Metal-Dependent Cytotoxic and Kinesin Spindle Protein Inhibitory Activity of Ru, Os, Rh, and Ir Half-Sandwich Complexes of Ispinesib-Derived Ligands

Inorg Chem. 2020 Oct 19;59(20):14879-14890. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c00957. Epub 2020 Oct 1.

Abstract

Ispinesib is a potent inhibitor of kinesin spindle protein (KSP), which has been identified as a promising target for antimitotic anticancer drugs. Herein, we report the synthesis of half-sandwich complexes of Ru, Os, Rh, and Ir bearing the ispinesib-derived N,N-bidentate ligands (R)- and (S)-2-(1-amino-2-methylpropyl)-3-benzyl-7-chloroquinazolin-4(3H)-one and studies on their chemical and biological properties. Using the enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-forms of the ligand, depending on the organometallic moiety, either the SM,R or RM,S diastereomers, respectively, were observed in the molecular structures of the Ru- and Os(cym) (cym = η6-p-cymene) compounds, whereas the RM,R or SM,S diastereomers were found for the Rh- and Ir(Cp*) (Cp* = η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) derivatives. However, density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the energy difference between the diastereomers is very small, and therefore a mixture of both will be present in solution. The organometallics exhibited varying antiproliferative activity in a series of human cancer cell lines, with the complexes featuring the (R)-enantiomer of the ligand being more potent than the (S)-configured counterparts. Notably, the Rh and Ir complexes demonstrated high KSP inhibitory activity, even at 1 nM concentration, which was independent of the chirality of the ligand, whereas the Ru and especially the Os derivatives were much less active.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / chemical synthesis
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Benzamides / chemical synthesis
  • Benzamides / metabolism
  • Benzamides / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Coordination Complexes / chemical synthesis
  • Coordination Complexes / metabolism
  • Coordination Complexes / pharmacology*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Kinesins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Kinesins / metabolism
  • Ligands
  • Metals, Heavy / chemistry
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Protein Binding
  • Quinazolines / chemical synthesis
  • Quinazolines / metabolism
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Benzamides
  • Coordination Complexes
  • KIF11 protein, human
  • Ligands
  • Metals, Heavy
  • Quinazolines
  • ispinesib
  • Kinesins