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Updated: Feb 18, 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
Anticancer metal-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of gold, platinum and palladium
Taotao Zou1, Chun-Nam Lok1, Pui-Ki Wan1
1Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Abstract:
Transition metal compounds are a rich source for anticancer drug development. Judicious application of coordination ligands is a critical success factor in the design of effective anti-tumor compounds. N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) are stable ligands that have strong donor strengths in stabilizing metal ions and versatility in structural modifications to provide diverse scaffolds for biological molecular targeting. Remarkable advances have been achieved in the development of metal NHC complexes as anticancer as well as theranostic agents. NHC complexes of gold, platinum and palladium have been designed to elicit potent cancer cell cytotoxicity, effective anti-tumor activities in animal models as well as selective binding to molecular targets (e.g. protein thiols, DNA G-quadraplexes, mismatched DNA). The mechanisms of action of some of these complexes have been elucidated.
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