Synthesis, structural characterization, and cytotoxic activity of new spirocyclic octachlorocyclotetraphosphazenes

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT

Octachlorocyclotetraphosphazene, N₄P₄Cl₈, (1) was reacted with N, N′-dibenzylethylenediamine to synthesize partially substituted monospiro- (2), dispiro- (5) and tetraspirocyclotetraphosphazene (8) derivatives. The reactions of 2 and 5 with excess pyrrolidine and morpholine produced fully substituted pyrrolidino (3 and 6) and morpholino (4 and 7) spirocyclotetraphosphazenes. The structures of the compounds were determined with 1D (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, and DEPT) NMR, 2D (HSQC) NMR, ESI-MS, FTIR, and elemental analysis. The solid-state structures of 6 and 7 were examined by X-ray crystallography. In 7, intramolecular C-H…O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into centrosymmetric dimmers. The cytotoxic activity of all the compounds against human cervix carcinoma cell lines (HeLa) was investigated. The study showed that these compounds exert limited cytotoxic, apoptotic and necrotic effects on HeLa cancer cell lines.

KEYWORDS:

• Cyclotetraphosphazenes
• spirophosphazenes
• crystal structure
• spectroscopy
• HeLa cancer cell line
• cytotoxicity