Platinum complexes played a prominent role in the history of coordination chemistry since the days of Alfred Werner. Werner's work on stereoisomerism established the field of coordination chemistry as we know it today. One form of inorganic stereoisomerism that was not explicitly treated by Werner is conformational isomerism. We describe two studies of this isomerism, one of purely fundamental interest and one with implications for platinum anticancer chemistry. The complex trans-[Pt(NH2C6H11)2I2] crystallizes as two different conformational isomers. This isomerism was studied in solution using variable temperature NMR spectroscopy. In a similar manner, crystallographic characterization of the novel anticancer agent phenanthriplatin highlighted its chirality in the solid state. NMR spectroscopic experiments revealed the conformational dynamics of the complex in solution. These results are important for understanding the interaction of phenanthriplatin has with guanine in DNA and related environments. This work was supported by the NCI.

Conformational isomerism in classical Werner-type platinum complexes

246th National Meeting (2013)

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