Bioorganometallic chemistry of molybdenocene dichloride and its derivatives

The potential application of metallocene complexes into the cancer research was established by the pioneer work of Köpf-Maeir and Köpf in the late 1970s. The combination of organometallic chemistry and biochemistry created a new research area: bioorganometallic chemistry. Bioorganometallic chemistry has developed rapidly in the last thirty years leading to application of organometallic species into diagnostic, sensors, immunoassays and anticancer research among others. This review focuses on the bioorganometallic chemistry of molybdenocene dichloride and its derivatives as metal-based anticancer drugs. The anticancer properties of molybdenocene dichloride and its derivatives are described as well as the mechanism of action, aqueous and coordination chemistry, and molybdenocene–biomolecule interactions.