| A large number of metal-containing compounds show significant activity against cancer cells and incorporating a metal into a polymer offers several possible advantages. Compounds of the type R2SnCl2 (R = methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, t-butyl, octyl and phenyl) were tested for the ability to inhibit the growth of Balb 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells and CAOV3 human ovarian carcinoma cells. Polymers of 2-chloro-1,4-benzenediamine and the same organotin dichloride were synthesized and tested as well. For both monomers and polymers, the pattern of growth inhibition relative to the R group was butyl > propyl ≈ t-butyl ≈ octyl ≈ phenyl > ethyl > methyl. This and other aspects of the structure-activity relationship of the monomers and polymers were examined. |
