Monofunctional platinum(II) complexes of general formula cis-[Pt(NH(3))(2)(N-heterocycle)Cl]Cl bind DNA at a single site, inducing little distortion in the double helix. Despite this behavior, these compounds display significant antitumor properties, with a different spectrum of activity than that of classic bifunctional cross-linking agents like cisplatin. To discover the most potent monofunct...

An N-heterocyclic carbene ligand precursor bearing a ?-extended phenanthridine (3,4-benzoquinoline) unit is presented. The proligand was isolated as the imidazolium salt of chloride (1•HCl), bromide (1•HBr), or hexafluorophosphate (1•HPF 6 ) counterions. These salts can be deprotonated and installed on silver centres using Ag 2 O both base source metal ion. resulting Ag(I) complex (1)AgCl used ...