Molecular modeling studies of specific interactions between organometallic compounds and DNA

Abstract

During the past 40 years, organometallic chemistry has been developed into a large and important branch of chemistry linking the fields of organic and inorganic chemistry. Organometallic compounds have practical applications as catalysts for industrial syntheses, as antiknock additives for gasoline, and as biocides. In addition to this, during the late 1970s, the discovery of the antitumour activities of titanocene dichloride and certain diorganotin derivatives stimulated much interest in the research of organometallic compounds as antitumour agents. Titanocene dichloride has been proven to be a potent agent against breast, lung and intestinal (colon) cancer tissues. In contrast to the serious nephrotoxicity, myelotoxicity, peripheral neurathy of the well known inorganic antitumour agent, diaminedichloroplatinum (II) (cisplatin), titanocene dichloride only exhibits slight side effects with regard to the liver when used in therapeutically necessary amounts. Thus, the organometallic compounds constitute a potent new class of antitumour agents. One of the main problems is the prediction of the structures of resulting interactions between DNA and organometallic compounds and possible biological and physiological impact of these compounds.