Synthesis, characterization and in vitro anti-cancer activity of N-(ferrocenyl)benzoyl tri- and tetrapeptide esters

N-(ferrocenyl)benzoyl tri- and tetrapeptide esters (2-7) were prepared by coupling N-ortho, N-meta and N-para-ferrocenyl benzoic acids to the tri- and tetrapeptide ethyl esters of GlyGlyGly(OEt) (2-4) and GlyGlyGlyGly(OEt) (5-7). The anti-proliferative effect of 2 and 5 was measured in vitro against H1299 lung cancer cells.