Advances in the Biological Studies of Metal-Terpyridine Complexes: An Overview From 2012 to 2022

The chemistry of the s- and p-block elements with 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine ligands

“…The Sn IV complexes of various tpy ligands were considered as metallodrugs for cancer treatment, but the activity of the reported systems is still too low to compete with the complexes derived mainly from transition-metal ions. 25,26,318 In the case of Pb IItpy complexes, a range of applications has been envisioned. Beyond fundamental studies in the context of metallo-supramolecular chemistry, the formation of 2D CONASHs 304,305 or 3D coordination polymers 142 is worth mentioning.…”

Copper(II) Complexes with 2,2′:6′,2″-Terpyridine Derivatives Displaying Dimeric Dichloro−μ–Bridged Crystal Structure: Biological Activities from 2D and 3D Tumor Spheroids to In Vivo Models

“…When considering the antiproliferative potential of copper­(II) complexes, special attention is given to Cu­(II)–terpyridine systems. − The chelating ability of 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (terpy) and its derivatives (R-terpy) enhances complex stability, and their molecular structures facilitate noncovalent interactions with DNA through the major groove, − π-stacking between the plane of the aromatic rings and DNA base pairs, − and electrostatic binding. − Moreover, many Cu­(II)–terpyridine systems can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), giving rise to damage in the cytoplasm, mitochondria, and DNA. ,,,− Importantly, a broad range of possible structural modifications for 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine provide opportunities to enhance the anticancer profile and reduce side effects of Cu-based anticancer agents. Substituents introduced into the terpy framework have been shown to control the electronic and structural features of the resulting Cu­(II) complexes, and thus their cytotoxicity behavior. ,,,,,,,− Exemplarily, the five-coordinated Cu­(II) complex [CuCl 2 (R-terpy)] with 1-methyl-1 H -pyrrol-2-yl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine exhibiting a rare trigonal-bipyramidal geometry induced by the bulky 1-methyl-1 H -pyrrole substituent, demonstrated no cytotoxic activity in tumor HCT116, A2780, A549, and MCF7 cell lines .…”

The Therapeutic Potential in Cancer of Terpyridine‐Based Metal Complexes Featuring Group 11 Elements

“…In this study, we will focus on exploring the intriguing anticancer properties exhibited by terpyridine complex compounds. [7] It is noteworthy that while terpyridine-based metal complexes exhibit excellent biological properties, the free ligands themselves also display inherent anticancer activity. Information about the biological properties of these free ligands is limited in the literature.…”

“…Terpyridine‐based ligands have gained significant attention across various disciplines, including supramolecular chemistry, materials science, and coordination chemistry, due to their distinctive characteristics. In this study, we will focus on exploring the intriguing anticancer properties exhibited by terpyridine complex compounds [7] …”