Cisplatin

The Molecule

The molecule cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum(II), "Cisplatin", is a square planar platinum(II) complex.

It is used as an inorganic chemotherapeutic. Anti-cancer activity is observed for both Pt(II) and Pt(IV) complexes with a cis-configuration of the ligands, although the activity of the Pt(II) complexes is significantly higher.

In order for such platinum complexes to be effective, they must contain two labile ligands and two relatively inert ligands, both in cis-position to each other.

In Cisplatin, these are the

      and