Ferracyclic carbonyl complexes as anti-inflammatory agents

Reaction of Fe(CO)(4)Br-2 with 2-aminopyridine and 2-aminonapthalene yields ferracyclic iron(ii) complexes bearing two CO ligands. Irradiation with visible light releases these two CO molecules. Substitution of a halide in the parent complexes by thioglucose provides significantly enhanced water solublity and raises the quantum yield for CO release by around five times. The complexes show anti-inflammatory activity in a TNF assay in the dark.