Abstract

SYNTHESIS AND INITIAL ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF WATER AND DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE SOLUBLE POLYETHERS FROM ZIRCONOCENE DICHLORIDE AND POLY (ETHYLENE GLYCOLS)

Charles E. Carraher Jr.*, Michael R. Roner, Jessica Frank, Kendra Black, Alisa Moric-Johnson, Lindsey C. Miller, Francesca Mosca and Paul Slawek

Abstract

The initial synthesis of DMSO and water-soluble zirconocene polyethers through the reaction of zirconocene dichloride and various poly(ethylene glycols) employing commercially available reactants is described. Infrared, proton NMR, and MALDI MS results are consistent with the zirconocene-containing polyether structure. The materials are polymeric, with chain lengths ranging from 4700 to 5 with moderate product yield. They exhibit good inhibition of a variety of cancer cell lines including two pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Keywords: metal containing polymers, PEG polymers, zirconocene-containing polymers, cancer, pancreatic cancer, water soluble polymers, MALDI MS.