It is the descriptive approach on Applicational aspects of Organometallic Compounds with a higly Interactive e-Content with appropriate links, references....

1. Biological Applications &
Environmental Aspects of Organometallic
Compounds
Rudresh
M.Sc.
Department of Studies &
Research in Chemistry
Tumkur University,
Tumakuru.
1

2. Introduction
• Organometallic Chemistry an interdisciplinary science ,
has grown at a phenomenal pace during the last three
decades.
• In earlier , Organometallic chemistry & Biology are
consider as a incompatible disciplines .
• Continued efforts of researchers have led to realisation
that this two disciplines are made compatible has
resulted in a new field called Bioorganometallic
Chemistry.
2

3. 3
Continued.....
• The pronounced biological effects of Organometallic
compounds led to their wide applications viz.
Organometallic
Compounds
As Drugs
As
Pesticides
As Anti -
knock agents
As Catalytic
Agents
As
Environmental
Concern

4. 4
Organometallic Compounds in Medicine
• Systematic investigation on the chemotherapeutic
applications of Organometallic began with the classical work
of Paul Ehrlich .
•Paul Ehrlich (1854—1915) a Nobel prize
winning German Physician and Scientist who
in the fields of Haematology and Immunology
and Antimicrobial chemotherapy.
•Among his foremost achievements were
finding a cure for Syphilis in 1909 and
inventing the precursor technique to Gram
staining bacteria.
•In 1908 he honoured with Nobel prize in
Physiology or Medicine.

5. 5
• Organomercurials(i.e. Organo-Mercury compounds)are the
first Organometallic to be used in chemotherapy of Syphilis
has been superseded by modern antibiotics, many of these
are widely used as antiseptics and diuretics.
Organo-Mercuric Compounds in Medicine
Thiomersal Merbromin
dibromohydroxymercurifluorescein
Phenylmercuric acetate

6. 6
Organo-Silicon compounds in Medicine
•The Applications of organo silicon derivatives have been increasing
at fast rate.
•From the point of their medicinal applications of organosilicon
derivatives can be devided into three major groups
(i) Organosilicon compounds having no carbon analogues or having
biologically inert analogues
eg:--Silatranes
• Silatranes are have extensive interest due
to their Biological activities as well as
medicinal uses like healing of wounds ,
Stimulate hair growth(pilotropic
activity),pharmacological properties viz,
antitumor, anticancer, anti-bacterial,
anti-inflammatory, fungicidal activity,
stimulating effects in animal production and
seed germination effects in plants.

7. 7
Continued.....
(ii) Silylated derivatives of Bioactive organic compounds:--the
presence of SiMe3 group , for example Testosterone renders in non
polar solvents , the hydrolysability of O-Si bonds which makes it
behave as an effective prodrug.
(iii)Sila-pharmaca :--the replacement of carbon atom(s) in
organic drugs by silicon has a aroused considerable interest
OSiMe3

8. 8
Organo-Arsenic comounds in Medicine
•The Significant investigations of Paul Ehrlich were
expounded the Chemotherapeutic aspects of Organo-
Arsenic compounds.
•Majority of Arsenic(v) compounds are anti parasitic agents .
•Are used in the treatment of Trypanosomiasis were
derivatives of Atoxyl
Atoxyl
(Mono-sodium p-aminophenylarsonate)

9. 9
In 1907 Ehrlich was prepared a new organo arsenic derivative
with different substituents on the aromatic ring as well as on
arsenic atom and was named as “Salvarsan”
Continued...
•Salvarsan was widely used as
pharmaceutical tratment of
infections for the treatment of
infections by Spirochetes or
trypanosomes, especially Syphilis.
Salvarsan

10. 10
Organometallic compounds as Anti-Tumour Drugs
• E.Krause had been noticed the activity of organo-Lead
compounds such as Pr3PbF, (C 6H11)6Pb2 , and Ph4Pb are shows
Anti-tumour activity towards mouse cancers.
• The Discovery of Significant anti-cancer activity of Cisplatin led
to an extensive investigation on the biological properties of
compounds .
Cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II)
Similar compounds of Cisplatin

11. 11
Organometallic Compounds in Agriculture
and Horticulture
•A wide variety of Organometallic compounds are finding increasing
uses as pesticides.
•Triphenyltin hydroxide and acetate both are
preferably used in numerous formulations for
the control of a variety of fungal growths
especially Potato blight.
• Tricyclohexyltin hydroxide is very effective
Acaricide for controlling fruit tree red spider
mite on apples pears.

12. 12
Continued......
• Organo tin compounds are also used as Anti-fouling agents, i.e.
Protecting various surface like that of wood from the growth of
mould.
• Ethephon(2-chloroethylphosphonic acid)
used as a plant growth regulators and as fruit
ripening agents
ClCH2CH2CH3PO3H2 + H2O C2H4 + HCl + H3PO4
2-chloroethyl Ethene
phosphonic acid
Organometallic Compounds in Agriculture and
Horticulture

13. 13
Organometallic Compounds in Agriculture and
Horticulture
•A Boron analogue ClCH2CH2B(OR)2 has also been proposed as a
plant growth regulator.
• Silicone oils have been applied to the
surface of the plant leaves to the control the
rate of transpiration thus aiding Agriculture in
arid zones.
•Some of the Organometallics are also
having applications of Herbicidal control
activity. For eg.,
Phosphorous derivatives like
N-Phosphomethylglycine

14. 14
Organometallic Compounds in Agriculture and
Horticulture
• Methyl arsenic compounds like
Monosodium salt of Methyl arsenic acid
is widely used as Herbicide (under the
name of Doconate)
Tri-n butyltin flouride was show to be
selective in controlling weeds without
damage to the Corn (or) Rice

15. 15
Non-Available
Inorganic Substances
Available Inorganic
Substances
Inorganic Coordination
compounds, Organometallic
compounds, Organometallodical
compounds
Inorganic
Compound-Biota
Association
Environmental Aspects of Organometallic Compounds
Cycle of Inorganic and Organometallic Materials in the
Environment
Mobilization
Chemical reactions
Incorporation
Removal

16. 16
•For being able to perform their life function, such as
Maintenance, self Growth & reproduction. biota appear to
depend essentially on certain elements and preferably avoid some
other elements in the view of their toxicity.
•They are 27 essential and 11 toxic elements With 4 Common
members between the two groups form a large variety of
compounds.
•Majority of the elements in the periodic table are metallic in
character.
•These are bounded up in the nature in the form a Insoluble
Inorganic compounds in Rocks and Sediments.
•These have to be mobilized by weathering Process involving
abiotic chemical reactions and biologically mediated interactions.

17. 17
•This type of Interaction, Generally Converts insoluble
substances into soluble ones, which are then converted into
coordination, Organometallic and organometalloidal
compounds.
•These undergo interactions with biota either on the Surface of
cells (or) through the membranes i.e in to the Cellular portion
•The ensuing biochemical reactions produce new chemical
Species which may be released into the environment and thus
become available to other biota.
•Alternatively these Organometallic moieties associated with
cellular material may be deposited upon the death of the
organism in Sediments and thus rejoin the pool of non-available
Substances awaiting mobilization.
Continued….

18. 18
References
1. ‘Organometallic Chemistry—A Unified Approach’—R C Mehrotra, A
Singh; second edition, New Age International Publishers ,2015.
2. ‘Environmental Aspects of Organometallic Chemistry ‘ by Peter Craig,
Wiley Publications.
3. An Article Entitled ‘Concerning Organometallic compounds in
Environment : Occurane, Fate and Impact’ by Kovacs Melinda Haydee and
Kovacs Emoke Dalma; Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Faculty,
Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.