Synthesis, characterization and in vitro antitumor activity of some arylantimony ferrocenecarboxylates and crystal structures of C 5 H 5 FeC 5 H 4 CO 2 SbPh 4 and (C 5 H 5 FeC 5 H 4 CO 2 ) 2 Sb(4‐CH 3 C 6 H 4 ) 3

A series of arylantimony ferrocenecarboxylates with the formula (C 5 H 5 FeC 5 H 4 CO 2 ) n SbAr (5− n ) ( n = 1, 2; Ar = C 6 H 5 , 4‐CH 3 C 6 H 4 , 3‐CH 3 C 6 H 4 , 2‐CH 3 C 6 H 4 , 4‐ClC 6 H 4 , 4‐FC 6 H 4 ) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1 H NMR and mass spectra. The crystal structures of (C 5 H 5 FeC 5 H 4 CO 2 ) 2 Sb(4‐CH 3 C 6 H 4 ) 3 and C 5 H 5 FeC 5 H 4 CO 2 SbPh 4 were determined by X‐ray diffraction. Four human neoplastic cell lines (HL‐60, Bel‐7402, KB and Hela) were used to screen these compounds. The results indicate that these compounds at 10 µ M show certain in vitro antitumor activities. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.