Synthesis and "in Vitro" Trypanocidal Activity Evaluation of Some Organo-iron Compounds

Eight organo-iron ferrocene derivatives and arenocenium salts were prepared and evaluated by "in vitro" assay against one strain of Trypanosoma cruzi (Y). Six of the eight organo-iron compounds assayed, piperazinium diferrocenoate 1, eta(6)-(o-xylene)-eta(5)-(cyclopentadienyl) Iron(II) hexafluorophosphate 3, eta(6)-(mesitylene)-eta(5)-(cyclopentadienyl) iron(II) hexafluorphosphate 5, eta(6)-(durene)-eta(5)-(cyclopentadienyl) iron(II) hexafluorphosphate 6, eta(6)-(rho-chlorotoluene)-eta(5)-(cyclopentadienyl) Iron(II) hexafluorphosphate 7 and eta(6)-(chlorobenzene)-eta(5)-(cyclopentadienyl) iron(II) picrate 8 , were poorly active in the "in vitro" assays. Only two compounds 1,1'-(N-pyperidinocarbonyl) ferrocene 2(IC(50)=2.4 mug/mL) and eta(6)-(o-xylene)-eta(5)(cyclopentadienyl) iron(II) picrate 4 (IC(50)=12.08 mug/mL), were more active. Thus, some of the compounds are promising to be used against Chagas' disease as a prophylactic agents.