Cytotoxicity of ruthenium(II) piano-stool complexes with imidazole-based PN ligands

Abstract

A series of p-cymene ruthenium(II) complexes with imidazol-2-yl phosphines as PN ligands was prepared. Depending on the number of imidazolyl substituents in the ligands Ph3-nP(im)(n) 1-3: n = 1-3, im imidazol-2-yl (a), 1-methylimidazol-2-yl (b) different coordination modes were observed: kappa P, kappa N-2,N or kappa N-3,N,N. The complexes were tested for their cytotoxicity in different cancer cell lines. Most of the compounds were found to be non-toxic; The compounds (p-cymene)Ru(1a)Cl-2] (4a) shows cytotoxicity towards A2780sens and Hct116 cells in the mM range but not in H4IIE cells.

Comprehensive Insights into Medicinal Research on Imidazole-Based Supramolecular Complexes

“…Biphenyl and imidazole phosphorus Ru (II) complex II41 exerted distinct cytotoxicity toward ovary cancer and rectal cancer, in cooperation with the NH structure on the imidazole ring to facilitate its interaction with DNA. As was revealed in the structure-activity relationship, the introduction of a methyl group in the imidazole ring reduced the antitumor activity of the supramolecular complex, probably for its deformation of the originally planar structure of imidazole [ 138 ].…”