Ruthenium(II)/4,6-dimethyl-2-mercaptopyrimidine complexes: Synthesis, characterization, X-ray structures and in vitro cytotoxicity activities on cancer cell lines

The complexes [RuCl(SpymMe2-N,S)2(NO)] (1) and [Ru(dppb)(SpymMe2-N,S)2] (2) (dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane, SpymMe2 = deprotonated 4,6-dimethyl-2-mercaptopyrimidine) were obtained and characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic techniques including X-ray crystallography, conductimetry and cyclic voltammetry. Energy Decomposition Analysis (EDA) calculation indicated strong intermolecular interaction between monomers of complex 1, as suggested by the 1H NMR spectrum of this complex, in chloroform solution. Additionally, preliminary tests were carried out, in order to evaluate the cytotoxicity activity on cancer cell lines of the new complexes, and the free ligands, against MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer), Hela (cervical cancer), U251 (glioma cancer) tumor cell lines and the V79 (Chinese lung fibroblast hamster) cell line. The best result was obtained for the complex 1 with IC50 value of 0.11 ± 0.02, against MDA-MB-231 tumor cells.

Energy decomposition analysis (EDA) calculation indicated strong intermolecular interaction between monomers of complex 1, resulting in two singlet signals instead one in the pyrimidinic ring region of the 1H NMR spectrum.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide