Herein, we present an unprecedented formation of a heterodinuclear
complex [{(ppy)2IrIII}(μ-phpy){RuII(tpy)}](ClO4)2 {[1](ClO4)2} using terpyridyl/phenylpyridine as ancillary
ligands and asymmetric phpy as a bridging ligand. The asymmetric binding
mode (N∧N-∩-N∧N∧C–) of the phpy ligand in {[1](ClO4)2} is confirmed by 1H, 13C, 1H–1H correlated spectroscopy (COSY),
high-resolution mass spectrum (HRMS), single-crystal X-ray crystallography
techniques, and solution conductivity measurements. Theoretical investigation
suggests that the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the
least unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of [1]2+ are located on iridium/ppy and phpy, respectively. The complex
displays a broad low energy charge transfer (CT) band within 450–575
nm. The time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) analysis
suggests this as a mixture of metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT)
and ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (LLCT), where both ruthenium,
iridium, and ligands are involved. Complex {[1](ClO4)2} exhibits RuIIIrIII/RuIIIIrIII- and RuIIIIrIII/RuIIIIrIV-based oxidative couples at 0.83 and 1.39
V, respectively. The complex shows anticancer activity and selectivity
toward human breast cancer cells (IC50; MCF-7: 9.3 ±
1.2 μM, and MDA-MB-231: 8.6 ± 1.2 μM) over normal
breast cells (MCF 10A: IC50 ≈ 21 ± 1.3 μM).
The Western blot analysis and fluorescence microscopy images suggest
that combined apoptosis and autophagy are responsible for cancer cell
death.