, nucleobases, nucleosides, and nucleotides have been studied by 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy. In the series Cp2TiX2 (X = F, Cl, Br, I), similar 1H NMR spectra were obtained in titrations of each metallocene with the four nucleotides. The spectra are consistent with dissociation of the halide ligands to give Cp2-Ti2+(aq), which coordinates to nucleobase (N) and phosphate (O) binding sites. The metal center (Ti, Mo, Zr, Hf) strongly influences the nature and extent of interactions between metallocene dichlorides Cp2MCl2 and DNA subunits. Immediate complexation occurs between nucleotides and the antitumor active metallocenes Cp2MX2 (M = Ti and Mo, 0.25-1.0 equiv). In contrast, formation of discrete complexes between nucleotides and the biologically inactive metallocenes Cp2MCl2 (M = Hf, Zr, 0.25-1.00) is not observed, and instead hydrolysis of the Cp rings to give free cyclopentadiene is the major reaction pathway. The complexes formed between titanocene dihalides and nucleotides are stable for hours at pH 2-5; at higher pH the binding is significantly weakened. These results are in agreement with the observed antitumor properties of the metallocene dihalides and provide support for the hypothesis that DNA-metallocene interactions are a major determinant in the antitumor properties of this class of compounds.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Alternating stereospecific copolymerization of ethylene and propylene with metallocene catalysts.

The copolymerization of ethylene and propylene with bridged metallocenes Me(2)E(3-RCp)(Flu)X(2)/MAO (E = C, X = Me; E = Si, X = Cl; R = H or alkyl) was investigated. Ethylene/propylene copolymerization with metallocenes having heterotopic active sites (R =Me, i-Pr) yield alternating, isotactic ethylene/propylene copolymers with percentages of alternating EPE+PEP triads in the range of 61-76% at 50% ethylene incorporation. Both the nature of the substituent R and the bridge E influence the copolymerization behavior including the copolymerization activity, copolymer sequence distribution, molecular weight, and stereochemistry. Silicon-bridged metallocenes produce copolymers with higher activity and molecular weight but lower propylene incorporation at similar feeds than the carbon-bridged analogues. Isotactic PEPEP sequences were observed for all metallocenes, while the tacticities of the EPPE sequences varied with the bridge and the substituent on the metallocene ligand. Isotactic PEPEP sequences and atactic EPPE sequence errors in the alternating copolymers are consistent with a mechanism where the comonomers are enchained alternately at the heterotopic coordination sites of the metallocenes. Isotactic EPPE sequences are indicative of occasional multiple insertions at the stereospecific site, caused by an isomerization of the chain prior to monomer insertion (backskip).

Journal Article↗

Spectroscopic studies on the photoeffects on some metallocenes in the presence of chloroform molecules confined in poly(methyl methacrylate) thin films.

The changes in the electronic absorption spectra (UV-Vis) (after photoexcitation) of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) thin films doped with a metallocene and containing chloroform molecules as impurities, have been studied as a function of photoexcitation wavelength (210-750 nm), photoexcitation time (duration), amount of metallocene in the film and amount of chloroform molecules present in the film. Photoeffects on the metallocenes have been observed, which depend significantly on the nature of the central metal atom of the metallocene and the results have been discussed on the basis of the electronic configuration of the metallocenes, which is under study.

Chloroform↗

Ansa-metallocene polymerization catalysts derived from [2+2]cycloaddition reactions of bis(1-methylethenyl-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium systems.

Bis(1-methylethenyl-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride (7a) was prepared by a fulvene route. Photolysis at 0 degrees C with Pyrex-filtered UV light resulted in a rapid and complete intramolecular [2+2]cycloaddition reaction to yield the corresponding cyclobutylene-bridged ansa-zirconocene dichloride isomer (8a). This is one of the rare examples of an organic functional group chemistry that leads to carbon-carbon coupling at the framework of an intact sensitive group 4 bent metallocene complex. More sterically hindered open metallocenes that bear bulky isopropyl or tert-butyl substituents at their Cp rings in addition to the active 1-methylethenyl functional group undergo the photochemical ansa-metallocene ring closure reaction equally facile. The metallocene systems used and obtained in this study have served as transition metal components for the generation of active metallocene propene polymerization catalysts.

Journal Article↗

A 31P NMR study of the interaction of the antitumor active metallocene Cp2MoCl2 with calf thymus DNA.

Treatment of sonicated calf thymus DNA with the antitumor active metallocene Cp2MoCl2 afforded a metallocene-DNA complex which was characterized by 31P NMR spectroscopy. In addition to the resonance for the phosphate backbone (delta-1.6), the spectrum contained 2 signals assigned to a phosphate bound Mo-DNA complex(es) (delta 37.2, 36.5) and a broad signal at delta 6.2 ppm. This result suggests that covalent attachment of the metallocene Cp2MoCl2 occurs via phosphate(O) coordination and is accompanied by local distortion of the DNA backbone. This result supports recent ICP studies with Cp2TiCl2 that have DNA detected DNA-metallocene adducts.

Animals↗

Transmission of Magnetic Interactions through an Organometallic Coupler: A Novel Family of Metallocene-Substituted alpha-Nitronyl Aminoxyl Radicals.

The capability of metallocene bridges as new organometallic magnetic couplers is evaluated by studying the family of diradicals 2 (M = Fe, Ru) consisting of two purely organic alpha-nitronyl aminoxyl radicals connected by a 1,1'-metallocenylene bridge. Preliminary studies performed with 2-metallocenyl-alpha-nitronyl aminoxyl monoradicals 1 (M = Fe, Ru, Os), as reference compounds, show the presence of a small spin density on the central metal of the metallocenes. This fact makes the metallocene units effective bridges to transmit magnetic interactions by a spin polarization mechanism. The study of the magnetic properties of diradicals 2 in the solid state and in diluted frozen solutions reveals the existence of an intramolecular antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between the radical subunits whose strength is highly dependent on the molecular conformation adopted by the diradical. As shown by crystal data and by ESR measurements, an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the two radical units forces the molecule to adopt a cisoid molecular conformation, which determines that the magnetic interaction occurs by a direct through-space interaction between the two SOMOs of the two radical units along with the classical spin polarization mechanism through the sigma-bonds of the metallocene unit. Lattice constants for both structures are as follows: 1 (M = Fe), C(17)H(21)FeN(2)O(2), a = 7.170(1) Å, b = 10.135(2) Å, c = 10.683(2) Å, alpha = 88.88(3) degrees, beta = 83.42(3) degrees, gamma = 79.75(3) degrees, triclinic, P&onemacr;, Z = 2; 2 (M = Fe), C(24)H(32)FeN(4)O(4), a = 11.848(3) Å, b = 11.785(2) Å, c = 17.728(4) Å, beta = 106.25(2) degrees, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, Z = 4.

Journal Article↗

(N-pyrrolyl)B(C6F5)2--a new organometallic Lewis acid for the generation of group 4 metallocene cation complexes.

Treatment of the (C6F5)2BF x OEt2 (3) complex with N-pyrrolyl lithium gives bis(pentafluorophenyl)(N-pyrrolyl)borane (2), a strong organometallic Lewis acid, which was characterized by X-ray diffraction (B-N bond length: 1.401(5) A). It exhibits a columnar superstructure in the crystal and contains pi-stacks of pyrrolyl units. Compound 2 readily abstracts alkyl anions from a variety of alkyl Group 4 metallocene-type complexes and leads to the clean formation of the respective metallocene ions or ion pairs. For example, the treatment of Cp3ZrCH3 (9) with 2 transfers a methyl anion to yield the ion pair [Cp3Zr]+[(C4H4N)B(CH3)(C6F5)2]- (12). The X-ray crystal structure analysis of 12 shows a close contact between zirconium and the pyrrolyl-beta-carbon (2.641(2) A). The borane 2 adds to (butadiene)zirconocene (13) to yield the betaine system [Cp2Zr]+[(C4H6)B- (NC4H4)(C6F)2]- (15). Complex 15 contains a distorted eta3-allyl moiety inside the metallacyclic framework and it features an internal Zr+...(pyrrolyl)B- ion pair interaction with a Zr...pyrrolyl-alphacarbon separation of 2.723(3) A (determined by X-ray diffraction). From the dynamic NMR spectra of 15 the bond strength of the internal ion pair interaction was estimated to be deltaGdiss (223 K) approximately = to15 kcalmol(-1). Treatment of dimethylzirconocene (16) with 2 yields the metallocene borate salt [Cp2ZrCH3]+[(C4H4N)B(CH3)(C6F5)2]- (17), which is an active catalyst for the polymerization of ethene.

Journal Article↗

Solid-phase synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activities of metallocene-peptide bioconjugates.

This work shows how the introduction of an organometallic group enhances and modifies the specificity of biologically active peptides. Ferrocene was chosen as an organometallic group because it has been shown to alter the pharmacodynamic profile of bioactive compounds. A comparison with the isosteric cobaltocenium group allows one to explore the influence of charge and redox potential on the biological activity of the conjugates. Arginine and tryptophan containing peptides H-WRWRWR-NH(2) and H-RWRWRW-NH(2) and the metallocene peptide bioconjugates [M]-C(O)-RWRWR-NH(2) and [M]-C(O)-WRWRW-NH(2), where [M]=[Co(Cp)(C(5)H(4))](+), [Fe(Cp)(C(5)H(4))] were prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). They were purified by HPLC, characterized by ESIMS and NMR spectroscopy, and tested for antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. In most cases, no metal-specific activity could be observed. However, the conjugate [Fe(Cp)(C(5)H(4))-C(O)-WRWRW-NH(2)] 6 was found to be particularly effective against the Gram-positive S. aureus. The activity of this metallocene-pentapeptide conjugate (7.1 microM) was even better than the 20 amino acid naturally occurring pilosulin 2, which was used as a positive control. Unlike all other compounds tested, which were most active against the Gram-negative E. coli strain, the ferrocene conjugate 6 was the only compound in this series that was most active against Gram-positive bacteria. Given the health concerns resulting from multidrug resistant S. aureus strains, the incorporation of metallocenes may provide a novel line of attack.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Inhibition of human topoisomerase II by the antitumor metallocenes.

The ability of antitumor active metallocenes Cp2MCl2, (M=Ti, V, Mo, Nb) and the biologically inactive derivative (MeCp)2TiCl2, to inhibit the relaxation of supercoiled plasmid DNA pBR322 by human topoisomerase II has been studied by gel electrophoresis. All metallocenes inhibit the enzyme with maximum inhibition observed at 2.0 mM (Cp2TiCl2), 3.0 mM (Cp2MoCl2), 0.2 mM (Cp2NbCl2), 0.25 mM (Cp2VCl2) and 2.0 mM (MeCpTiCl2). The implications for the mechanism of antitumor activity of the metallocene dihalides are discussed.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Metallocene-terminated allylium salts: the effect of end group on localization in polymethines.

A range of 1,3-di(metallocenyl)allylium salts [Mc(CH)(3)Mc'](+)[X](-) [Mc, Mc' = ferrocenyl (Fc), 2,3,4,5,1',2',3',4'-octamethylferrocen-1-yl (Fc' '), ruthenocenyl (Rc); X = BF(4), PF(6)] was synthesized by reaction of (2-lithiovinyl)metallocenes with formylmetallocenes, followed by treatment of the resulting alcohols with HX. Two salts with X = BAr'(4) [Ar' = 3,5-(CF(3))(2)C(6)H(3)] were synthesized by anion metathesis from the corresponding PF(6) salts. The crystal structure of [Fc' '(CH)(3)Fc' '](+)[PF(6)](-) contains symmetrical termethine cations, while the same appears to be true in the disordered structure of [Fc(CH)(3)Fc](+)[PF(6)](-). The formally unsymmetrical cation in [Fc(CH)(3)Fc' '](+)[BF(4)](-) is only slightly unsymmetrical with little bond-length alternation in the allylium bridge. In contrast, the crystal structures of [Rc(CH)(3)Rc](+)[PF(6)](-) and [Rc(CH)(3)Rc](+)[BAr'(4)](-) both contain a bond-alternated "Peierls-distorted" cation, which can be considered as a ruthenocene bridged to a [(eta(6)-fulvene)(eta(5)-cyclopentadienyl)ruthenium] cation by a vinylene moiety. The strong similarity between solid-state and solution infrared and Raman spectra of [BF(4)](-), [PF(6)](-), and [BAr'(4)](-) salts of [Rc(CH)(3)Rc](+) indicates that the C-C stretching constant in the allylium chain and, therefore, the structure, of this ion are largely independent of the local environment, suggesting that the unsymmetrical structures observed in the crystal structures are not simply an artifact of packing. Differences in the solvatochromism of [Rc(CH)(3)Rc](+) and [Fc(CH)(3)Fc](+) also suggest a localized structure for the former cation in solution. Electrochemistry, UV-visible-NIR spectroscopy, and DF calculations give insight into the electronic structure of the metallocene-terminated allylium cations. Using an analogy between polymethines and mixed-valence compounds, the difference between the behaviors of [Fc(CH)(3)Fc](+) and [Rc(CH)(3)Rc](+) is attributed to larger reorganization energy associated with the geometry differences between metallocene and [(eta(6)-fulvene)(eta(5)-cyclopentadienyl)metal] structures in the ruthenium case.

Journal Article↗

(Butadiene)metallocene/B(C6F5)3 pathway to catalyst systems for stereoselective methyl methacrylate polymerization: evidence for an anion dependent metallocene catalyzed polymerization process.

The ansa-zirconocene dichlorides [Me(2)Si(C(5)H(4))(3-R-C(5)H(3))]ZrCl(2) 7a-e (R = H, CH(3), cyclohexyl, -CHMe(2), -CMe(3)) were reacted with butadiene-magnesium to yield the respective (eta(4)-butadiene)metallocenes 17a-e. The chiral examples give a mixture of two s-cis and two s-trans diastereomers. The strong Lewis acid B(C(6)F(5))(3) adds selectively to a terminal butadiene carbon atom to yield the (butadiene)metallocene/B(C(6)F(5))(3) betaine complexes 18a-e. Initially, the formation of the Z-18 isomers is preferred. These consecutively rearrange to the thermodynamically favored isomers E-18. The dipolar systems 18 are active single component metallocene catalysts for the stereospecific polymerization of methyl methacrylate. With increasing steric bulk of the attached single alkyl substituent an increasingly isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) is obtained. A similar trend is observed in the methyl methacrylate polymerization at the [Me(2)Si(C(5)H(4))(3-R-C(5)H(3))]ZrCH(3)(+) catalysts (9a-e) that were conventionally prepared by methyl abstraction from the corresponding ansa-zirconocene dimethyl complexes by treatment with B(C(6)F(5))(3). A comparison of the poly(methyl methacrylates) obtained at these two series of catalysts has revealed substantial differences in stereoselectivity that probably originate from an influence of the respective counteranions. An initial reactive intermediate of methyl methacrylate addition to the dipolar single component metallocene catalyst E-18a was experimentally observed and characterized by NMR spectroscopy at 253 K. The subsequently formed series of [PMMA-C(4)H(6)(-)B(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) anion oligomers (at the catalyst 18c) was monitored (after quenching) and characterized by electrospray mass spectrometry.

Journal Article↗

Spermicidal activity of metallocene complexes containing vanadium(IV) in humans.

We have used computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) to evaluate the spermicidal activity of 8 metallocene dihalides (vanadocene dichloride [VDC], titanocene dichloride [TDC], zirconocene dichloride [ZDC], molybdocene dichloride [MDC], hafnocene dichloride [HDC], vanadocene dibromide [VDB], bis[methylcyclopentadienyl] vanadium dichloride [VMDC], and vanadocene diiodide [VDI]); 5 vanadocene di-pseudohalides (vanadocene diazide [VDA], vanadocene dicyanide [VDCN], vanadocene dioxycyanate [VDOCN], vanadocene dithiocyanate [VDSCN], and vanadocene diselenocyanate [VDSeCN]); and 3 disubstituted derivatives (vanadocene ditriflate [VDT], vanadocene monochloro oxycyanate [VDCO], and vanadocene monochloro acetonitrilo tetrachloro ferrate [VDFe]). Whereas the metallocene complexes containing titanium, zirconium, molybdenum, and hafnodium were inactive, all 12 vanadocene complexes elicited potent spermicidal activity at nano-micromolar concentrations with an order of efficacy VDSeCN > VDSCN > VDB > VMDC > VDCN > VDA > VDC > VDOCN > VDI > VDT > VDFe > VDCO without disrupting the acrosomal membrane, as determined by high-resolution low-voltage scanning electron microscopy. The sperm-immobilizing activity of the vanadocene complexes was rapid and irreversible, since the treated sperm underwent apoptosis as determined by the flow cytometric annexin V binding assay, DNA nick end-labeling, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. These results provide unprecedented evidence that metallocene complexes containing vanadium(IV), especially VDSeCN, may be useful as contraceptive agents.

Deferoxamine↗

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy of paramagnetic metallocenes.

The paramagnetic metallocenes and decamethylmetallocenes (C(5)H(5))(2)M and (C(5)Me(5))(2)M with M=V (S=3/2), Mn (S=5/2 or 1/2), Co (S=1/2), and Ni (S=1) were studied by (1)H and (13)C solid-state MAS NMR spectroscopy. Near room temperature spinning sideband manifolds cover ranges of up to 1100 and 3500 ppm, and isotropic signal shifts appear between -260 and 300 ppm and between -600 and 1640 ppm for (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra, respectively. The isotropic paramagnetic signal shifts, which are related to the spin densities in the s orbital of ligand atoms, were discussed. A Herzfeld--Berger spinning sideband analysis of the ring carbon signals yielded the principal values of the paramagnetic shift tensors, and for metallocenes with a small g-factor anisotropy the electron spin density in the ligand pi system was determined from the chemical shift anisotropy. The unusual features of the (1)H and (13)C solid-state NMR spectra of manganocene were related to its chain structure while temperature-dependent (1)H MAS NMR studies reflected antiferromagnetic interaction between the spin centers.

Journal Article↗

Antitumor properties of organometallic metallocene complexes of tin and germanium.

The antitumor activity of the four metallocene compounds decaphenylstannocene [eta 5-(C6H5)5C5]2Sn(II), decabenzylstannocene [eta 5-(C6H5CH2)5C5]2Sn(II), decaphenylgermanocene [eta 5-(C6H5)5C5]2Ge(II), and decabenzylgermanocene [eta 5-(C6H5CH2)5C5]2Ge(II), containing the main group IV elements tin or germanium as the central metal atom and two pentasubstituted cyclopentadienyl ring ligands in sandwich arrangement, were tested against Ehrlich ascites tumor in female CF1 mice. The complexes caused cure rates of 40% to 90% of the animals treated over rather broad dose ranges. With both germanocene complexes, no strong dose-activity relationship was manifest. The toxicity of all four metallocenes was low, the LD10 values of both stannocenes being 460 and 500 mg/kg, and those of both germanocenes higher than 700 mg/kg. Regarding the isolated pentasubstituted cyclopentadiene ligands (C6H5)5C5H and (C6H5CH2)5C5H, these also exhibited antitumor activity which was less pronounced than that of the metal-containing sandwich complexes. Decasubstituted stannocene and germanocene compounds represent a new type of non-platinum group metal antitumor agents structurally differing from known inorganic and organometallic cytostatics.

Animals↗