Herein we report the antiproliferative effects of a series of 28 compounds against the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line, including the synthesis of seven new [3]ferrocenophanyl and four new ferrocenyl compounds. For each p-R-phenyl substitution pattern investigated, the [3]ferrocenophanyl derivatives were more cytotoxic than the corresponding ferrocenyl derivative, with the highest activity found for compounds with protic substituents. Theoretical calculations of the HOMO-LUMO gap for the molecules in the Fe³(+) oxidation state suggest a higher reactivity for the [3]ferrocenophanyl derivatives. A lead compound from each series, a [3]ferrocenophanyl and a ferrocenyl compound, possessing two phenol groups, were screened against the NCI/DTP 60-cell-line panel. The mean activity over all cell lines was better than cisplatin for both compounds, and both compounds showed subpanel selectivity for leukemia, CNS cancer, and renal cancer. Low systemic toxicity and lack of interaction with DNA (when in the reduced form), suggest that the compounds may act as prodrugs.

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Recent results suggest that [3]ferrocenophane may be an interesting motif in the development of cytotoxic anti-cancer agents. We here report the synthesis of three such compounds based on the 1-[(p-R-phenyl)-phenyl-methylidenyl)]-[3]ferrocenophane skeleton with R = OH, NH2 and NHC(O)CH3 substitution on one of the phenyl rings. Cytotoxicity studies show that these compounds are up to four times more powerful against hormone-independent breast cancer cells than their corresponding ferrocene analogs.