A series of PtIV anticancer complexes with chloro leaving groups have been investigated for the effects of axial and carrier ligands on the reduction and cytotoxicity. The reduction rates of the PtIV complexes such as Pt(d,l)(1,2-(NH2)2C6H10)Cl4 (tetraplatin, Pt(dach)Cl4; dach = diaminocyclohexane), cis,trans,cis-[Pt((CH3)2CHNH2)2(OH)2Cl2] (iproplatin, Pt(ipa)(OH)2Cl2; ipa = isopropylamine), cis,trans,cis-[Pt(NH3)(C6H11NH2)(OCOCH3)2Cl2] (JM-216, Pt(a,cha)(OCOCH3)2Cl2; a = ammine, cha = cyclohexylamine), cis,trans,cis-[Pt(NH3)(C6H11NH2)(OCOC3H7)2Cl2] (JM-221, Pt(a,cha)(OCOC3H7)2Cl2), cis,trans,cis-[Pt(en)(OH)2Cl2], Pt(en)Cl4 (en = ethylenediamine), cis,trans,cis-[Pt(en)(OCOCH3)2Cl2], and cis,trans,cis-[Pt(en)(OCOCF3)2Cl2] by ascorbate and cathodic reduction potentials strongly depend on the electron-withdrawing power and the steric hindrance of the axial and carrier ligands. Beginning with PtIV complexes bearing en carrier ligands, reduction rates and reduction potentials increase in the following order of...