Synthesis, characterization and antitumor activity of novel N-substituted alpha-amino acids containing ferrocenyl pyrazole-moiety

A series of new N-[(3-ferrocenyl-1-phenylpyrazol-4-yl)methyl] alpha-amino acids were prepared and characterized by a range of spectroscopic techniques and cyclic voltammetry. The in vitro antitumor activity of all synthesized compounds was investigated against cervix adenocarcinoma HeLa, melanoma Fem-x and myelogenous leukemia K562 cell lines using the MTT method. Tryptophan derivative 11 exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity in the cell growth inhibition of all three types of cell lines. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.