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Discovery Of A Strongly Apoptotic Ruthenium Complex Through Combinatorial Coordination Chemistry, Seann P. Mulcahy

Seann P. Mulcahy

A strategy for combinatorial parallel coordination chemistry is introduced that provides access to libraries of tris-heteroleptic ruthenium complexes in an economical fashion. Using this method, a library of 560 constitutionally unique, monocationic ruthenium complexes was synthesized, followed by a screening for anticancer activity and resulting in the identification of three hits with promising cytotoxic properties in HeLa cancer cells. A subsequent structure–activity relationship led to the discovery of the surprisingly simple anticancer complex [Ru(tBu2bpy)2(phox)]PF6 (complex 1), with tBu2bpy = 4,4′-di-tert-buty-2,2′-bipyridine and Hphox = 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)oxazoline, displaying an LC50 value in HeLa cells of 1.3 μM and 0.3 μM after incubation for …