Novel trans-platinum complexes of the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid; synthesis, in vitro cytotoxicity and mutagenicity.

The first examples of Pt complexes of the well known anti-epilepsy drug and histone deacetylase inhibitor, valproic acid (VPA), are reported. Reaction of the Pt(II) am(m)ine precursors trans-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(py)] and trans-[PtCl(2)(py)(2)] with silver nitrate and subsequently sodium valproate gave trans-[Pt(VPA(-1H))(2)(NH(3))(py)] and trans-[Pt(VPA(-1H))(2)(py)(2)], respectively. The valproato ligands in both complexes are bound to the Pt(II) centres via the carboxylato functionality and in a monodentate manner. The X-ray crystal structure of trans-[Pt(VPA(-1H))(2)(NH(3))(py)] is described. Replacement of the dichlorido ligands in trans-[PtCl(2)(py)(2)] and trans-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(py)] by valproato ligands (VPA(-1H)) to yield trans-[Pt(VPA(-1H))(2)(py)(2)] and trans-[Pt(VPA(-1H))(2)(NH(3))(py)] respectively, significantly enhanced cytotoxicity against A2780 (parental) and A2780 cisR (cisplatin resistant) ovarian cancer cells. The mutagenicity of trans-[Pt(VPA(-1H))(2)(NH(3))(py)] and trans-[Pt(VPA(-1H))(2)(py)(2)] was determined using the Ames test and is also reported.