Towards Platinum(II) Complexes for in cellulo Applications: Synthesis, Characterization, Biological and Catalytic Evaluation

With the aim of achieving bioorthogonal intracellular catalysis, a library of platinum(II) complexes was synthesized. Their non-toxicity to living cells was demonstrated and their catalytic activity was evaluated on a cyclization reaction leading to a highly fluorescent coumarin. None of the platinum complexes showed any catalytic activity for coumarin synthesis. Still, we demonstrated that the silver salt AgSbF6 commonly used to 'activate' metal catalysts by removing a chloride is a very efficient catalyst for the studied intramolecular cyclization reaction.