Discovery, Structure, and Anticancer Activity of an Iridium Complex of Diselenobenzoquinone

Abstract

Caught in the act: The first stable η4-diseleno-p-benzoquinone complex, [Cp*Ir(η4-C6H4Se2)], has been isolated. The X-ray structure (see picture; Ir magenta, Se yellow) confirms the coordination of the elusive diselenobenzoquinone intermediate. The anticancer activity of this complex was compared to related oxygen and sulfur analogues; only the diseleno complex was cytotoxic, having a comparable activity to cisplatin.