Synthesis of Three Bent Bis(imido-ferrocidiphenols)

The ferrocidiphenol family brings together anticancer molecules featuring a [ferrocene-alkene-(p-phenol)2] motif that can form upon oxidation a quinone methide metabolite targeting cellular proteins. Adding an imide group (imido-ferrocidiphenol) dramatically enhanced the anticancer activity of ferrocidiphenol. We aimed to explore whether molecules with two ferrociphenol motifs connected by bisimide moieties could provide even more effective compounds. Using amino-ferrocidiphenol and commercial bisanhydrides at reflux, for the first time, three symmetrical and bent bis(imido-ferrocidiphenols) were synthesized, with moderate yields, and characterized. However, these compounds were insoluble in most common organic solvents and unstable. This likely explains why their anticancer activity was nil.