Methoxy-phenyl groups reduce the cytotoxicity and increase the aqueous solubility of phosphonium zwitterions and salts

Phosphonium compounds are valuable species in medicinal chemistry, acting as intracellular transport vectors. Here we describe the preparation and characteristion of a new family of methoxy-phenylphosphonium zwitterions and salts. Cytotoxicity studies show the methoxy-phenylphosphonium compounds to have higher IC50 values than the analogous triphenylphosphonium compounds.