Synthesis, characterization and in vitro antitumor activity of some arylbismuth triphenylgermylpropionates and crystal structures of (4-BrC6H4)3Bi(O2CCH2CH2GePh3)2 and (4-BrC6H4)3Bi[O2CCH(CH3)CH2GePh3]2

A series of novel arylbismuth(V) triphenylgermylpropionates with the formula Ar3Bi(O2CCHR1CHR2GePh3)2 (R1=H, CH3; R2=H, Ph; Ar=Ph, 4-CH3C6H4, 4-FC6H4, 4-ClC6H4, 4-BrC6H4) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H-NMR and mass spectroscopy. The crystal structures of (4-BrC6H4)3Bi(O2CCH2CH2GePh3)2 and (4-BrC6H4)3Bi[O2CCH(CH3)CH2GePh3]2 were determined by X-ray diffraction. Three human neoplastic cell lines (HCT-8, Bel-7402 and KB) were used to screen these compounds. The results indicate that some compounds at 5 μM show good in vitro antitumor activities.