fac-[Re(phen)(CO)3(MMP)]

fac-[Re(phen)(CO)3(MMP)] (Complex 2b) is a neutral rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complex featuring a 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) bidentate ligand and a methyl 3-mercaptopropionate (MMP) sulfur-donor ligand. This organometallic compound is part of a series of rhenium complexes investigated for their potential as anti-cancer agents and multimodal cellular imaging probes. It exhibits intrinsic phosphorescence, which facilitates live-cell confocal microscopy and organelle localization studies. In preclinical assays, the complex demonstrates anti-proliferative activity against human breast cancer cell lines, including MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. Its biological activity is characterized by cellular uptake and localization within lysosomes and mitochondria. Research indicates that while these sulfur-donor complexes may have lower baseline potency than their aqua-complex counterparts, they maintain stability in the presence of extracellular glutathione and show enhanced efficacy in thiol-depleted environments, suggesting potential for co-treatment strategies with thiol-depleting agents.

Other names

fac-tricarbonyl(1,10-phenanthroline)(methyl 3-mercaptopropionato)rhenium(I)fac-[Re(CO)3(phen)(MMP)]