Design of photoactivatable metallodrugs: Selective and rapid light-induced ligand dissociation from half-sandwich [Ru([9]aneS3)(N-N′)(py)]2+ complexes

► Synthesis of new photoactive Ru(II) complexes with a face-capping tridentate macrocycle ligand. ► Light irradiation of complexes in aqueous solution and in the presence of model biomolecules. ► Oligonucleotide binding to [Ru([9]aneS3)(bpy)(py)][PF6]2 upon light irradiation. ► DFT excited-state calculations.