Anticancer and antitrypanosomal activities of trinuclear ruthenium compounds with orthometalated phenazine ligands.

Trinuclear ruthenium complexes with orthometalated phenazines of general formula [Ru3(μ3-O)(μ2-OAc)5(L)(py)2]PF6 (L = dppn, benzo[i]dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, 1; dppz, dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, 2; CH3-dppz, 7-methyldipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, 3; Cl-dppz, 7-chlorodipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, 4) were investigated for their cytotoxic activity toward the B16F10 murine melanoma and the L929 non-cancer cell lines and against Trypanosoma cruzi (2-4). This study also reports a multi-technique investigation into how complexes 1-4 interact with DNA and human serum albumin, HSA. At concentrations ranging from 2 to 50 μM, all the complexes reduced B16F10 murine melanoma cell viability by over 50%.

The role of ancillary ligand substituents in the biological activity of triruthenium-NO complexes.

Two novel triruthenium clusters, [Ru(μ-O)(μ-OOCCH)(NO)L]PF (L = 4‑acetylpyridine, 1, or 4‑tert‑butylpyridine, 2) release NO. Their spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization confirmed their structure. These complexes efficiently deliver NO in solution under irradiation at λ = 377 nm and/or through chemical reduction with ascorbic acid.