The preparation and isomerization of platinum metronidazole complexes: X-ray crystal and molecular structures of cis- and trans-dichlorobis[1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole]-platinum(II)

Abstract

cis-Pt(Metronidazole)₂Cl₂, a radiosensitizer toward hypoxic tumour cells, has been prepared and quantitatively isomerizes at its melting point to the trans complex; co-ordination of metronidazole to platinum(II) increases the polarographic reduction potential, and in both isomers the imidazole rings are tilted (69–75°) relative to the Pt(N)₂Cl₂ square-plane as shown by X-ray crystallography.