cis-Dichloroplatinum(II) complexes tethered to dibenzo[c,h][1,6]naphthyridin-6-ones: Synthesis and cytotoxicity in human cancer cell lines in vitro

•Two series of substituted dibenzo[c,h][1,6]naphthyridin-6-one derivatives were synthesized either platinated or not.•In vitro cytotoxic properties in cancer cell lines.•Platinated complexes were not cytotoxic.•Nonplatinated compounds exhibited high cytotoxic properties.•The structure–activity relationship in the series was discussed.

A novel family of cisplatin-type complexes tethered to dibenzo[c,h][1,6]naphthyridin-6-one topoisomerase inhibitor via a polymethylene chain and their nonplatinated counterparts were prepared. Their potential cytotoxicity was assessed in three human colorectal cancer cell lines HCT 116, SW480 and HT-29 and compared to the reference molecules cisplatin and oxaliplatin. Platinated compounds were poorly active whilst nonplatinated dibenzo[c,h][1,6]naphthyridin-6-one moieties exhibited higher cytotoxic properties than cisplatin and oxaliplatin whatever the length of the polymethylene chain; molecules containing the tri- and hexamethylene chain length were the most cytotoxic.

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