Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2012 Apr;16(1-2):84-91. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2012.01.013. Epub 2012 Feb 25.
Organometallic complexes have unique physico-chemical properties, which have been widely used in homogenous catalysis, for example, for the synthesis of lead compounds and drug candidates. Over the past two decades, a few scientists from all over the world have extended the use of the specific characteristics of these compounds (e.g. structural diversity, possibility of ligand exchange, redox and catalytic properties) for medicinal purposes. The results are stunning. A few organometallic compounds have already entered clinical trials and it can be anticipated that several more will follow in coming years. In this short review, we present the specific advantages that organometallic metal complexes have over purely organic and also coordination compounds. Furthermore, using specific examples, we illustrate how these particular properties can be put to good use in medicinal chemistry. The examples we present have an emphasis on, but are not restricted to, anti-cancer activity.
金属有机配合物具有独特的物理化学性质，已广泛应用于均相催化，例如用于合成铅化合物和药物候选物。在过去的二十年中，来自世界各地的一些科学家扩展了这些化合物的特殊特性（例如结构多样性、配体交换的可能性、氧化还原和催化性质）在医学上的用途。结果令人瞩目。一些金属有机化合物已经进入临床试验，可以预期在未来几年还会有更多的化合物进入临床试验。在这篇简短的综述中，我们介绍了金属有机金属配合物相对于纯有机化合物和配位化合物的具体优势。此外，我们还通过具体实例说明了如何将这些特殊性质在药物化学中加以利用。我们所呈现的例子重点强调了，但不限于抗癌活性。
