Terpyridyl oxovanadium(IV) complexes for DNA crosslinking and mito-targeted photocytotoxicity

Mitochondria targeting oxovanadium(IV) complex [VO(L2)Cl2]+ having cationic triphenylphosphonium-appended (anthracenyl)terpyridine ligand (An-tpy-TPP+ as L2 in 2) shows significant photocytotoxicity in visible light (400-700 nm), mitochondrial localization and DNA crosslinking ability. The X-ray structurally characterized [VO(L2)Br2]Br shows the presence of trans disposition of two bromo ligands and a meridional L2 ligand.409