Homo‐ and Heteroleptic Phototoxic Dinuclear Metallo‐Intercalators Based on RuII(dppn) Intercalating Moieties: Synthesis,Optical, and Biological Studies

Using a new mononuclear “building block,” for the first time, a dinuclear Ru^II(dppn) complex and a heteroleptic system containing both Ru^II(dppz) and Ru^II(dppn) moieties are reported. The complexes, including the mixed dppz/dppn system, are ¹O₂ sensitizers. However, unlike the homoleptic dppn systems, the mixed dppz/dppn complex also displays a luminescence “switch on” DNA light‐switch effect. In both cisplatin sensitive and resistant human ovarian carcinoma lines the dinuclear complexes show enhanced uptake compared to their mononuclear analogue. Thanks to a favorable combination of singlet oxygen generation and cellular uptake properties all three of the new complexes are phototoxic and display potent activity against chemotherapeutically resistant cells.     

Tuning the Excited State of Water‐Soluble IrIII‐Based DNA Intercalators that are Isostructural with [RuII(NN)2(dppz)] Light‐Switch Complexes

The synthesis of two new Ir^III complexes which are effectively isostructural with well‐established [Ru(NN)₂(dppz)]²⁺ systems is reported (dppz=dipyridophenazine; NN=2,2′‐bipyridyl, or 1,10‐phenanthroline). One of these Ir^III complexes is tricationic and has a conventional N₆ coordination sphere. The second dicationic complex has a N₅C coordination sphere, incorporating a cyclometalated analogue of the dppz ligand. Both complexes show good water solubility. Experimental and computational studies show that the photoexcited states of the two complexes are very different from each other and also differ from their Ru^II analogues. Both of the complexes bind to duplex DNA with affinities that are two orders of magnitude higher than previously reported Ir(dppz)‐based systems and are comparable with Ru^II(dppz) analogues.     

Ruthenium Complex “Light Switches” that are Selective for Different G‐Quadruplex Structures

Recognition and regulation of G‐quadruplex nucleic acid structures is an important goal for the development of chemical tools and medicinal agents. The addition of a bromo‐substituent to the dipyridylphenazine (dppz) ligands in the photophysical “light switch”, [Ru(bpy)₂dppz]²⁺, and the photochemical “light switch”, [Ru(bpy)₂dmdppz]²⁺, creates compounds with increased selectivity for an intermolecular parallel G‐quadruplex and the mixed‐hybrid G‐quadruplex, respectively. When [Ru(bpy)₂dppz‐Br]²⁺ and [Ru(bpy)₂dmdppz‐Br]²⁺ are incubated with the G‐quadruplexes, they have a stabilizing effect on the DNA structures. Activation of [Ru(bpy)₂dmdppz‐Br]²⁺ with light results in covalent adduct formation with the DNA. These complexes demonstrate that subtle chemical modifications of Ru^II complexes can alter G‐quadruplex selectivity, and could be useful for the rational design of in vivo G‐quadruplex probes.     

Ruthenium(II/III)‐Based Compounds with Encouraging Antiproliferative Activity against Non‐small‐Cell Lung Cancer

Hereby we present the synthesis of several ruthenium(II) and ruthenium(III) dithiocarbamato complexes. Proceeding from the Na[trans‐Ru^III(dmso)₂Cl₄] ( 2 ) and cis‐[Ru^II(dmso)₄Cl₂] ( 3 ) precursors, the diamagnetic, mixed‐ligand [Ru^IIL₂(dmso)₂] complexes 4 and 5 , the paramagnetic, neutral [Ru^IIIL₃] monomers 6 and 7 , the antiferromagnetically coupled ionic α‐[Ru^III₂L₅]Cl complexes 8 and 9 as well as the β‐[Ru^III₂L₅]Cl dinuclear species 10 and 11 (L=dimethyl‐ (DMDT) and pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDT)) were obtained. All the compounds were fully characterised by elemental analysis as well as ¹H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. Moreover, for the first time the crystal structures of the dinuclear β‐[Ru^III₂(dmdt)₅]BF₄ ? CHCl₃ ? CH₃CN and of the novel [Ru^IIL₂(dmso)₂] complexes were also determined and discussed. For both the mono‐ and dinuclear Ru^II and Ru^III complexes the central metal atoms assume a distorted octahedral geometry. Furthermore, in vitro cytotoxicity of the complexes has been evaluated on non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) NCI‐H1975 cells. All the mono‐ and dinuclear Ru^III dithiocarbamato compounds (i.e., complexes 6 – 10 ) show interesting cytotoxic activity, up to one order of magnitude higher with respect to cisplatin. Otherwise, no significant antiproliferative effect for either the precursors 2 and 3 or the Ru^II complexes 4 and 5 has been observed.     

Ruthenium‐Containing Linear Helicates and Mesocates with Tuneable p53‐Selective Cytotoxicity in Colorectal Cancer Cells

The ligands L¹ and L² both form separable dinuclear double‐stranded helicate and mesocate complexes with Ru^II. In contrast to clinically approved platinates, the helicate isomer of [Ru₂( L¹ )₂]⁴⁺ was preferentially cytotoxic to isogenic cells (HCT116 p53^?/?), which lack the critical tumour suppressor gene. The mesocate isomer shows the reverse selectivity, with the achiral isomer being preferentially cytotoxic towards HCT116 p53^+/+. Other structurally similar Ru^II‐containing dinuclear complexes showed very little cytotoxic activity. This study demonstrates that alterations in ligand or isomer can have profound effects on cytotoxicity towards cancer cells of different p53 status and suggests that selectivity can be “tuned” to either genotype. In the search for compounds that can target difficult‐to‐treat tumours that lack the p53 tumour suppressor gene, [Ru₂( L¹ )₂]⁴⁺ is a promising compound for further development.     

Controlling the Direction of the Molecular Axis of Rod‐Shaped Binuclear Ruthenium Complexes on Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

We report the synthesis of a mixed‐valence ruthenium complex, bearing pyrene moieties on one side of the ligands as anchor groups. Composites consisting of mixed‐valence ruthenium complexes and SWNTs were prepared by noncovalent π–π interactions between the SWNT surface and the pyrene anchors of the Ru complex. In these composites, the long axis of the Ru complexes was aligned in parallel to the principal direction of the SWNT. The optimized conformation of these complexes on the SWNT surface was calculated by molecular mechanics. The composites were examined by UV/Vis absorption and FT‐IR spectroscopy, XPS, and SEM analysis. Furthermore, their electrochemical properties were evaluated. Cyclic voltammograms of the composites showed reversible oxidation waves at peak oxidation potentials (Ep_ox) = 0.86 and 1.08 V versus Fc⁺/Fc, which were assigned to the Ru^II‐Ru^II/Ru^II‐Ru^III and the Ru^II‐Ru^III/Ru^III‐Ru^III oxidation events of the dinuclear ruthenium complex, respectively. Based on these observations, we concluded that the electrochemical properties and mixed‐valence state of the dinuclear ruthenium complexes were preserved upon attachment to the SWNT surface.     

A New Heteroleptic Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complex with Long‐Wavelength Absorption and High Singlet‐Oxygen Quantum Yield

Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes with long‐wavelength absorption and high singlet‐oxygen quantum yield exhibit attractive potential in photodynamic therapy. A new heteroleptic Ru^II polypyridyl complex, [Ru(bpy)(dpb)(dppn)]²⁺ (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine, dpb=2,3‐bis(2‐pyridyl)benzoquinoxaline, dppn=4,5,9,16‐tetraaza‐dibenzo[a,c]naphthacene), is reported, which exhibits a ¹MLCT (MLCT: metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer) maximum as long as 548 nm and a singlet‐oxygen quantum yield as high as 0.43. Steady/transient absorption/emission spectra indicate that the lowest‐energy MLCT state localizes on the dpb ligand, whereas the high singlet‐oxygen quantum yield results from the relatively long ³MLCT(Ru→dpb) lifetime, which in turn is the result of the equilibrium between nearly isoenergetic excited states of ³MLCT(Ru→dpb) and ³ππ*(dppn). The dppn ligand also ensures a high binding affinity of the complex towards DNA. Thus, the combination of dpb and dppn gives the complex promising photodynamic activity, fully demonstrating the modularity and versatility of heteroleptic Ru^II complexes. In contrast, [Ru(bpy)₂(dpb)]²⁺ shows a long‐wavelength ¹MLCT maximum (551 nm) but a very low singlet‐oxygen quantum yield (0.22), and [Ru(bpy)₂(dppn)]²⁺ shows a high singlet‐oxygen quantum yield (0.79) but a very short wavelength ¹MLCT maximum (442 nm).     

DNA-Targeting RuII-Polypyridyl Complex with a Long-Lived Intraligand Excited State as a Potential Photodynamic Therapy Agent

Subtle ligand modifications on Ru^II-polypyridyl complexes may result in different excited-state characteristics, which provides the opportunity to tune their photo-physicochemical properties and subsequently change their biological functions. Here, a DNA-targeting Ru^II-polypyridyl complex (named Ru1 ) with highly photosensitizing ³IL (intraligand) excited state was designed based on a classical DNA-intercalator [Ru(bpy)₂(dppz)] ⋅ 2 PF₆ by incorporation of the dppz (dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine) ligand tethered with a pyrenyl group, which has four orders of magnitude higher potency than the model complex [Ru(bpy)₂(dppz)] ⋅ 2 PF₆ upon light irradiation. This study provides a facile strategy for the design of organelle-targeting Ru^II-polypyridyl complexes with dramatically improved photobiological activity.     

Coordination Booster‐Catalyst Assembly: Remote Osmium Outperforming Ruthenium in Boosting Catalytic Activity

Presented herein is a set of bimetallic and trimetallic “coordination booster‐catalyst” assemblies in which the coordination complexes [Ru^II(terpy)₂] and [Os^II(terpy)₂] acted as boosters for enhancement of the catalytic activity of [Ru^II(NHC)(para‐cymene)]‐based catalytic site. The boosters accelerated the oxidative loss of para‐cymene from the catalytic site to generate the active catalyst during the oxidation of alkenes and alkynes into corresponding aldehydes, ketones and diketones. It was found that the boosting efficiency of the [Os^II(terpy)₂] units was considerably higher than its congener [Ru^II(terpy)₂] unit in these assemblies. Mechanistic studies were conducted to understand this unique improvement.     

Synthesis and studies of spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of dinuclear ruthenium(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">II</Emphasis>) and manganese(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">II</Emphasis>) complexes

New dinuclear ruthenium manganese complexes of general composition (bpy)₂Ru(L)MnCl_x(H₂O)₂ (L is 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione, 3,3′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridyl, or bis(pyrazolyl); x = 2 or 4) were synthesized by the reaction of (bpy)₂Ru(L) with MnCl₂ · 4H₂O. These compounds and the starting mononuclear ruthenium complexes were studied by spectrophotometric and electrochemical methods in MeCN. The position of the charge-transfer band Ru^II → L in the spectra depends on the donor-acceptor characteristics of the ligand L. For the dinuclear complex under study, the formal potentials of reversible one-electron oxidation of Ru^II are in the range of 0.9–1.2 V (vs. the standard hydrogen electrode), whereas oxidation of Mn^II occurs at more positive (by 0.1–0.2 V) potentials. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2281–2285, October, 2005.     

Thread Insertion of a Bis(dipyridophenazine) Diruthenium Complex into the DNA Double Helix by the Extrusion of AT Base Pairs and Cross‐Linking of DNA Duplexes

The crystal structure of the Δ,Δ enantiomer of the binuclear “light‐switch” ruthenium complex [μ‐(11,11′‐bidppz)(1,10‐phenanthroline)₄ Ru₂]⁴⁺ bound to the oligonucleotide d(CGTACG) shows that one dppz moiety of the dumbbell‐like compound inserts into the DNA stack through the extrusion of an AT base pair. The second dppz moiety recruits a neighboring DNA molecule, and the complex thus cross‐links two adjacent duplexes by bridging their major grooves.     

A liquid crystal derived from ­ruthenium(II,III) and a long‐chain carboxylate

The title compound, catena‐poly[[tetrakis(μ‐decanoato‐κ²O:O′)diruthenium(II,III)(Ru—Ru)]‐μ‐octanesulfonato‐κ²O:O′], [Ru₂(C₁₀H₁₉O₂)₄(C₈H₁₇O₃S)], is an octane­sulfonate derivative of the mixed‐valence complex diruthenium tetradecanoate. The equatorial carboxyl­ate ligands are bidentate, bridging two Ru atoms to form a dinuclear structure. Each of the two independent dinuclear metal complexes in the asymmetric unit is located at an inversion centre. The octane­sulfonate anion bridges the two dinuclear units through axial coordination. The alkyl chains of the carboxyl­ate and sulfonate ligands are arranged in a parallel manner. The global structure can be seen as infinite chains of polar moieties separated by a double layer of non‐polar alkyl groups, without interdigitation of the alkyl chains.     

Ketimido Metallophthalocyanines: An Approach to Phthalocyanine‐Supported Mononuclear High‐Valent Ruthenium Complexes

A “metal–ketimine+ArI(OR)₂” approach has been developed for preparing metal–ketimido complexes, and ketimido ligands are found to stabilize high‐valent metallophthalocyanine (M? Pc) complexes such as ruthenium(IV) phthalocyanines. Treatment of bis(ketimine) ruthenium(II) phthalocyanines [Ru^II(Pc)(HN?CPh₂)₂] ( 1a ) and [Ru^II(Pc)(HNQu)₂] ( 1b ; HNQu=N‐phenyl‐1,4‐benzoquinonediimine) with PhI(OAc)₂ affords bis(ketimido) ruthenium(IV) phthalocyanines [Ru^IV(Pc)(N?CPh₂)₂] ( 2a ) and [Ru^IV(Pc)(NQu)₂] ( 2b ), respectively. X‐ray crystal structures of 1b and [Ru^II(Pc)(PhN?CHPh)₂] ( 1c ) show Ru? N(ketimine) distances of 2.075(4) and 2.115(3) Å, respectively. Complexes 2a , 2b readily revert to 1a , 1b upon treatment with phenols. ¹H NMR spectroscopy reveals that 2a , 2b are diamagnetic and 2b exists as two isomers, consistent with a proposed eclipsed orientation of the ketimido ligands in these ruthenium(IV) complexes. The reaction of 1a , 1b with PhI(OAc)₂ to afford 2a , 2b suggests the utility of ArI(OR)₂ as an oxidative deprotonation agent for the generation of high‐valent metal complexes featuring M? N bonds with multiple bonding characters. DFT and time‐dependent (TD)‐DFT calculations have been performed on the electronic structures and the UV/Vis absorption spectra of 1b and 2b , which provide support for the diamagnetic nature of 2b and reveal a significant barrier for rotation of the ketimido group about the Ru? N(ketimido) bond.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New Water‐Soluble Hydrides of RuII: A Step towards Dinitrogen Activation?

The basic aqueous coordination chemistry of Ru^II has been studied using the catalytically important TPPTS phosphine (TPPTS=trisodium salt of 3,3′,3″‐phosphinetriylbenzenesulfonic acid) and small gas molecules (H₂, CO, N₂) as ligands. As a result, new water‐soluble ruthenium mixed hydride complexes, presumably key species in many industrial catalytic processes, have been formed and identified. The Ru^II mixed hydrides were synthesized, and their formation was followed in situ by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, pressurizing aqueous Ru^II? TPPTS systems with H₂ and CO gas in sapphire NMR tubes. The formation equilibrium of these complexes is highly dependant on the temperature and the gas pressures. Under 50 atm of N₂, the unique [RuH(CO)(N₂)(TPPTS)₂(H₂O)]⁺ complex has been identified, which could be the first step toward dinitrogen activation.     

Tuning the Excited State of Photoactive Building Blocks for Metal‐Templated Self‐Assembly

The reaction of 2,2′:4,4′′:4′,4′′′‐quaterpyridyl (qtpy), with d⁶ ruthenium(II) (Ru^II), and rhenium(I) (Re^I) metal centers has been investigated. The pendant pyridyl groups on the products have also been methylated to produce a second series of complexes containing coordinated Meqtpy²⁺. The absorption spectra of the complexes are dominated by intraligand and charge‐transfer bands. The ruthenium(II) complexes display broad unstructured luminescence consistent with emission from a Ru(d)→diimine(π*) manifold in acetonitrile solutions. In aqueous solutions, their emissions are weaker and the lifetimes are shorter. This effect is particularly acute for complexes incorporating coordinated dipyridylpyrazine, dppz, ligands. Although the emission of the ruthenium(II) complexes containing Meqtpy²⁺ is generally shorter than their qtpy analogs, it is notable that solvent‐dependent effects are much less intense. The rhenium(I) complexes also display broad unstructured luminescence but, compared with the ruthenium(II) systems, they have a relatively short lifetime in acetonitrile. Electrochemical studies reveal that all of the Ru^II complexes display chemically reversible metal‐based oxidations. Re^I complexes only display irreversible metal‐based oxidations. In most cases, the reduction processes were not fully chemically reversible. The electrochemical and optical studies reveal that the nature of the lowest excited state of these complexes—particularly, the systems incorporating dppz—is highly dependent on the nature of the coordinated ligands. Calculations indicate that, although the excited state of most of the complexes is centered on the qtpy or Meqtpy²⁺ ligands, the excited state of the complexes containing dppz ligands is switched away from the dppz by qtpy methylation. A crystallographic study on one of the dicationic ruthenium(II) structures reveals that it forms an inclusion complex with benzene.     

Comparative Study of Ruthenium(II) and Ruthenium(III) Complexes with the Ligand dmbpy (dmbpy = 4, 4′‐Dimethyl‐2, 2′‐bipyridine)

The complex cis‐[Ru^III(dmbpy)₂Cl₂](PF₆) ( 2 ) (dmbpy = 4, 4′‐dimethyl‐2, 2′‐bipyridine) was obtained from the reaction of cis‐[Ru^II(dmbpy)₂Cl₂] ( 1 ) with ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate followed by precipitation with saturated ammonium hexafluoridophosphate. The ¹H NMR spectrum of the Ru^III complex confirms the presence of paramagnetic metal atoms, whereas that of the Ru^II complex displays diamagnetism. The ³¹P NMR spectrum of the Ru^III complex shows one signal for the phosphorus atom of the PF₆^– ion. The perspective view of each [Ru^II/III(dmbpy)₂Cl₂]^0/+ unit manifests that the ruthenium atom is in hexacoordinate arrangement with two dmbpy ligands and two chlorido ligands in cis position. As the oxidation state of the central ruthenium metal atom becomes higher, the average Ru–Cl bond length decreases whereas the Ru–N (dmbpy) bond length increases. The cis‐positioned dichloro angle in Ru^III is 1.3° wider than that in the Ru^II. The dihedral angles between pair of planar six‐membered pyridyl ring in the dmbpy ligand for the Ru^II are 4.7(5)° and 5.7(4)°. The observed inter‐planar angle between two dmbpy ligands in the Ru^II is 89.08(15)°, whereas the value for the Ru^III is 85.46(20)°.     

Hydrogenolysis of Dinuclear PCNR Ligated PdII μ-Hydroxides and Their Mononuclear PdII Hydroxide Analogues

The hydrogenolysis of mono- and dinuclear Pd^II hydroxides was investigated both experimentally and computationally. It was found that the dinuclear μ-hydroxide complexes {[(PCN^R)Pd]₂(μ-OH)}(OTf) (PCN^H=1-[3-[(di-tert-butylphosphino)methyl]phenyl]-1H-pyrazole; PCN^Me=1-[3-[(di-tert-butylphosphino)methyl]phenyl]-5-methyl-1H-pyrazole) react with H₂ to form the analogous dinuclear hydride species {[(PCN^R)Pd]₂(μ-H)}(OTf). The dinuclear μ-hydride complexes were fully characterized, and are rare examples of structurally characterized unsupported singly bridged μ-H Pd^II dimers. The {[(PCN^Me)Pd]₂(μ-OH)}(OTf) hydrogenolysis mechanism was investigated through experiments and computations. The hydrogenolysis of the mononuclear complex (PCN^H)Pd-OH resulted in a mixed ligand dinuclear species [(PCN^H)Pd](μ-H)[(PCC)Pd] (PCC=a dianionic version of PCN^H bound through phosphorus P, aryl C, and pyrazole C atoms) generated from initial ligand “rollover” C−H activation. Further exposure to H₂ yields the bisphosphine Pd⁰ complex Pd[(H)PCN^H]₂. When the ligand was protected at the pyrazole 5-position in the (PCN^Me)Pd−OH complex, no hydride formed under the same conditions; the reaction proceeded directly to the bisphosphine Pd⁰ complex Pd[(H)PCN^Me]₂. Reaction mechanisms for the hydrogenolysis of the monomeric and dimeric hydroxides are proposed.     

Long‐Lived,Directional Photoinduced Charge Separation in RuII Complexes Bearing Laminate Polypyridyl Ligands

Ru^II complexes incorporating both amide‐linked bithiophene donor ancillary ligands and laminate acceptor ligands; dipyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c]phenazine (dppz), tetrapyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c:3′′,2′′‐h:2′′′,3′′′‐j]phenazine (tpphz), and 9,11,20,22‐tetraazatetrapyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c:3′′,2′′‐l:2′′′,3′′′]‐pentacene (tatpp) exhibit long‐lived charge separated (CS) states, which have been analyzed using time‐resolved transient absorption (TA), fluorescence, and electronic absorption spectroscopy in addition to ground state electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical measurements. These complexes possess two electronically relevant ³MLCT states related to electron occupation of MOs localized predominantly on the proximal “bpy‐like” portion and central (or distal) “phenazine‐like” portion of the acceptor ligand as well as energetically similar ³LC and ³ILCT states. The unusually long excited state lifetimes (τ up to 7 μs) observed in these complexes reflect an equilibration of the ³MLCT_prox or ³MLCT_dist states with additional triplet states, including a ³LC state and a ³ILCT state that formally localizes a hole on the bithiophene moiety and an electron on the laminate acceptor ligand. Coordination of a Zn^II ion to the open coordination site of the laminate acceptor ligand is observed to significantly lower the energy of the ³MLCT_dist state by decreasing the magnitude of the excited state dipole and resulting in much shorter excited state lifetimes. The presence of the bithiophene donor group is reported to substantially extend the lifetime of these Zn adducts via formation of a ³ILCT state that can equilibrate with the ³MLCT_dist state. In tpphz complexes, Zn^II coordination can reorder the energy of the ³MLCT_prox and ³MLCT_dist states such that there is a distinct switch from one state to the other. The net result is a series of complexes that are capable of forming CS states with electron–hole spatial separation of up to 14 Å and possess exceptionally long lifetimes by equilibration with other triplet states.     

Homo- and Hetero-dinuclear Arene-Linked Osmium(II) and Ruthenium(II) Organometallics: Probing the Impact of Metal Variation on Reactivity and Biological Activity

Dinuclear metallodrugs offer much potential in the development of novel anticancer chemotherapeutics as a result of the distinct interactions possible with bio-macromolecular targets and the unique biological activity that can result. Herein, we describe the development of isostructural homo-dinuclear Os^II–Os^II and hetero-dinuclear Os^II–Ru^II organometallic complexes formed from linking the arene ligands of [M(η⁶-arene)(C₂O₄)(PTA)] units (M=Os/Ru; PTA=1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane). Using these complexes together with the known Ru^II–Ru^II analogue, a chromatin-modifying agent, we probed the impact of varying the metal ions on the structure, reactivity and biological activity of these complexes. The complexes were structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction experiments, their stability and reactivity were examined by using ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, and their biological activity was assessed, alongside that of mononuclear analogues, through MTT assays and cell-cycle analysis (HT-29 cell line). The results revealed high antiproliferative activity in each case, with cell-cycle profiles of the dinuclear complexes found to be similar to that for untreated cells, and similar but distinct profiles for the mononuclear complexes. These results indicate these complexes impact on cell viability predominantly through a non-DNA-damaging mechanism of action. The new Os^II–Os^II and Os^II–Ru^II complexes reported here are further examples of a family of compounds operating via mechanisms of action atypical of the majority of metallodrugs, and which have potential as tools in chromatin research.     

N,N′-Bis(aryl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide complexes of ruthenium: Synthesis,structure and redox properties

Reaction of five N,N′-bis(aryl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamides (H₂L-R, where H₂ denotes the two acidic protons and R (R = OCH₃, CH₃, H, Cl and NO₂) the para substituent in the aryl fragment) with [Ru(trpy)Cl₃](trpy = 2,2′,2″-terpyridine) in refluxing ethanol in the presence of a base (NEt₃) affords a group of complexes of the type [Ru^II(trpy)(L-R)], each of which contains an amide ligand coordinated to the metal center as a dianionic tridentate N,N,N-donor along with a terpyridine ligand. Structure of the [Ru^II(trpy)(L-Cl)] complex has been determined by X-ray crystallography. All the Ru(II) complexes are diamagnetic, and show characteristic ¹H NMR signals and intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. Cyclic voltammetry on the [Ru^II(trpy)(L-R)] complexes shows a Ru(II)–Ru(III) oxidation within 0.16–0.33 V versus SCE. An oxidation of the coordinated amide ligand is also observed within 0.94–1.33 V versus SCE and a reduction of coordinated terpyridine ligand within −1.10 to −1.15 V versus SCE. Constant potential coulometric oxidation of the [Ru^II(trpy)(L-R)] complexes produces the corresponding [Ru^III(trpy)(L-R)]⁺ complexes, which have been isolated as the perchlorate salts. Structure of the [Ru^III(trpy)(L-CH₃)]ClO₄ complex has been determined by X-ray crystallography. All the Ru(III) complexes are one-electron paramagnetic, and show anisotropic ESR spectra at 77 K and intense LMCT transitions in the visible region. A weak ligand-field band has also been shown by all the [Ru^III(trpy)(L-R)]ClO₄ complexes near 1600 nm.