4-Azidobenzyl ferrocenylcarbamate as an anticancer prodrug activated under reductive conditions

We prepared an aminoferrocene-based prodrug containing an azide group and demonstrated that it is activated under reductive (cancer specific) conditions in cancer cells. This prodrug increases concentration of reactive oxygen species in cells and exhibits substantially higher toxicity towards human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 than its H2O2-responsive analogue.134