Organotin polymers as anticancer and antiviral agents

•Organotin polymers are readily synthesized using the Lewis acid–base concept.•Organotin polymers inhibit many cancer cell lines.•Organotin polymers inhibit many DNA and RNA viruses.•Organotin polymers represent a new class of compounds that control cancers and viruses.•Organotin polymers are readily synthesized using commercially available reactants.

Organotin polymers are easily synthesized employing interfacial polymerization systems involving the reaction of difunctional Lewis bases and organotin halides. A wide variety of organotin-containing polymeric products have been synthesized including the first water soluble organotin polymers. The organotin polymers exhibit a wide range of biological activities including the inhibition of a wide variety of cancer cell lines including cell lines associated with ovarian, colon, lung, prostrate, pancreatic and breast cancer. Some also inhibit a variety of viruses including those responsible for herpes infections and smallpox. The synthesis, structural characterization, and biological characterization of these materials are described in this review.

Graphical abstractSynthesis of the antiviral and anticancer polyether from ethylene glycol and dibutyltin dichloride employing the interfacial polycondensation process.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide