Functionalized cationic (η6-arene)ruthenium(II) complexes for site-specific and covalent anchoring to papain from papaya latex. Synthesis, X-ray structures and reactivity studies

The cationic (η6-arene)ruthenium complexes 6–9 containing a chloroacetamide or a maleimide functional group on the arene ligand were synthesized and successfully used to introduce ruthenium(II) species to the active site of the cysteine endoproteinase papain in a site-directed and covalent fashion as shown by enzymatic and ESI-MS studies.

Graphical abstractChloroacetamide and maleimide derivatives of cationic (η6-arene)ruthenium complexes were synthesized and anchored to the active site of the cysteine endoproteinase papain in a site-directed and covalent fashion.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide