Abstract (eng)
Cancer is still the second leading cause of death worldwide and still a thriving area of research. Treatment options are surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, especially with platinum-based cytostatic agents. Severe side effects and acquired or intrinsic resistance of this compound class led to the investigation of non-platinum tumor-inhibiting metal and organometallic complexes (Ru, Rh, Os, Ga, Co, etc.). By now several Ru(III) and Ga(III) coordination compounds have entered clinical trials with promising results. The most prominent and promising candidates are IT-139 (sodium trans- [tetrachloridobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)]) and KP46 (tris(8-quinolinolato)gallium(III)), where further trials are being planned. Due to the great success of ruthenium metallodrugs, a new compound class has been introduced, namely Ru(II)-arene complexes. They adopt the so called “piano stool” configuration, where the arene stabilizes the metal in its oxidation state +II and different ligand scaffolds are responsible for tuning the biological, chemical and physical properties. Pyrones are known for their high binding affinity towards metal ions, the favorable toxicity profile, the bioavailability and synthetic versatility, which are advantages for their application as ligand scaffolds in the development of novel metallodrugs.
The primary aim of this thesis was the synthesis and modification of Ru(II)-arene, Rh(III)-Cp* and Ga(III) compounds with a series of novel hydroxy-4-(thio)pyrone-based chelating ligands. All compounds were fully characterized by standard analytical methods such as 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry, and if possible by X-ray diffraction analysis. Stability measurements in aqueous solution were carried out using 1H NMR spectroscopy or UV-Vis spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity was investigated by means of MTT assays in three different cancer cell lines, CH1/PA-1 (ovarian carcinoma), SW480 (colon carcinoma) and A549 (non small cell lung cancer). To establish structure-activity relationships and get a better understanding of the “mode of action”, topoisomerase inhibition and ROS generation was investigated for some of the synthesized compounds.