SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURE, AND ANTITUMOR TESTING OF PLATINUM(II) AND PALLADIUM(II) COMPLEXES OF NOTETRAHYDROPYRROLO[2,3-B]PYRROLE-2,5(1H,4H)-DIONE

The syntheses of the platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes of notet rahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrrole-2,5(1H,4H)-dione (3) are described. These compounds contain a six-membered chelate ring with four nitrogen atom s. An X-ray diffraction study of the palladium(II) complex [Pd(3)Cl2] shows a distorted ''sofa'' conformation for this chelate ring. Both co mplexes exhibited in the H-1-NMR spectrum an ABgem system for the amin o protons. In vitro ICL50 and ICT50 and in vivo antitumour activities have been determined for these products. The corresponding dicarboxyla to complexes have been obtained by the reaction of the platinum(II) co mplex [Pt(3)Cl2] with silver sulfate followed by the addition of bariu m hydroxide and oxalic, malonic, hydroxymalonic, and 1,1-cyclobutanedi carboxylic acid.