A fluorine containing bipyridine cisplatin analog is more effective than cisplatin at inducing apoptosis in cancer cell lines

The synthesis of dichloro[4,4′-bis(4,4,4-trifluorobutyl)-2,2′-bipyridine]platinum ( 1), a cisplatin analog, and a preliminary study of its cytotoxicity are reported. Compound 1 is 14 to 125 times more effective than cisplatin in inducing apoptosis in breast, lung, and prostate cancer cell lines. Novel cisplatin analogs dichloro[4,4′-bis(4,4,4-trifluorobutyl)-2,2′-bipyridine]platinum ( 1) and fac-tricarbonylchloro[4,4′-bis(4,4,4-trifluorobutyl)-2,2′-bipyridine]rhenium ( 3) were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxicity. While 3 was not cytotoxic, 1 was 14 to 125 times more lethal than cisplatin in breast, prostate, and lung cancer cell lines. Compound 1 was able to induce apoptosis and the presence of the platinum atom was essential to its function as a cytotoxin.