Syntheses of ruthenium(II) quinonediimine complexes of cyclam and characterization of their DNA-binding activities and cytotoxicity.

The synthesis and characterization of ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(cyclam)(bqdi)] x ZnCl(4) (1 x ZnCl(4); cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, bqdi = o-benzoquinonediimine), [Ru(cyclam)(nqdi)] x (ClO(4))(2) (2 x (ClO(4))(2); nqdi = 2,3-naphthoquinonediimine), and [Ru(cyclam)(phi)] x (ClO(4))(2) (3 x (ClO(4))(2); phi = 9,10-phenanthroquinonediimine), are described. The DNA binding properties and biological activity of the Ru(II) complexes were studied by various biophysical and cytological techniques. As expected, only 3 showed significant binding with DNA.