Synthesis,spectroscopic characterization,in vitro cytotoxic and structure activity relationships of some mononuclear Ru(II) complexes

New mononuclear Ru(II) complexes Ru(A)₂(B)]²⁺, where A?=?2,2′-bipyridine/1,10-phenanthroline and B?=?3,4,5-tri-OCH₃-DPC, 4-CH₃-DPC, 4-N(CH₃)₂-DPC, 4-NO₂-DPC, N-BITSZ, PTSZ and PINH, were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of the complexes and their corresponding ligands were investigated against the human cancer T-lymphocyte cell lines molt 4/c8 and CEM and the murine tumor leukemia cell line L1210, human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) and Bel-7402 liver cancer cells by MTT assay. The complexes Ru(A)₂(B)]²⁺ (A?=?1,10-phenanthroline, B?=?3,4,5-tri-OCH₃-DPC) exerts rather more potent activities against all of these cell lines, especially for CEM and L1210. Ru complexes and structure–activity relationships and anticancer mechanisms are also discussed.