The aim of this thesis was to investigate the properties of novel platinum compounds with possible potential as anticancer agents, and to determine how their behaviour could lead to a better understanding of the chemistry involved. The final criteria were improvement of their anticancer behaviour. Since many questions are still unanswered as to the role of sulfur in anticancer action, studies were undertaken to synthesize novel platinum(II) complexes having non-leaving groups consisting of a combination of an aromatic nitrogen and thioetherial sulfur capable of forming a five membered ring upon coordination. The structural unit was 1-methyl-2-methylthioalkyl/aryl. Numerous complexes formed by these ligands each having chloro, bromo, iodo and oxalato leaving groups were then fully characterized. The results obtained by the various synthetic methods were compared and explained in terms of the chemistry involved. The role of the sulfur donor was indicated in both the halo- and oxalato-complexes and proved to be strongly influenced by the nature of the leaving groups. Their differences are reflected in their anticancer behaviour. The study was extended to mononitroplatinum(IV) complexes, in view of the kinetically stable platinum(IV) compounds and advantages related to this. A specific mononitroplatinum(IV) complex which proved to have good anticancer and STAT 3 properties could according to the literature not be synthesized successfully in a good yield and a high degree of purity. The results of extensive studies showed that the main problem centred around the simultaneous reactions in equilibrium during the synthesis. A number of these species formed as a result of side reactions could be identified and their close separation factors indicated chromatographically. The mechanism of these reactions and the unstable intermediate species involved could be rationalized and compared to analogues in the literature. All the complexes studied were characterized by spectral and thermal methods both in solution as well as the solid state. Their anticancer behaviour towards three anticancer cell lines (Hela, MCF 7, Ht 29) were determined and acted as a guide towards possible structural modifications for their improved capability. Three crystal structures of platinum(II) complexes were determined. The extent of the ionization of the platinum(II) complexes as well the redox potentials (Pt(II) / Pt(IV)) of the platinum(IV) complexes were particularly important factors pertaining to their anticancer action.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nmmu/vital:10430 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Oosthuizen, Lukas Marthinus |
| Publisher | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Faculty of Science |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Doctoral, PhD |
| Format | xxvi, 208 leaves : ill. (some col.), pdf |
| Rights | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University |
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