4-Amino-1,8-naphthalimide–ferrocene conjugates as potential multi-targeted anticancer and fluorescent cellular imaging agents

Abstract

Herein we present eight ferrocenyl 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimides. Designed as fluorescent logic gates for acidity and oxidisability, the molecules have been repurposed as anti-proliferation and cellular imaging agents. The compounds were studied in vitro against MCF-7 and K562 cancer cell lines by the MTT method. Compounds with protonable secondary amines tended to exhibit greater cytotoxicity than those with tertiary amines. Compounds with no measurable GI₅₀ values within a 24 hour time window, as well as at shorter exposure times, may be suitable as fluorescent cellular imaging probes.