Tetranuclear Ru2Cu2 and Ru2Ni2 complexes with nanomolar anticancer activity

Abstract

Complexes [{RuCp(PPh3)2-μ-dmoPTA-1κP:2κ2-N,N′-CuCl}2-μ-Cl-μ-OCH3](CF3SO3)2·(CH3OH)4 (1) and [{RuCp(PPh3)2-μ-dmoPTA-1κP:2κ2-N,N′-NiCl}2-μ-Cl-μ-OH](CF3SO3)2 (2) have been synthesized and characterized. Their antiproliferative activities were assessed against six human solid tumours showing nanomolar GI50 values. The effects of 1 and 2 on SW1573 cells colony formation, HeLa cells action mechanism and their interaction with the pBR322 DNA plasmid were evaluated.