Synthesis and anticancer activity of Pt(0)‐olefin complexes bearing 1,3,5‐triaza‐7‐phosphaadamantane and <i>N</i> ‐heterocyclic carbene ligands

A series of Pt(0)-η2-olefin complexes bearing 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) or N-heterocyclic carbenes are prepared following different synthetic strategies depending on the nature coordinated alkene and spectator ligands. These new platinum(0) derivatives have been tested in vitro as anticancer agents toward three tumor (human ovarian cancer A2780 A2780cis K562 myelogenous leukemia) one non-tumor (Hacat keratinocytes) cell lines, proving to be several cases highly selectively cytotoxic against cells. Furthermore, this antiproliferative effect is associated with activation an apoptosis process. In particular, equipped PTA ligand give comparable IC50 values (cisplatin sensitive) resistant) indirectly that these Pt(0) substrates act a mechanism action conceivably from cisplatin. This hypothesis also confirmed by fact our compounds, contrast cisplatin, not able promote erythroid-differentiation activity leukemia line.