Cytotoxic heteroleptic heptacoordinate salan zirconium(iv)-bis-chelates – synthesis, aqueous stability and X-ray structure analysis

Abstract

Herein we report the synthesis and structural characterization of a series of novel Zr(IV)salan complexes. The initial metalation product [(L1)₂Zr] is highly water sensitive while ligand exchanged [L1Zr(dipic)] hydrolyses slowly with a bis-hydroxo Zr(IV) species identified by MS as an intermediate. [L1Zr(dipic)] is cytotoxic in the range of cisplatin against two human carcinoma cell lines.