Synthesis of new ferrocenyl dehydrozingerone derivatives and their effects on viability of PC12 cells

A series of novel compounds deriving from the conjugation of ferrocene with curcumin-related bioactive
molecules as dehydrozingerone, zingerone and their biphenyl dimers was prepared by Claisen–Schmidt
condensation of the suitable aromatic aldehydes and acetylferrocene in different conditions according to
the starting material. The obtained compounds were fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and cyclic
voltammetry and reversible electrochemical behavior was recorded for monomer derivatives. The cell
viability of PC12 cells after exposure to the organometallic compounds was also evaluated and a reduced
toxicity with respect to the ferrocene was detected. In comparison with biphenyl 4, a compound that
manifested antiproliferative and apoptotic activities and was quite toxic on PC12 cells, the exposure to
the ferrocenyl analogue 14 resulted in roughly fourfold increase in the cell viability. Ferrocenyl chalcones
14 and 16–18 significantly increased the oxidative stress generated by hydrogen peroxide, a molecule
generally accumulated in cancer cells and, recently, studied as prodrug.