Synthesis, characterization, X-ray structure and preliminary in vitro antitumor activity of the nitrosyl complex fac-[RuCl3(NO)(dppf)], dppf = 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphine)ferrocene

The reaction of RuCl3NO · 2H2O with stoichiometric amount of dppf, 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene, afforded the new neutral nitrosyl complex fac-[RuCl3(NO)(dppf)] which was characterized by spectroscopical, electrochemical and X-ray crystallography techniques as well as elemental analysis. The νNO band in the IR spectrum is at 1860 cm−1 (CH2Cl2 solution) and in the cyclic voltammogram an irreversible wave was observed at −1.35 V, both are characteristics of a nitrosonium (NO+) character for the coordinated NO. Additionally, preliminary in vitro antitumor activity against the MDA-MB-231 breast tumor cell line was carried out for the new complex. The initial results indicated an important activity for fac-[RuCl3(NO)(dppf)] (IC50 = 10 ± 3 μM ). The complex has a higher cytotoxicity than the precursor complex RuCl3NO · 2H2O, the free dppf ligand as well as the reference metallodrug cisplatin.

Graphical abstractThe reaction of RuCl3NO · 2H2O with stoichiometric amount of dppf, 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene, afforded the new neutral nitrosyl complex fac-[RuCl3(NO)(dppf)] which was characterized by spectroscopical, electrochemical and X-ray crystallography techniques. Preliminary in vitro antitumor activity against the MDA-MB-231 tumor cell line was carried with the results indicating a moderate to good cytotoxicity activity (IC50 = 10 ± 3 μM).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide