A study on configuration-activity relationship of diamminedichloroplatinum (II) by the pseudopotential valence...

We investigated the cis- and trans-isomers of Pt(NH3)2Cl2 and [Pt(NH3)2]2+ using a quantum chemical non-empirical calculation method, the pseudopotential valence electron-only ab initio method. The electronic structure and electrostatic potential counter maps were in turn determined through the wave functions so obtained. There was a sharp difference between the dipole moments of the cis- and trans-isomers. The electrostatic counter maps of the isomers also had remarkably different features. Based on the interaction between the platinum (II) coordination compound and the base pairs of nucleic acid, the difference in antitumour activity of the isomeric compounds was discussed. It is pointed out that the key factor for antitumour activity is that the platinum (II) coordination compound must be mutually complementary with the target acceptor in both configuration and bonding activity. This mutual-complementary requirement includes a bonding ability of the platinum complex with two negative centers in DNA, so as to form an intrastrand crosslink with two neighbouring guanines.