Spectroelectrochemistry of the redox activation of anti-cancer drug mitoxantrone

The redox behaviour of the anti-cancer drug mitoxantrone was investigated in aprotic media (dimethylsulfoxide-DMSO) by coupled electrochemical and spectral EPR and UV/VIS absorption techniques. The cyclic voltammetry study with stationary and rotating disc electrode (RDE) of the reductive pathway of mitoxantrone points to two-electron transfers and evidences as intermediate species the anion radical, the dianion and the corresponding protonated species. EPR and optical spectra registered during the electrochemical reduction allow the identification of these species and suggest the possibility of back oxidation of the drug by electron transfer to molecular oxygen. The possibility of reductive activation of molecular oxygen by the intermediate species in the redox processes of mitoxantrone is discussed in connection with the cardiotoxicity of the drug. Gas phase and solvent-dependent AM1 and PM3 semiempirical MO calculations allow a rationalization of the experimental results regarding the reactivity in redox processes.