Cyclopalladated Benzophenone Imines: Synthesis, Antitumor Activity, Cell Accumulation, DNA Interaction, and Cathepsin B Inhibition

The synthesis of the endo five-membered cyclo-ortho-palladated benzophenone imines [Pd{C6H4(Ph)C═NR}]2(μ-X)2 [1 (X = OAc), 2 (X = Cl), a (R = phenyl), b (R = 1-naphthyl), c (R = benzyl), d (R = α-methylbenzyl)], and trans-N,P-[Pd{C6H4(Ph)C═NR}X(PPh3)] [3 (X = OAc), 4 (X = Cl), a (R = phenyl), b (R = 1-naphthyl), c (R = benzyl), d (R = α-methylbenzyl)] and the X-ray molecular structure of 1a, 1c, 1d, 4a, 4b, and 4c are reported. The antitumor activity, DNA interaction, and cathepsin B inhibition of palladium compounds a–d were studied and compared with those previously reported for palladium compounds e with R = H and compound 4f analogous to 4e but with a platinum(II) center. The IC50 values against a panel of human cancer cell lines allowed the establishment of a qualitative relationship between their structure and antitumor activity. Compounds 3e, 4e, and 4f were the most active ones in relation to their in vitro anticancer activity. Compounds 3e and 4e were about 4 times more active than cisplatin agai...