Synthesis and biological activity of triorganogermanium substituted heteropolytungstates

Abstract Four new compounds, [Me 4 N] 4 H 5 [(RGe) 3 (XW 9 O 34− n ) 2 ] (R = HOOCCH 2 CH 2 , HOOCCH 2 ( m -NO 2 C 6 H 4 )CH, X = P, n  = 0; X = Sb, n  = 1) have been prepared from trichlorogermanium precursors and lacunary polyoxometallates ([PW 9 O 34 ] 9− and [SbW 9 O 33 ] 9− ). The products were characterized by means of elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, 1 H NMR and 183 W NMR spectroscopy. 183 W NMR spectra of the complexes support the stoichiometry of the new heteropolyanions and the probable retention of the XW 9 units in water. The organogermanium substituted complexes showed promising activity against two human tumor cell lines (leucocythemia Hela cells and S180 cells) in vitro and [Me 4 N] 4 H 5 [(HOOCCH 2 CH 2 Ge) 3 (SbW 9 O 33 ) 2 ] exhibited some certain antitumoral activity in vivo and can increase the immune ability of the spleen.