Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 1, 2026

Amide Coupling Reaction for the Synthesis of Bispyridine-based Ligands and Their Complexation to Platinum as Dinuclear Anticancer Agents
Published on: May 28, 2014
Synthesis and Analysis of the Structure, Diffusion and Cytotoxicity of Heterocyclic Platinum(IV) Complexes
Freddy J Macias1, Krishant M Deo1, Benjamin J Pages1
1Nanoscale Organisation and Dynamics Group, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560 (Australia).
Abstract:
We have developed six dihydroxidoplatinum(IV) compounds with cytotoxic potential. Each derived from active platinum(II) species, these complexes consist of a heterocyclic ligand (HL) and ancillary ligand (AL) in the form [Pt(HL)(AL)(OH)2](2+), where HL is a methyl-functionalised variant of 1,10-phenanthroline and AL is the S,S or R,R isomer of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane. NMR characterisation and X-ray diffraction studies clearly confirmed the coordination geometry of the octahedral platinum(IV) complexes. The self-stacking of these complexes was determined using pulsed gradient stimulated echo nuclear magnetic resonance. The self-association behaviour of square planar platinum(II) complexes is largely dependent on concentration, whereas platinum(IV) complexes do not aggregate under the same conditions, possibly due to the presence of axial ligands. The cytotoxicity of the most active complex, exhibited in several cell lines, has been retained in the platinum(IV) form.
Related Concept Videos
Stereoisomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula.
Transition metal complexes often exist as geometric isomers, in which the same atoms are connected through the same types of bonds but with differences in their orientation in space. Coordination complexes with two different ligands in the cis and trans positions from a ligand of interest form isomers. For example, the octahedral [Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ ion has two isomers (Figure 1) In the cis...
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...

