Reactions of the complex trans-[RuCl(4)(Hind)(2)](-) (Hind = indazole), which is of clinical relevance today, with both the DNA model nucleobase 9-methyladenine (made) and the thioethers R(2)S (R = Me, Et), as models of the methionine residue in biological molecules possibly acting as nitrogen-competing sulfur-donor ligands for ruthenium atom, have been investigated to get insight into details of mechanism leading to antitumor activity. Three novel ruthenium complexes, viz., [Ru(III)Cl(3)(Hind)(2)(made)], 1, [Ru(II)Cl(2)(Hind)(2)(Me(2)S)(2)], 2, and [Ru(II)Cl(2)(Hind)(2)(Et(2)S)(2)], 3, have been isolated as solids. Oxidation of 2 and 3 with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of 12 M HCl in chloroform afforded the monothioether adducts, viz., [Ru(III)Cl(3)(Hind)(2)(Me(2)S)], 4, and [Ru(III)Cl(3)(Hind)(2)(Et(2)S)], 5. By dissolution of 2 or 3 in DMSO, replacement of both R(2)S ligands by DMSO molecules occurred with isolation of trans,trans,trans-[Ru(II)Cl(2)(Hind)(2)(DMSO)(2)], 6. The products were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis, electrospray mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray crystallography (1.CH(2)Cl(2).CH(3)OH and 1.1.1H(2)O.0.9CH(3)OH, 2, and 5). The first crystallographic evidence for the monofunctional coordination of the 9-methyladenine ligand to ruthenium via N7 and the self-pairing of the complex molecules via H-bonding, using the usual Watson-Crick pairing donor and acceptor sites of two adjacent 9-methyladenine ligands, is reported. The electrochemical behavior of 1-5 has been studied in DMF and DMSO by cyclic voltammetry. The redox potential values have been interpreted on the basis of the Lever's parametrization method. The E(L) parameter was estimated for 9-methyladenine at 0.18 V, showing that this ligand behaves as a weaker net electron donor than imidazole (E(L) = 0.12 V). The kinetics of the reductively induced stepwise replacement of chlorides by DMF in 4 and 5 were studied by digital simulation of the cyclic voltammograms. The rate constant k(1) has been determined as 0.9 +/- 0.1 s(-)(1), which obeys the first-order rate law, while k(2) is concentration dependent (0.2 +/- 0.1 M(1)(-)(n)().s(-)(1) with n > 1 for 4 mM solutions of 4 and 5), indicating higher-order reactions mechanism.

The osmium(III) complex [(DMSO)2H][trans-OsIIICl4(DMSO)2] (1) has been prepared via stepwise reduction of OsO4 in concentrated HCl using N2H(4).2HCl and SnCl(2).2H2O in DMSO. 1 reacts with a number of azole ligands, namely, indazole (Hind), pyrazole (Hpz), benzimidazole (Hbzim), imidazole (Him), and 1H-1,2,4-triazole (Htrz), in organic solvents, affording novel complexes (H2ind)[OsIIICl4(Hind)(DMSO)] (2), (H2pz)[OsIIICl4(Hpz)(DMSO)] (3), (H2bzim)[OsIIICl4(Hbzim)(DMSO)] (4), (H2im)[OsIIICl4(Him)(DMSO)] (6), and (H2trz)[OsIIICl4(Htrz)(DMSO)] (7), which are close analogues of the antimetastatic complex NAMI-A. Metathesis reaction of 4 with benzyltriphenylphosphonium chloride in methanol led to the formation of (Ph3PCH2Ph)[OsIIICl4(Hbzim)(DMSO)] (5). The complexes were characterized by IR, UV-vis, ESI mass spectrometry, 1H NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray crystallography. In contrast to NAMI-A, 2-4, 6, and 7 are kinetically stable in aqueous solution and resistant to hydrolysis. Surprisingly, they show reasonable antiproliferative activity in vitro in two human cell lines, HT-29 (colon carcinoma) and SK-BR-3 (mammary carcinoma), when compared with analogous ruthenium compounds. Structure-activity relationships and the potential of the prepared complexes for further development are discussed.

Aquation of the investigational anticancer drug trans-[Ru(III)Cl4(Hind)2](-) (1, KP1019) results in the formation of mer,trans-[Ru(III)Cl3(Hind)2(H2O)] (2), which was isolated in high yield (85%) and characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallography. Dissolution of 2 in acetone, led to its dimerization into [Ru(III)2(mu-Cl)2Cl4(Hind)4] x 2 (Me)2CO (3) in 79% yield, with release of two water molecules. Complex 2 reacts readily with nucleophilic organic molecules, viz., methanol or dimethyl sulfide, at room temperature by replacement of the aqua ligand to give mer,trans-[Ru(III)Cl3(Hind)2(MeOH)] (4) and mer,trans-[Ru(III)Cl3(Hind)2(Me2S)] (5) in 58 and 64% yield, respectively. By reaction of 2 with DMSO at room temperature or dimethyl sulfide at elevated temperatures trans,trans,trans-[Ru(II)Cl2(Hind)2(Me2S)2] (6) and trans,trans,trans-[Ru(II)Cl2(Hind)2(S-DMSO)2] (7) were prepared in 64 and 75% yield, respectively. Dissolution of 2 in acetonitrile or benzonitrile gave rise to mer,trans-[Ru(III)Cl3(Hind)(HNC(Me)ind)] (8a), mer,trans-[Ru(III)Cl3(Hind)(HNC(Ph)ind)] (8b), and trans,trans-[Ru(III)Cl2(HNC(Me)ind)2]Cl (9) in 67, 50, and 23% yield, respectively, upon metal-assisted iminoacylation of indazole, which is unprecedented for ruthenium(III). Furthermore, complex 2 reacts with the DNA-model bases 9-methyladenine (9-meade) and N6,N6-dimethyladenine (6-me2ade) to yield mer,trans-[Ru(III)Cl3(Hind)2(9-meade)] (10) and mer,trans-[Ru(III)Cl3(Hind)2(6-me2ade)] (11) with the purine bases bound to the Ru(III) center via N7 and N3, respectively. Complex 11 represents the first ruthenium complex in which the coordination of the purine ligand N6,N6-dimethyladenine occurs via N3. In addition, the polymer [Na(EtOAc)2Ru(III)(mu-Cl)4(Hind)2]n (12) was crystallized from ethyl acetate/diethyl ether solutions of Na[trans-Ru(III)Cl4(Hind)2] x 1.5 H2O (1a). The reported complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV-vis spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical investigations give insight into the mechanistic details of the solvolytic behavior of complex 2. The lability of the aqua ligand in 2 suggests that this complex is a potential active species responsible for the high antitumor activity of trans-[Ru(III)Cl4(Hind)2](-).