cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2] is the anticancer drug cisplatin, but the iodide analogue cis-[PtI2(NH3)2] is inactive.
This inactivity is usually attributed to the greater stability and lower reactivity of Pt−I bonds compared to
Pt−Cl in aqueous solution. Interest in reactions of Pt(IV) complexes with thiols arises from the reductive
activation of Pt(IV) anticancer drugs in blood plasma. Recently, we found (J. Am. Chem. Soc.
1998, 120,
8253−8254) that low M
r thiols react with Pt(IV)−I bonds of trans,cis-[Pt(en)(OH)2I2] via attack on the
coordinated iodo ligand giving rise to reactive chelate-ring-opened Pt(II) ethylenediamine species. Here we
report reactions of the Pt(II) and Pt(IV) complexes [Pt(en)I2] and trans,cis-[Pt(en)(OH)2I2] with the major
thiol in blood plasma, Cys34 of the protein albumin (66 kDa). Unexpectedly, [Pt(en)I2] reacted more rapidly
with albumin than the cisplatin analogue, [Pt(en)Cl2], and did not give products with Pt bound to Cys34. The
Pt(IV) chloro analogue, trans,cis-[Pt(en)(OH)2Cl2], did not react at all with albumin. Reactions of trans,cis-[Pt(en)(OH)2I2] with the protein, via direct attack of an iodo ligand on Cys34, gave rise to a relatively stable
sulfenic acid derivative, in contrast to reactions with low M
r thiols. Reactions of Pt complexes with thiols in
proteins can therefore take a different course: albumin can exert control over the reactivity of Cys34 and
stabilize activated derivatives such as the sulfenyl iodide and sulfenic acid. The reactivity of iodide ligands in
Pt complexes is much higher than has been previously recognized, and it may be possible to incorporate them
into drug design strategies.