A new chemical series of antiproliferative compounds was identified via high-throughput screening on DU-145 human prostate carcinoma cell line (hit compound potency - 5.7 μM). Exploration of the two peripheral diversity vectors of the hit molecule in a hit-targeted library and testing of the resulting compounds led to SAR generalizations and identification of the 'best' pharmacophoric moieties. The latter were merged in a single compound that exhibited a 200-fold better potency than the original hit compound. Specific cancer cell cytotoxicity was confirmed for the most potent compounds.

Metallation of the donor-functionalised ylide ligand Ph₃PCH–(o-CH₃OC₆H₄) with homoleptic alkyl and aryl complexes of yttrium and lutetium furnished unprecedented phosphoranylidene complexes, featuring a central μ₂-M₂C₂ core.

A broad series of mono- and bis-2-aminoindenyl ligands, bearing pendant donor sec-amine groups was synthesized via the reaction of indan-2-one with the corresponding secondary mono- and bis-amines: 1-H from pyrrolidine, 2-H from piperidine, 3-H from morpholine, 4-H from thiomorpholine, 5-H from dibenzylamine, 6-H₂ from N,N′-diethyldiaminopropane-1,3, 7-H₂ from piperazine, 8-H₂ from S-(+)-prolinol, 9-H from O-methyl-S-(+)-prolinol, 10-H from O-ethyl-S-(+)-prolinol and 11-H₂ from R-(-)-N-(2-anilinomethyl)-pyrrolidine. Direct metallation of 3-H, 4-H and 9-H by nBuLi led to the formation of the corresponding mono-lithiated species 3-Li, 4-Li and 9-Li. Trans-Metallation of 4-Li by ZrCl₄ led to the formation of the presumably monomeric [(η⁵-4)ZrCl₃] 12. Partial hydrolysis of 12 occurred after several attempts to crystallize it and led to the formation of its 1 : 1 adduct with the free ligand 4-H, [(η⁵-4)ZrCl₃(μ-N,S-4-H)] 13. Direct metallation of 8-H₂ with [Zr(NEt₂)₄] led to the formation of a chiral bent-zirconocene with a helical structure [(η⁵,μ-O-8)₂Zr] 14. The molecular structure of enantiomerically pure 9-Li was determined using X-ray crystallographic studies. Alternating Li⁺ and chelating indenyl anions are linked in infinite chains. The coordination environment of Li⁺ consists of the η⁵-bonded five-membered ring of the indenyl fragment, the η¹-bonded adjacent ligand and the donor sp³ nitrogen and oxygen atoms of the chelating side chain.