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Updated: Jul 25, 2025

Functionalized Spirocyclic Heterocycle Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Assay
Published on: February 9, 2021
Development of Zeise's Salt Derivatives Bearing Substituted Acetylsalicylic Acid Substructures as Cytotoxic COX
Alexander Weninger1, Jessica Sagasser1, Victoria Obermoser1
1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, CMBI-Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, CCB-Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Abstract:
Zeise's salt derivatives of the potassium trichlorido[η2-((prop-2-en/but-3-en)-1-yl)-2-acetoxybenzoate]platinate(II) type (ASA-Prop-PtCl3/ASA-But-PtCl3 derivatives) were synthesized and characterized regarding their structure, stability, and biological activity. It is proposed that the leads ASA-Prop-PtCl3 and ASA-But-PtCl3 interfere with the arachidonic acid cascade as part of their mode of action to reduce the growth of COX-1/2-expressing tumor cells. With the aim to increase the antiproliferative activity by strengthening the inhibitory potency against COX-2, F, Cl, or CH3 substituents were introduced into the acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) moiety. Each structural modification improved COX-2 inhibition. Especially compounds with F substituents at ASA-But-PtCl3 reached the maximum achievable inhibition of about 70% already at 1 µM. The PGE2 formation in COX-1/2-positive HT-29 cells was suppressed by all F/Cl/CH3 derivatives, indicating COX inhibitory potency in cellular systems. The CH3-bearing complexes showed the highest cytotoxicity in COX-1/2-positive HT-29 cells with IC50 values of 16-27 µM. In COX-negative MCF-7 cells, they were 2-3-fold less active. These data clearly demonstrate that it is possible to increase the cytotoxicity of ASA-Prop-PtCl3 and ASA-But-PtCl3 derivatives by enhancing COX-2 inhibition.
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