Rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes bearing a 2,4,7,9-tetraphenylphenanthroline ligand, where the 2,9-phenyl groups have either meta- or para-CF3 groups, have been screened against a selection of cell lines. The meta derivative shows anticancer activity against HeLa and A549 cell lines, whereas the para derivative causes proliferation of HL-60 cells, whilst showing toxicity towards A549 cells.
