Using phosphine ligands with a biological role to modulate reactivity in novel platinum complexes

Three platinum complexes with cis and trans configuration cis-[Pt(TCEP)(2)Cl(2)], cis-[Pt(tmTCEP)(2)Cl(2)] and trans-[Pt(TCEP)(2)Cl(2)], where TCEP is tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine, have been synthesized and fully characterized by usual techniques including single-crystal X-ray diffraction for trans-[Pt(TCEP)(2)Cl(2)] and cis-[Pt(tmTCEP)(2)Cl(2)]. Here, we also report on an esterification process of TCEP, which takes place in the presence of alcohols, leading to a platinum complex coordinated to an ester tmTCEP (2-methoxycarbonylethyl phosphine) ligand. The stability in solution of the three compounds and their interaction with biological models such as DNA (pBR322 and calf thymus DNA) and proteins (lysozyme and RNase) have also been studied.