comparative analysis of cellular respiratory inhibition by substituted phenylglyoxal-bis-(4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone) zinc chelates.

Fourteen para-substituted phenylglyoxal-bis-(4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone) zinc chelates have been synthesized as inhibitors of cellular respiration and therefore as potential antineoplastic agents. Each chelate has been evaluated as an inhibitor of Ehrlich ascites tumor cell and of rat liver slice respiration. The molar I50 values for respiratory inhibition have been subjected to computerized correlation to delineate quantitative relationships between biological activity and chemical structure. Activity against the tumor cell model is characterized by a positive lipophilic and a detrimental steric influence while activity against rat liver slice displays only a weak positive lipophilic effect. Quantitative comparative analysis suggests that selective action against the tumor cell system can be improved by substituents which are electron withdrawing and lipophilic in nature.