Synthesis and “in Vitro” Trypanocidal Activity Evaluation of Some Organo-iron Compounds.

Eight organo-iron ferrocene derivatives and arenocenium salts were prepared and evaluated by “in vitro” assay against one strain of Trypanosoma cruzi (Y). Six of the eight organo-iron compounds assayed, piperazinium diferrocenoate 1, η(6)-(o-xylene)-η(5)-(cyclopentadienyl) Iron(II) hexafluorophosphate 3, η(6)-(mesitylene)-η(5)-(cyclopentadienyl) iron(II) hexafluorphosphate 5, η(6)-(durene)-η(5)-(cyclopentadienyl) iron(II) hexafluorphosphate 6, η(6)-(ρ-chlorotoluene)-η(5)-(cyclopentadienyl) Iron(II) hexafluorphosphate 7 and η(6)-(chlorobenzene)-η(5)-(cyclopentadienyl) iron(II) picrate 8 , were poorly active in the “in vitro” assays. Only two compounds 1,1'–(N-pyperidinocarbonyl) ferrocene 2(IC(50)=2.4 μg/mL) and η(6)-(o-xylene)-η(5)(cyclopentadienyl) iron(II) picrate 4 (IC(50)=12.08 μg/mL), were more active. Thus, some of the compounds are promising to be used against Chagas' disease as a prophylactic agents.