Synthesis, characterization, and anticancer activity of ferrocenyl complexes bearing different organopalladium fragments

A straightforward synthetic route to a selection of new ferrocenyl complexes bearing different organopalladium fragments is reported. The target complexes were fully characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, High Resolution Mass Spectrometry, Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, and electrochemical techniques. All compounds, with the exception of Pd(0)-olefin derivatives, showed excellent antitumor activity on ovarian cancer cells and, in the case of Pd (II)-allyl and Pd (II)-butadienyl complexes, a lower cytotoxicity towards normal cells.