Ru(II)/diphenylphosphine/pyridine-6-thiolate complexes induce S-180 cell apoptosis through intrinsic mitochondrial pathway involving inhibition of Bcl-2 and p53/Bax activation.

The aim of this work was the synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxicity evaluation of three new Ru(II) complexes with a general formula [Ru(Spy)(bipy)(P-P)]PF [Spy = pyridine-6-thiolate; bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine; P-P = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphine)ethane (1); 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphine) propane (2); and 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene] (4). Complex (3) with the 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphine)butane ligand, already known from the literature, was also synthesized, to be better studied here. The cytotoxicities of the complexes toward two kinds of cancerous cells (K562 and S-180 cells) were evaluated and compared to normal cells (L-929 and PBMC) by MTT assay.