Synthesis of organoarsenic, organoantimony, and organobismuth poly(ether esters) from reaction with glycyrrhetinic acid and their preliminary activity against pancreatic cancer cell lines

Abstract

Polyether esters were rapidly formed employing the interfacial condensation of Group VA triphenylmetal dihalides with glycyrrhetinic acid in moderate yield and chain length. Infrared spectroscopy shows the formation of metal–oxygen bonds. The products are a mixture of bridging and non-bridging structures about the metal atom. Proton NMR and MALDI MS results are consistent with the formation of the polyether esters. Some of the polymers exhibit inhibition of the growth of pancreatic cancer cell lines.