A cytotoxic tantalum(v) half-sandwich complex: a new challenge for metal-based anticancer agents

Abstract

Despite the biological relevance of complexes of various transition metals, tantalum complexes have long been neglected by bioinorganic chemists. Herein, we demonstrate potential chemotherapeutic applicability of the [Ta(η⁵-Cp*)Cl₂(salaph)] (1) complex, containing deprotonated Schiff base 2-{(E)-[(2-hydroxyphenyl)imino]methyl}phenol (H₂salaph), which shows strong cytotoxicity in cancer cells, related to the induction of apoptosis and apoptosis-related processes, but shows low cytotoxicity in healthy cells.