Anticancer cyclometalated complexes of platinum group metals and gold

•Cyclometalated complexes of noble metals are promising anticancer prodrugs.•These compounds show improved stability and enhanced cytotoxicity.•Cyclometalated compounds are suitable for rational drug design.•Besides DNA, protein/enzyme interactions represent a major mode of action.

The clinical success of cisplatin and its derivatives has had an enormous impact on the discovery of novel metal-based drugs. Extensive studies have focused on the interaction of metal complexes with their potential targets. The array of organometallic compounds with useful anticancer activity has been significantly extended with respect to metals and structures. This review highlights recent exciting results in the field of cyclometalated CN complexes and CNC, CNN and CNS pincer complexes of platinum, palladium, gold, ruthenium, rhodium, and iridium with potential anticancer properties.