Synthesis, structure and redox potentials of biologically active ferrocenylalkyl azoles

The syntheses, structures, electrochemical properties of the series of ferrocenylalkyl azoles, FcAlkAz, as well as the antitumor activity of ferrocenylmethyl benzimidazole (8) have been studied. Above mentioned compounds were investigated by the method of cyclic voltametry. All of them exhibited a reversible one-electron oxidation–reduction wave owing to the ferrocene–ferrocenium redox couple with a positive shift (0.50–0.65 V) compared with that of ferrocene (0.42 V). The X-ray determination of molecular structures of 1-(ferrocenylmethyl)imidazole (4), 1-(ferrocenylbenzyl)imidazole (7) and 1-(ferrocenylmethyl)bezimidazole (8) was carried out. Compound 4 with imidazolyl substituent was found to be present in N-protonated form. Antitumor activity of 1-(ferrocenylmethyl)benzimidazole (8) against some solid tumor models such as adenocarcinoma 755 (Ca755), melanoma B16 (B16) and Lewis lung carcinoma was studied. The antitumor activity of compound 8 was compared with cisplatin effectiveness against some experimental tumor systems.