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The novel diiron amine complexes [Fe 2 Cp 2 (CO)(NH 2 R')(μ-CO){μ-CN(Me)(Cy)}]CF 3 SO 3 [R' = H, 3; Cy, 4; CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , 5; CH 2 CH 2 NMe 2 , 6; CH 2 CH 2 (4-C 6 H 4 OMe), 7; CH 2 CH 2 (4-C 6 H 4 OH), 8; Cp = η 5 -C 5 H 5 , Cy = C 6 H 11  = cyclohexyl] were synthesized in 49-92 % yields from [Fe 2 Cp 2 (CO) 2 (μ-CO){μ-CN(Me)(Cy)}]CF 3 SO 3 , 1a, using a straightforward two-step procedure. They were characterized by IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and the structure of 7 was confirmed through X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 3-8 and the acetonitrile adducts [Fe 2 Cp 2 (CO)(NCMe)(μ-CO){μ-CN(Me)(R)}]CF 3 SO 3 (R = Cy, 2a; Me, 2b; Xyl = 2,6-C 6 H 3 Me 2 , 2c) were assessed for their water solubility, octanol-water partition coefficient and stability in physiological-like solutions. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of 2a-c and 3-8 was tested on seven human cancer cell lines (A2780, A2780R, PC3, A549, MCF7, HOS and HT-29), while the selectivity was evaluated using normal MRC-5 cells. Overall, the complexes exhibited variable cytotoxicity, with IC 50 values reaching the low micromolar range for 3, 7 and 8 in A2780 and A2780R cells, along with significant selectivity. Targeted experiments covered cell cycle modification, induction of cell death, mitochondrial membrane potential, ROS production and interaction with DNA and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein. The interaction of 3 with BSA was further investigated through computational studies. Results showed a negligible increase in intracellular ROS levels (except for 2b) and insignificant changes in mitochondrial membrane potential., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Copper(ii) and zinc(ii) complexes with lapachol (HLap) of the composition [M(Lap) 2 (N-N)] and [Cu(Lap)(H 2 O)(terpy)]NO 3 (4), where M = Cu (1-3) or Zn (for 5-7), and N-N stands for bathophenanthroline (1 and 5), 5-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline (2 and 6), 2,2'-bipyridine (3), 2,2';6',2''-terpyridine (terpy, 4) and 1,10-phenanthroline (7), were synthesised and characterised. Complexes 1-5 revealed strong in vitro antiproliferative effects against A2780, A2780R, MCF-7, PC-3, A549 and HOS human cancer lines and MRC-5 normal cells, with IC 50 values above 0.5 μM, and reasonable selectivity index (SI), with SI > 3.8 for IC 50 (MRC-5)/IC 50 (A2780). Considerable time-dependent cytotoxicity in A2780 cells was observed for complexes 6 and 7, with IC 50 > 50 μM (24 h) to ca. 4 μM (48 h). Cellular effects of complexes 1, 5 and 7 in A2780 cells were investigated by flow cytometry revealing that the most cytotoxic complexes (1 and 5) significantly perturbed the mitochondrial membrane potential and the interaction with mitochondrial metabolism followed by the triggering of the intracellular pathway of apoptosis., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)