Swarup Chatterjee, David C. R. Hockless, Geoffrey Salem and Paul Waring
Bis(unidentate ligand)platinum(II) complexes of the type cis-[PtMe2L2] (where L = 2-H2NC6H4PPhR and R = H, Me or Ph) were readily formed upon reaction of [PtMe2(cod)] (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene) with L in n-pentane. The neutral ligand L is co-ordinated via the phosphorus donor atom. The complex cis-[PtMe2(2-H2NC6H4PPh2)2] underwent a novel, facile rearrangement in benzene to give cis-[PtMe(2-HNC6H4PPh2)(2-H2NC6H4PPh2)] with concomitant loss of methane. The molecular structure of the demethylated complex has been confirmed by an X-ray analysis. Mono(bidentate ligand)platinum(II) complexes of the type [PtCl(Me)L] (where L = 2-H2NC6H4PPhR and R = Me or Ph) have been prepared by treating the appropriate ligand with [PtCl(Me)(cod)] in dichloromethane. Further reaction with HCl gave the dichloroplatinum(II) complexes [PtCl2L]. Substitution of the chloro groups in [MCl2L] (where M = PdII or PtII, L = 2-H2NC6H4PPhR and R = Me or Ph) can be achieved by reaction with silver nitrate in acetonitrile followed by the addition of sodium oxalate to give the complexes [M(C2O4)L]. These mono(bidentate ligand) complexes are seen as potential anticancer agents. Preliminary biological studies have shown them to be active against the mouse tumour model P815 in vitro with cytotoxicities of certain of these complexes being comparable to that of cisplatin, cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2].