Potent cyclometallated Pd(ii) antitumor complexes bearing α-amino acids: synthesis, structural characterization, DNA/BSA binding, cytotoxicity and molecular dynamics simulation
A rational approach was adopted to design high-potential metal-based antitumor agents. A series of organometallic Pd(II) complexes with a general formula of [Pd{κ2 (C,C)-[(C6H4-2)PPh2]CH(CO)C6H4Ph-4} {κ2 (N,O)}] (N,O = alanine (Pd-A), valine (Pd-V), leucine (Pd-L), L-isoleucine (Pd-I) and phenylalanine (PdF)) were prepared by cyclopalladation of the phosphorus ylide, bridge cleavage reaction and subsequent chelation of natural α-amino acids. The complexes were fully identified using IR and multinuclear 1 H, 13C, 31P NMR spectroscopic methods.