Diorganotin 2‐fluorocinnamates and 4‐fluorophenylacetates: Synthesis, characterization and in vitro antitumour activity

The synthesis and characterization by spectroscopy of several new di‐n‐butyltin and diethyltin 2‐fluorocinnamates and 4‐fluorophenylacetates are described. In vitro tests on two human tumour cell lines, MCF‐7, a mammary tumour, and WiDr, a colon carcinoma, showed that two of these compounds are more active than cisplatin. Other in vitro tests performed by the NCI, USA on a panel of human tumour cell line show that one of them, bis[di‐n‐butyl(2‐fluorophenylacetato)tin] oxide, is characterized by statistically significant D   GI   50, D TGI and D   LC   50sensitivities, but non‐significant D H and MGD H selectivities, whereas the analogous 2‐fluorocinnamate shows no such significant values.