Synthesis, characterization and antitumor activity of novel ferrocene bisamide derivatives containing pyrimidine-moiety

Starting from two ferrocene-based pyrimidinamines (3 and 8), two series of novel ferrocene bisamide derivatives (4a-m and 9a-m) were synthesized and characterized, respectively. Both 3 and 8 gave single crystals suitable for X-ray structural analysis. All the corresponding bisamide derivatives were evaluated the inhibitory activities against B16-F10 and A549 cell lines using the MTT method. Among them, compound 4d exhibited comparable antitumor activities in vitro against B16-F10 and compound 9d exhibited significant antitumor activities in vitro against A549. Cancer cell apoptosis assay were performed and results indicated that compound 9d effectively fuels A549 cells apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.