Synthesis, characterization, and anticancer activity of some mononuclear ruthenium(II) compounds

Abstract

Mononuclear Ru-based compounds cis-RuII(dppm)2Cl2 (1) and trans-RuII(dppe)2Cl2 (4) were synthesized by treatment of RuIICl2(DMSO)4 with dppm or dppe, respectively (dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino) methane, dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino) ethane, DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide). Mononuclear Ru-based compounds trans-RuII(dppm)2Cl2 (2) and cis-RuII(dppe)2Cl2 (3) were obtained by reaction of RuIICl2(PPh3)3 with dppm or dppe, separately. These two pair of cis–trans isomers, cis/trans-RuII(dppm)2Cl2 and cis/trans-RuII(dppe)2Cl2, were characterized by electronic absorption spectra, infrared, elemental analysis, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 31P NMR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Both the crystal structure data and electronic absorption spectra indicate that the cis-isomer is a more thermodynamically stable structure and has lower energy than the trans-isomer. The luminescence spectroscopic study and relative cell viability of 1–4 on HeLa cancer cells has been investigated.