Dinuclear Rh(II) complexes with one polypyridyl ligand, structure, properties and antitumor activity

Rhodium(II) complexes [Rh2(μ-OAc)2(OAc)(bpy)(H2O)2]PF6 (1), [Rh2(μ-OAc)2(OAc)(phen)(H2O)2](PF6)·H2O (2), [Rh2(μ-OOCCH3)3(OOCCH3)(phen)] (3) and [Rh2(μ-O2CCH3)3(O2CCH3)(Ph2phen)] (4) (Ph2phen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized and characterized by means of NMR, IR and UV–Vis spectroscopic methods. X-ray structure of complex 4·1.5(CH3COCH3) has been determined and its geometry and electronic structure has been elucidated using OPBE and B3LYP DFT methods. The compounds are active cytostatic agents against tumor cells.