The Suzuki cross-coupling reaction: a powerful tool for the attachment of organometallic ‘NCN’-pincer units to biological scaffolds

Platinum(II) and palladium(II)NCN {NCN is the terdentate coordinating monoanionic ‘pincer’ ligand [C6H3(CH2NMe2)2-2,6]−} complexes have been covalently bonded via their para-position to both the α-carbon of an α-amino acid and to the γ-position of an alkyl phosphonate by means of Suzuki cross-coupling reactions. The resulting platinum(II) complexes can be used as biomarkers, while the palladium(II) analogs are active Lewis-acid catalysts. Both the pincermetal substituted α-amino acid and phosphonate can be used to introduce these organometallic units in biomolecules such as proteins or enzymes.