Hypoxia-Sensitive Metal β-Ketoiminato Complexes Showing Induced Single-Strand DNA Breaks and Cancer Cell Death by Apoptosis

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00455

A series of ruthenium and iridium complexes have been synthesized and characterized with 20 novel crystal structures discussed. The library of β-ketoiminato complexes has been shown to be active against MCF-7 (human breast carcinoma), HT-29 (human colon carcinoma), A2780 (human ovarian carcinoma), and A2780cis (cisplatin-resistant human ovarian carcinoma) cell lines, with selected complexes' being more than three times as active as cisplatin against the A2780cis cell line. Selected complexes were also tested against the noncancerous ARPE-19 (retinal pigment epithelial cells) cell line, in order to evaluate the complexes selectivity for cancer cells. Complexes have also been shown to be highly active under hypoxic conditions, with the activities of some complexes increasing with a decrease in O₂ concentration. The enzyme thioredoxin reductase is overexpressed in cancer cells, and complexes reported herein have the advantage of inhibiting this enzyme, with IC₅₀ values measured in the nanomolar range. The anticancer activity of these complexes was further investigated to determine whether activity is due to effects on cellular growth or cell survival. The complexes were found to induce significant levels of cancer cell death by apoptosis with levels induced correlating closely with activity in chemosensitivity studies. As a possible cause of cell death, the ability of the complexes to induce damage to cellular DNA was also assessed. The complexes failed to induce double-strand DNA breaks or DNA cross-linking but induced significant levels of single-strand DNA breaks, indicating a mechanism of action different from that of cisplatin.

Full text of DOI:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00455

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Article
Hypoxia Sensitive Metal #-Ketoiminate Complexes Showing Induced
Single Strand DNA Breaks and Cancer Cell Death by Apoptosis
Rianne M. Lord, Andrew J. Hebden, Christopher M. Pask, Imogen R. Henderson,
Simon Allison, Samantha L. Shepherd, Roger M. Phillips, and Patrick C. McGowan
J. Med. Chem., Just Accepted Manuscript • DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00455 • Publication Date (Web): 23 Apr 2015
Downloaded from http://pubs.acs.org on June 3, 2015
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Hypoxia Sensitive Metal -Ketoiminato Complexes Showing Induced
Single Strand DNA Breaks and Cancer Cell Death by Apoptosis
Rianne M. Lord,a Andrew J. Hebden,a Christopher M. Pask,a Imogen R. Henderson,a Simon J. Al-
lison,b Samantha L. Shepherd,c Roger M. Phillips,c and Patrick C. McGowan.a*
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a School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK, LS2 9JT. Email: p.c.mcgowan@leeds.ac.uk, Tel: +44(0)113
3436404
b Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK, BD7 1DP
c Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH
ABSTRACT: A series of ruthenium and iridium complexes have been synthesised and characterised with 20 novel crystal
structures discussed. The library of -ketoiminato complexes has been shown to be active against MCF-7 (human breast
carcinoma), HT-29 (human colon carcinoma), A2780 (human ovarian carcinoma) and A2780cis (cisplatin resistant human
ovarian carcinoma) cell lines, with selected complexes being more than three times as active as cisplatin against the
A2780cis cell line. Complexes have also been shown to be highly active under hypoxic conditions, with the activities of
some complexes increasing with a decrease in O2 concentration. The enzyme thioredoxin reductase is over-expressed in
cancer cells and complexes reported herein have the advantage of inhibiting this enzyme, with IC50 values measured in
the nanomolar range. The anti-cancer activity of these complexes was further investigated to determine whether activity
is due to effects on cellular growth or cell survival. The complexes were found to induce significant cancer cell death by
apoptosis with levels induced correlating closely with activity in chemosensitivity studies. As a possible cause of cell
death, the ability of the complexes to induce damage to cellular DNA was also assessed. The complexes failed to induce
double strand DNA break or DNA crosslinking but induced significant levels of single DNA strand breaks indicating a
different mechanism of action to cisplatin.
Introduction
Ruthenium has become one of the most popular metals used in drug development due to the metal’s easily accessible
oxidation states, stability in air and the relative ease of synthesis of organometallic and coordination complexes. Most
importantly ruthenium is thought to have slow in vivo ligand exchange and higher selectively towards cancer cells leading
to lower toxicity.1-4 The discovery of organometallic ruthenium complexes first began with the library of [(6-
arene)Ru(II)(en)X]+ (X = halide, en = ethylenediamine) complexes synthesised by Sheldrick et al.5-7 The effect of the
ligand was later explored by Sadler et al. substituting the neutral (N,N) ethylenediamine ligand for an anionic (O,O) -
diketonato ligand, showing a significant increase in cytoxicity of the complexes.8 In collaboration with Sadler, McGowan
et al. first synthesised picolinamide Ru(II) and Os(II) arene complexes due to their relevence to previously reported metal
ion-peptide chemistry9-11 and the possibility of different binding modes, through either a monoanionic (N,N) or a neutral
(N,O) form. Studies showed that the more cytotoxic (N,N) complexes undergo rapid hydrolysis and bind preferentially to
guanine, whereas switching the binding mode to (N,O) slows the rate of hydrolysis and switches off the activity.12,13
McGowan et al. also synthesised ruthenium and iridium complexes incorporating either a picolinamide (N,N), -
ketoiminato (N,O) or a naphthoquinone (O,O) ligand and compared the effects of these substitutions upon cytotoxicity.
The IC50 values obtained for both HT-29 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines suggest that the binding mode is a critical
determinant of complex activity. The lowest IC50 values were observed for the -ketoiminato (N,O) complexes for both
ruthenium and iridium and anti-cancer activity followed the general trend (N,O) > (O,O) > (N,N).14
Herein we report the synthesis and characterisation of a new series of (N,O) and (O,O) complexes and analysis of their
biological effects, gaining an understanding of their biological mechanisms. We report on the cytotoxic potential of our
library of novel complexes, with potent cancer cell cytotoxicity observed, particular against the cisplatin resistant ovarian
cell line (A2780cis). As many tumours have a significant hypoxic fraction and hypoxic tumour cells are typically resistant
to standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy,15-17 IC50 values were also obtained for cells grown under low oxygen
conditions. This enabled us to evaluate the potential of these complexes for targeting tumour cells that reside in a hypoxic
microenvironment and which are a common cause of chemoresistance and tumour recurrence. Further mechanistic
studies have been undertaken to assess whether the anti-cancer activity of the novel complexes is due to effects upon
cellular growth and proliferation or due to effects upon cell survival. The complexes were tested against HT-29 and A2780
cells at varying concentrations and effects on cell phenotype determined. Cell images were recorded under phase contrast
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microscopy at various time-points and levels of cell death by apoptosis and necrosis were quantified. Studies have also
been carried out to assess the possibility of thioredoxin reductase (Trx-R) inhibition, using UVvis spectroscopy to monitor
Trx-R activity following incubation of Trx-R enzyme with varying concentrations of our complexes. Finally, more detailed
mechanistic studies have been carried out for possible damage to cellular DNA, given the ability of previous (N,N)
complexes to bind guanine.12,13 The complexes have been assessed for double strand DNA breaks (DSB), DNA cross-linking
and single strand DNA breaks (SSB) using the Comet assay to quantify levels of different types of DNA damage in single
cells, in order to gain structure activity relationships.
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Selective modifications were made within the library of complexes to gain an understanding of the characteristics
needed for high in vitro cytotoxicity (Figure 1) with the following variables being assessed:
removal of steric bulk, reducing the size of the ligand
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changing the binding mode of the ligand – (N,O) versus (O,O)
changing the arene substituent - p-cymene or Cp*
altering the metal centre - ruthenium versus iridium
Figure 1 Modifications of the ‘piano stool’ complexes
Results and discussion
Synthesis and Characterisation
The -ketoenamine ligands L2-L13 were synthesised according to Scheme 1. Ligand L14 has previously been reported by
Roshchupkina et al.18 The corresponding -diketonate ligands were prepared19 and dissolved with stirring in toluene,
followed by addition of excess aniline and hydrochloric acid.20,21 Ligands were obtained as analytically pure compounds
from solutions of hot ethanol in yields of 38-88% and characterised by H NMR spectroscopy, C{1H} NMR spectroscopy,
mass spectrometry and microanalysis. Ligands L3-6, 8 and 11 were also characterised by single crystal X-ray
crystallography.
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The half-sandwich -ketoiminato and -diketonato complexes were synthesised according to Scheme 2. One
equivalent of either [p-cymRuCl2]2 (Scheme 2a) or [Cp*IrCl2]2 (Scheme 2b) was stirred with two equivalents of the
functionalised ligand and two equivalents of triethylamine in dichloromethane. Complexes 1-18 were isolated as
1
analytically pure complexes from methanolic solutions in yields 46-71% and have been characterised by H NMR
13
spectroscopy, C{1H} NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and microanalysis.14 Complexes 2, 4-14 and 17-18 were also
characterised by single crystal X-ray crystallography.
Scheme 1 General synthetic route for the -ketoenamine ligands
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Scheme 2 General synthetic pathway for: a) Ru(II) complexes and b) Ir(III) complexes
X-ray crystallographic data has been analysed for the novel -ketominate ligands L3-6, 8 and 11, and single crystals were
obtained by slow evaporation from hot ethanol. All angles around the central atoms are between 118-125° (see Tables S1-2,
SI), showing this section of the ligand is planar, with the atoms held together by an intramolecular hydrogen bonding
interaction between N-H…O (Figure 2) which is a feature in all crystal structures.
L3
L4
L5
L6
L8
L11
Figure 2 Molecular structures for ligands L3-6, 8 and 11. Hydrogen atoms omitted for clarity. Displacement ellipsoids
are at the 50% probability level
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Figure 3a Molecular structures for complexes 2 and 4-14. Hydrogen atoms omitted for clarity. Displacement ellipsoids
are at the 50% probability level
X-ray crystallographic data has been analysed for complexes 2, 4-14, 17 and 18, and all single crystals were obtained
using slow evaporation from a methanolic solution, appearing as orange/ red (ruthenium) or yellow (iridium) single
crystals. Solutions were performed in a monoclinic Cc (4 and 7) or P21/c (14), triclinic P1 (2, 5, 6, 8-13 and 17), or
orthorhombic P212121 (18) space groups. All of the angles around the metal centre show the geometry expected for pseudo
octahedral compounds which is common for half-sandwich “piano-stool” structures (see Tables S3-4, SI). The angles
between the metal and bidentate ligands are in the range 83-90°, with the remaining three coordination sites occupied by
the p-cymene or Cp* ligand and the angles observed for their centroids to the chloride or bidentate ligand ranges between
124-133°. Molecular structures for complexes 2, 4-14, 17 and 18 are shown in Figure 3a and 3b, with displacement ellipsoids
placed at the 50% probability level and hydrogen atoms omitted for clarity.
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Figure 3b Molecular structures for iridum(III) complexes 17 and 18. Hydrogen atoms omitted for clarity. Displacement
ellipsoids are at the 50% probability level
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Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
The 1H NMR spectra for the ruthenium -ketoiminato complexes show a significant upfield shift of 1.3-1.6 ppm for one
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of the p-cymene hydrogens. Analysis of the X-ray structure shows one of these hydrogens undergoes intramolecular T-
stacking interactions with the aniline ring at D…A distances between 3.33-3.62 Å (Figure 4). This type of interaction has
previously been reported with a library of complexes of the type [areneRuCl(XY)] (where XY = N,O ligand) synthesised by
Dyson et al., in which it was noted these complexes can exist as two conformers, with variable temperature NMR studies
showing the presence of both conformers at lower temperatures.22 Interactions are also seen between the p-cymene
hydrogen and the ancillary chloride ligand with D...A distances of 3.37-3.34Å (Figure 4).
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a) p-cym…Cg interaction in
complex 1
b) p-cym…Cg and p-cym…Cl
interaction for complex 2
c) p-cym…Cl interaction in
complex 8
Figure 4 Intramolecular interactions for a) complex 1, b) complex 2 and c) complex 8
Cell Line Chemosensitivity Studies
In order to gain information about the structure-activity relationships of the different complexes, chemosensitivity
studies were performed and IC50 values were determined for HT-29, MCF-7, A2780 and A2780cis cancer cell lines exposed
to each of complexes 1-18 or to cisplatin (Table 1 and Figure S2). The results show that the ruthenium -ketoiminato
complexes are all cytotoxic towards the cancer cell lines tested, with particular activity against both A2780 and A2780cis
cell lines. Complex 1 was the most active complex against all four cancer cell lines, with the lowest IC50 value for MCF-7 of
1.9 ± 0.1 M (cisplatin 0.98 ± 0.09 M), and significant activity against the cisplatin-resistance cell line A2780cis in which
it was ~3-fold more active than cisplatin (3.13 ± 0.09 M versus 10.5 ± 0.2 M). This suggests that the mechanism of action
and resistance of these complexes is different from cisplatin and raises the possibility that some of these complexes could
potentially be used to treat cancer which has become resistant to cisplatin. This library shows that complexes 1-7,which
have electron withdrawing substituents, are the most potent against all tested cell lines. While introduction of electron
donating groups or sterically bulky groups usually leads to a slight decrease in activity (complexes 11, 12, 14, 16 and 17).
However, on comparison of substituents in the para position, when a methyl substituent was introduced (complex 11),
anti-cancer activity increased in comparison to the para electron withdrawing substituents and this complex was the most
active para complex against MCF-7 cells, with an IC50 value of 2.1 ± 0.1 M (cisplatin 1.07 ± 0.10 M). Control experiments
were also performed to investigate whether the ligands alone possess any cytotoxic activity in vitro. Ligands L2-4 and L7
were tested against HT-29 cancer cells and all were considered to be inactive with IC50 values greater than the tested
threshold (>250 M) (Table 1)
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Table 1 IC50 values (M ± SD) for cisplatin (Cis) and complexes 1-18 against HT-29, MCF-7, A2780, A2780cis and
ARPE-19 cell lines. The values in parenthesis represent the IC50 values for the ARPE-19 cells divided by IC50 val-
ues for individual cancer cells (values greater than 1 indicate selectivity for cancer cells over the non-cancer
ARPE-19 cells).
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4
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8
HT-29 IC50
(M ± SD)
2.40 ± 0.10 (2.49)
3.50 ± 0.30 (1.28)
10.50 ± 0.40
MCF-7 IC50
(M ± SD)
1.09 ± 0.08 (5.47)
1.90 ± 0.10 (2.36)
A2780 IC50
(M ± SD)
0.94 ± 0.04 (6.35)
2.60 ± 0.08 (1.72)
A2780cis IC50
(M ± SD)
10.50 ± 0.20 (0.57)
3.13 ± 0.09 (1.43)
ARPE-19 IC50
(M ± SD)
5.97 ± 0.95
4.48 ± 0.07
Cis
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9
5.07 ± 0.09
2.80 ± 0.10
3.47 ± 0.07
-
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18
L2
L3
L4
L7
5.40 ± 0.09
4.30 ± 0.50
11.40 ± 0.60
12.60 ± 0.02
3.00 ± 0.20
3.22 ± 0.09
3.50 ± 0.20
3.27 ± 0.08
1.70 ± 0.10
2.35 ± 0.04
2.50 ± 0.10
2.86 ± 0.04
2.5 ± 0.2 (3.10)
2.3 ± 0.2 (6.67)
3.80 ± 0.10
5.59 ± 0.05
6.40 ± 0.10
11.50 ± 0.30
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-
-
-
6.10 ± 0.30 (1.27)
10.30 ± 0.60 (1.48)
11.80 ± 0.80 (1.02)
12.80 ± 0.50
10.21 ± 0.09 (0.89)
22.00 ± 2.00 (0.32)
6.30 ± 0.30 (0.57)
53.00 ± 1.00 (0.60)
18.00 ± 2.00 (2.86)
5.10 ± 0.30
3.55 ± 0.09 (2.18)
6.20 ± 0.20 (2.47)
3.69 ± 0.09 (2.10)
7.00 ± 0.04 (2.19)
7.76 ± 0.07
15.33 ± 0.41
12.00 ± 1.47
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-
-
-
-
-
-
2.9 0 ± 0.10 (3.16)
13.00 ± 0.20 (0.55)
7.20 ± 0.20 (0.50)
2.87 ± 0.05 (3.19)
9.1 ± 0.1 (1.01)
9.17 ± 2.36
7.17 ± 0.93
3.62 ± 0.03
32.03 ± 9.23
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-
1.90 ± 0.10 (1.91)
56.00 ± 2.00 (0.57)
19.40 ± 0.80 (2.66)
3.80 ± 0.09 (0.95)
-
-
18.40 ± 0.80 (2.80)
24.30 ± 0.50 (2.12)
51.55 ± 5.14
3.40 ± 0.20
5.70 ± 0.10
5.80 ± 0.50
-
-
83.00 ± 3.00
93.00 ± 7 .00 (>1)
> 250
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-
-
51.00 ± 4.00 (>2)
35.00 ± 1.00 (>2.9)
51.00 ± 1.00 (>2)
>100
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-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
> 250
> 250
> 250
Selectivity for cancer cells
Comparing the response of tumour cell lines to non-cancer ARPE-19 cells provides a preliminary indication of
selectivity. Whilst compounds 9, 12, 13 and 14 show no selectivity towards cancer cells (ratio of IC50 values in AREP-19 cells
to cancer cells ≤ 1), compounds 1, 7, 8, 11 and 15 showed evidence of selectivity to certain cancer cells (Table 1). The
magnitude of the selectivity observed in the test compound series was comparable to that obtained for cisplatin with
ratio’s of IC50 values in ARPE-19 to cancer cells ranging from 6.67 to 1.27 for test compounds and 6.35 to 0.57 for cisplatin
(Table 1). Compound 8 in particular demonstrated good selectivity against all the cancer cell lines tested with selectivity
ranging from 6.67 to 1.48 fold increased chemosensitivity towards cancer cells compared to ARPE-19 non-cancer cells
(A2780: 6.67; A2780cis: 2.19; MCF7: 2.47; HT29: 1.48; Table 1).These results provide a preliminary indication that some
compounds are selectively toxic to cancer cells.
Due to the high in vitro activity for complex 1, complexes 15, 16 and 18 were synthesised in order to make comparisons
between the biological mechanisms on changing both the ligands and metal centres. Complexes 1 and 16 incorporate a 3-
fluoro--ketoiminato (N,O) ligand, whilst complex 15 and 18 incorporate the 3-fluoro--diketonato (O,O) ligand, on
ruthenium and iridium respectively. On comparison of complex 1 (N,O) and the -diketonato complex 15 (O,O), changing
the binding mode and hence elimination of the aniline ring, dramatically decreased cell line cytotoxicity, with complex 15
being up to 9-fold less active than its (N,O) analogue. Also on comparison of two (N,O) complexes 1 and 14, substituting
the aniline ring for NH (14) showed a 21-fold decrease in activity when compared to 1. The iridium Cp* -ketoiminato
complex 16 was synthesised and compared to the iridium -diketonato analogue 18. As seen with the ruthenium
complexes, the (O,O) ligand had up to an 18-fold decrease in activity against HT-29. Again on comparison of two (N,O)
complexes 16 and 17, the aniline was substituted for NH (17) and the activity decreased by 16-fold when compared to
complex 16. These results indicate that for the complexes tested, the aniline ring is critical for high in vitro anti-cancer
activity and on elimination of this ring complex activity is substantially diminished, proving that the design of the ligand
is essential in drug development.
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Influence of Hypoxia
For many solid tumours, a significant proportion of the tumour cells are under conditions of limiting oxygen or hypoxia
and the cellular environment is reducing. The hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is central to the cell’s response to
hypoxia and under hypoxic conditions it activates a transcriptional program that helps tumour cell adaptation and
survival under low oxygen conditions.23-27 Transition metals have the potential to be reduced under hypoxic conditions
and these changes in oxidation states could lead to changes in structure, binding mode, cellular drug uptake and
metabolism as well cellular mechanism of action and the effectiveness of this. Using complexes 1, 15, 16 and 18, 5-day in
vitro MTT studies were conducted under hypoxic conditions at both 0.1% and 1.0% O2 against HT-29 cells, in order to
assess the impact of oxygen concentration upon chemosensitivity (Figure 5). The complexes were compared to the
hypoxia-activated pro-drug tirapazamine and to cisplatin.28 Results show that reducing the O2 concentration gave a
general decrease in cytotoxicity for the (O,O) complexes 15 and 18, with the reduction in activity more pronounced at
0.1% O2. The iridium (N,O) complex 16 is active under hypoxic conditions albeit less so than under normoxia (21% O2),
with an IC50 value of 20 ± 2 M at 0.1% O2. Complex 1 shows a small decrease in its activity in response to low oxygen
conditions, but remains highly active even at 0.1% O2 concentration, confirming its potential as a drug candidate for
targeting both normoxic and hypoxic cancer cells.
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Figure 5 Hypoxic values for complexes 1, 15, 16 and 18 against HT-29
The preliminary in vitro screening of the complexes indicated that the complexes with a substituents in the para
position of the -ketoiminato ligand were highly potent against the cell lines tested (Table 1), and these complexes made
good candidates for hypoxia studies. Therefore, in order to further probe the effects of hypoxia on these complexes a
range of para substituted complexes (2, 3, 8, 9 and 11) were tested under hypoxic conditions (Figure 6). Complexes tested
at 0.1% O2 were still active under hypoxic conditions and for all para complexes tested, the anti-cancer activity actually
increased at 0.1% O2, indicating that these complexes are hypoxia sensitive. The most noticeable results were seen for
complexes 2 and 8, which both have nearly 2-fold lower IC50 values under hypoxic conditions. This indicates the potential
of these complexes or similar derivatives as hypoxia targeting anti-cancer agents.
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21%
20
0.1%
10
0
Complexes
Figure 6 Hypoxic results for complexes 2, 3, 8, 9 and 11 against HT-29
Inhibition of thioredoxin reductase activity
The MTT assay is the gold standard for in vitro chemosensitivity studies and IC50 determination but it does not provide
any information as to how the drugs may possess their anti-cancer effects. To try and gain some preliminary insight into
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this, additional assays were conducted for possible effects of the drugs upon, a) thioredoxin reductase activity, b)
induction of DNA damage, and, c) induction of cell death. The biological effects of the thioredoxin reductase 1 (Trx-R)
system have been shown to contribute to tumour growth and progression.29 Over-expression of thioredoxin reductase 1
has been reported in several tumour types and the enzyme is an important therapeutic target in anti-cancer drug
development.30-32 In order to investigate the mode of action of our novel complexes, the inhibition of Trx-R activity by
complexes 1, 15, 16 and 18 was investigated. Previously, a range of iridium picolinamide complexes were found to inhibit
Trx-R, with IC50 values in the nanomolar range. However, the analogous ruthenium picolinamide complexes failed to
show any enzyme inhibition.33 In this work, both ruthenium and iridium -ketoiminato complexes (1 and 16) were found
to be potent Trx-R inhibitors with IC50 values in the nanomolar range. The -diketonato complexes 15 and 18 are less
active against Trx-R, but still have IC50 values in the low micromolar range (see Figure S3). Trx-R inhibition may thus
contribute to the anti-cancer activity of some of our novel complexes; although it is likely that other mechanisms may
also be important.
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Induction of cancer cell death by apoptosis
The IC50 values determined by chemosensitivity studies using the MTT assay indicate the concentration of drug
required for a 50% reduction in viable cell number. Whilst this provides invaluable information on the activity of the drug
against the cell line testing, the MTT assay does not distinguish between effects on cell proliferation and effects on cell
survival. Thus, the observed activity of our novel complexes towards the four cancer cell lines could be caused by
induction of cell growth arrest or the complexes may actually cause cell death. Cell images under phase contrast
microscopy at various time-points after complex addition suggested induction of cell death rather than growth arrest.
Using flow cytometry and annexin V/propidium iodide staining the percentage of live cells, early apoptotic cells and late
apoptotic/necrotic cells were quantified following incubation of HT-29 or A2780 cells with 10 or 20µM of complexes 1, 15,
16 and 18 for 48 hours (Figure 7 and Table S8).
The -ketoiminato complexes 1 and 16, which were amongst the most active complexes in the MTT chemosensitivity
studies, induced significant levels of apoptotic cell death in both the HT29 (Figure 7a) and A2780 (Figure 7b) cancer cell
lines in a dose-responsive manner. A 48 hour exposure of HT29 cells to 10 M of the -ketominate ruthenium complex 1
resulted in ~50% early apoptotic cells and ~40% late apoptotic/necrotic cells. A 20 µM dose resulted in over 70% of cells
staining positive for late apoptosis/necrosis. 20 µM of the active - ketoiminato iridium complex 16 also induced
significant apoptosis, with 31.7% early apoptotic cells and 49.9% late apoptotic or necrotic cells following 48 hour
exposure. In contrast, the ruthenium and iridium diketonato analogues 15 and 18 respectively, induced only very low
levels of apoptosis/necrosis, consistent with their much higher IC50 values and lower activity in the chemosensitivity
studies (see Table 1). Although levels of apoptosis and necrosis were higher than background levels obtained with the
controls and higher levels were induced by 20 µM of drug than with 10 µM, even at the highest drug concentration of 20
M the majority of cells (>84%) were still viable. These observations indicate a clear correlation between IC50 value and
levels of apoptosis/necrosis induced.
A very similar pattern was also observed for A2780 cells demonstrating that for these two cancer cell lines at least, the
ruthenium and iridium -ketoiminato complexes 1 and 16 induce high levels of cancer cell death by apoptosis, in a dose-
dependent manner. This is consistent with their low IC50 values and indicates a mechanism by which they are able to
exert their in vitro anti-cancer activity which merits further future investigation.
a) Apoptosis results for complexes 1, 15, 16 and 18
b) Apoptosis results for complexes 1, 15, 16 and 18
against HT-29
against A2780
Figure 7 Apoptosis results for complexes 1, 15, 16 and 18 against a) HT-29 and b) A2780
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Analysis of cellular DNA damage by the comet assay
1
Accumulation of cellular DNA damage ultimately leads to the demise of the cell by apoptosis (programmed cell death).
As a potential cause of the apoptotic phenotype induced by complexes 1 and 16 (see Figure 7) we therefore determined
whether the complexes induce any form of cellular DNA damage. Complexes 1, 15, 16, and 18 and cisplatin were tested for
induction of double strand DNA breakage (DSB), single strand DNA breakage (SSB) and DNA cross-linking. Increasing
concentrations of the complexes or of cisplatin were incubated with HT-29 cells for 24 hours before harvesting and
quantification of the levels of different types of DNA damage in single cells using the either the alkaline or neutral comet
assay (see SI). None of the complexes induced significant levels of double strand DNA breaks at any of the concentrations
tested (Figure 8a) and this was also the case for cisplatin, as previously reported.34,35
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The complexes also failed to induce DNA cross-linking (see Figure S4-S6), whereas cisplatin induced significant DNA
cross-linking, consistent with its mechanism of action.36 Importantly however, the ruthenium -ketoiminato (N,O)
complex 1 induced high levels of single-strand DNA breaks with levels of SSB damage increasing in a dose-dependent
manner with increasing concentrations of complex 1 (Figure 8b). In contrast the analogous ruthenium -diketonato
(O,O) complex 15 caused no single strand DNA breakage (Figure 9) indicating the importance of the binding ligand and
consistent with the much lower activity of complex 15 compared to complex 1 in both chemosensitivity studies (Table 1)
and cell viability analyses (Figure 7).
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a) Double Strand Breakage (DSB)
b) Single strand Breakage (SSB)
Figure 8 a) DSB and b) SSB results for complexes 1, 15, 16 and 18 against HT-29
The iridium complexes showed the same general trend, with the -ketoiminato (N,O) complex 16 also inducing SSB
formation similar to its ruthenium analogue (complex 1) although the extent of DNA damage was less. The iridium -
diketonato (O,O) complex 18, like its ruthenium -diketonato counterpart (complex 15), induced no SSB formation. Thus,
for both ruthenium and iridium complexes, the (N,O) ligand appears to be important for complex induction of cellular
single strand DNA breaks. Whilst other mechanisms may also be involved, the induction of SSB damage provides a
possible cause of the apoptotic phenotype induced by complexes 1 and 16.
The observation that complexes 1 and 16 induce significant single strand DNA breaks in a dose-dependent manner but
few double strand breaks or DNA cross-links (Figures 8, 9 and Figures S4-S6) suggests a different mechanism of action
to cisplatin which primarily induces DNA cross-linking. It is also informative with respect to possible combinational
chemotherapeutic approaches, suggesting that complexes 1 and 16 may be particularly effective if used in combination
with inhibitors of single strand break repair, such as PARP inhibitors. Another approach that may be effective is in com-
bination with DNA damaging chemotherapeutic agents that work by a different mechanism, for example by inducing
DSBs, such as doxorubicin or etoposide. Future studies will investigate how the compounds might induce SSBs, for exam-
ple by inhibition of topoisomerase I, and will include combinatorial studies with other classes of DNA damaging chemo-
therapeutic agents for synergistic effects.
Overall, our results identify the ruthenium and iridium complexes with the -ketoiminato (N,O) ligand (complexes 1
and 16) as the most potent and promising of the novel complexes and these are good candidates for future investigation
including more detailed mechanistic studies, in vitro and in vivo ADME studies and analysis of cancer selectivity in vivo.
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a) SSB for Cisplatin
b) SSB for complex 1
c) SSB for complex 15
Figure 9 Bar-charts of tail moment (extent of damage) versus concentration for the SSB assay for a) Cisplatin; b)
complex 1 and c) complex 15
Conclusions
From the library of novel ruthenium and iridium complexes tested in this study, our results identify the complexes with
a -ketoiminato ligand as the most active. IC50 values varied depending on the complex and cell line but were typically
below 15 µM for all four cancer cell lines tested (HT-29, MCF-7, A2780, A2780cis). Importantly, almost all of the -
ketoiminato complexes were slightly more active than cisplatin against the cisplatin-resistant cell line A2780cis. Wth
complex 1 showing a 3-fold increase in activity when compared to cisplatin. Complexes with the aniline ring removed
were tested and results showed this feature to also be essential for potent in vitro anti-cancer activity. A selection of
complexes were tested under hypoxic (1% O2) or severely hypoxic (0.1% O2) conditions against HT-29 cells, and
interestingly whereas the -diketonato complexes tested were significantly less active under hypoxia, many of the -
ketoiminato complexes were more active under hypoxia indicating that these -ketoiminato complexes are hypoxia-
sensitive. As a possible mechanism of action we investigated the inhibition of thioredoxin reductase, with results showing
inhibition of this enzyme, with IC50 values in the nanomolar range. Further mechanistic investigation showed that the -
ketoiminato complexes fail to induce growth arrest but i) induce significant cancer cell death by apoptosis and, ii) single
strand DNA breakage - indicating a different mechanism of action to cisplatin. The selective modifications made to the
core ‘piano-stool’ complex in this study and our initial downstream analyses of the biological effects of this (eg on IC50,
cell viability, DNA damage induction) highlight the importance of the size and binding mode of the ligand for activity.
The unexpected enhanced activity of many of the -ketoiminato complexes under hypoxic conditions warrants further
investigation but is encouraging in the search for novel anti-cancer agents that are capable of targeting both normoxic
and hypoxic cells of a solid tumour.
Experimental
Materials
All chemicals were supplied by Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Co., Acros Organics, Strem Chemical Co. and BOC gases. Functionalised
-diketonate and -ketoiminate ligands were prepared by adaptations of literature methods.19,20 Deuterated NMR solvents were
supplied by Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Co. or Acros Organics.
Analysis
All NMR spectra were recorded by either the author or Mr Simon Barrett on a Bruker DPX 300 or a Bruker DPX 500
spectrometer. Microanalyses were recorded by Mr. Ian Blakeley or Ms Tanya Marinko-Covell at the University of Leeds
Microanalytical Service. Mass Spectra were recorded by either Ms. Tanya Marinko-Covell or the author, on a Micromass ZMD
spectrometer with electrospray ionisation and photoiodide array analyser at the University of Leeds Mass Spectrometry Service.
Elemental Analysis
All biologically evaluated compounds must demonstrate a purity >95%, and so the compounds synthesised within this report
have been analysed using elemental (CHN) analysis, by a means of combustion. This technique requires the sample to be burned
in an excess of oxygen and has a variety of traps which collect the combustion products: CO2, H2O and NO. These masses are
then used to help calculated the masses of the ‘unknown’ product. The experimental values are compared with the calculated
values of the sample, and all synthesised compounds herein are within 0.5% of the calculated values.
X-ray Crystallography
A suitable single crystal was selected and immersed in an inert oil. The crystal was then mounted on a glass capillary or nylon
loop and attached to a goniometer head on a Bruker X8 Apex diffractometer using graphite monochromated Mo-K radiation (
= 0.71073 Å) or an Agilent SuperNova diffractometer using mirror monochromated Mo-K radiation ( = 0.71073 Å), using 1.0° -
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Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
rotation frames. The crystal was cooled to between 100-173 K by an Oxford Cryostream low temperature device.37 The full data
sets were recorded and the images processed using DENZO and SCALEPACK programs38 or CrysAlis Pro software.39
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Structure solution by direct methods was achieved through the use of SHELXS programs,40 and the structural model refined by
full matrix least squares on F2 using SHELX97 Unless otherwise stated, hydrogen atoms were placed using idealised geometric
positions (with free rotation for methyl groups), allowed to move in a “riding model” along with the atoms to which they were
attached, and refined isotropically. Molecular graphics were plotted using POV-Ray41 via the XSeed program40 and OLEX2.42
Editing of CIFs and construction of tables of bond lengths and angles were achieved using WC43 and PLATON.44
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Synthesis
Ligands L2-L12
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All ligands were synthesised by dissolving the corresponding functionalised -diketonate (0.5 g) in toluene (10 mL), followed by
addition of aniline (1 mL) and HCl (0.5 mL). The mixture was stirred overnight and the precipitate filtered under reduced
pressure. The solvent was removed from the filtrate and then recrystallised from hot ethanol to yield analytically pure
compounds.
Ligand L2 (0.63 g, 2.5 mmol, 87%)
3
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz, 300 K) δ 13.05 (s, 1H, NH), 7.94 (v. dd, 2H, CH, 3J(1H-1H) = 9.2 Hz and J(1H-19F) = 2.3 Hz), 7.39 (br. t,
2H, CH, 3J(1H-1H) = 7.9 Hz), 7.24 (br. t, 1H, CH, 3J(1H-1H) = 7.6 Hz), 7.19 (br. d, 2H, CH, 3J(1H-1H) = 7.2 Hz), 7.11 (v. t, 2H, CH, 3J(1H-
1H) = 8.7 Hz and 4J(1H-19F) = 1.9 Hz), 5.85 (s, 1H, methine CH, H9), 2.15 (s, 1H, aliphatic CH3) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75MHz, 300K) δ
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187.2 (Q), 164.5 (d, Q C-F, J(13C-19F) = 249.7 Hz), 162.4 (Q), 138.5 (Q), 129.3 (d, 2 x CH, J(13C-19F) = 8.7 Hz), 129.2 (2 x CH), 125.9
(CH), 124.8 (2 x CH), 115.2 (d, 2 x CH, J(13C-19F) = 21.0 Hz), 93.8 (methine CH), 20.4 (aliphatic CH3) Analysis Calculated for
3
C16H14FNO: C 74.30 H 5.53, N 5.49% Analysis Found for C16H14FNO: C 74.35, H 5.40, N 5.25% ES MS (+): m/z 255.6 [M+]
Ligand L3 (0.35 g, 1.0 mmol, 51%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz, 300 K) δ 13.12 (s, 1H, NH), 7.90 (d, 2H, CH, J(1H-1H) = 8.5 Hz), 7.44 (d, 2H, CH, J(1H-1H) = 8.5 Hz),
7.42 (m, 1H, CH), 7.25 (d, 2H, CH, 3J(1H-1H) = 7.5 Hz), 7.22 (m, 2H, CH, 3J(1H-1H) = 8.5 Hz), 5.89 (s, 1H, methine CH), 2.19 (s, 3H,
aliphatic CH3) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75MHz, 300K) δ 163.1 (Q), 137.4 (Q), 129.6 (CH), 128.9 (CH), 126.4 (CH), 125.3 (CH), 98.4
(methine CH), 20.8 (aliphatic CH3) Analysis Calculated for C16H14ClNO: C 70.70 H 5.19, N 5.20, Cl 13.10% Analysis Found for
C16H14ClNO: C 70.70, H 5.25, N 5.40, Cl 12.80% ES MS (+): m/z 272.0 [MH+]
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Ligand L4 (0.58 g, 2.0 mmol, 88%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz, 300 K) δ 12.86 (s, 1H, NH), 7.51 (d, 1H, CH, 3J(1H-1H) = 8.4 Hz), 7.46 (d, 2H, CH), 7.42 (d, 1H, CH, 3J(1H-
3
1H) = 7.8 Hz), 7.33-7.30 (m, 3H, CH), 7.24 (d, 2H, CH, J(1H-1H) = 8.7 Hz), 5.89 (s, 1H, methine CH), 2.14 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3)
13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75MHz, 300K) δ 188.7 (Q), 163.3 (Q), 139.9 (Q), 138.6 (Q), 135.7 (Q), 132.2 (Q), 130.7 (CH), 130.4 (CH), 129.7 (2
x CH), 127.4 (CH), 126.7 (CH), 125.4 (2 x CH), 98.5 (methine CH), 20.6 (aliphatic CH3) Analysis Calculated for C16H13Cl2NO: C
62.809 H 4.28, N 4.60, Cl 23.20% Analysis Found for C16H13Cl2NO: C 62.70, H 4.25, N 4.50, Cl 22.0% ES MS (+): m/z 306.1 [MH+]
Ligand L5 (0.46 g, 2.2 mmol, 68%)
H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz, 300 K) δ 12.71 (s, 1H, NH), 7.43 (m, 1H, CH), 7.33 (br. t, 2H, CH, 3J(1H-1H) =7.5 Hz), 7.24 (br. s, 1H, CH),
3
7.21-7.16 (m, 2H, CH), 7.13(d, 2H, CH, J(1H-1H) = 7.5 Hz), 5.43 (s, 1H, methine CH), 2.03 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3) 13C{1H} NMR
(CDCl3, 75 MHz, 300 K) δ 187.8 (Q), 163.2 (Q), 142.4 (Q), 138.1 (Q), 132.6 (Q C-Cl), 131.3 (CH), 130.0 (CH), 129.3 (CH), 126.4 (CH),
125.1 (CH), 97.9 (methine CH), 20.2 (aliphatic CH3) Analysis Calculated for C16H13Cl2NO: C 62.67, H 4.29, N 4.58, Cl 23.15%
Analysis Found for C16H13Cl2NO: C 62.65, H 4.20, N 4.45, Cl 23.30 ES MS (+): m/z 306.2 [M+]
Ligand L6 (0.10 g, 0.29 mmol, 55%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 500.23 MHz, 300.1 K) 12.75 (br. s, 1H, NH), 7.43-7.39 (m, 3H, 3 x CH), 7.33 (d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 8.2 Hz), 7.29
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(br. d, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 7.3 Hz), 7.22 (br. d, 2H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 7.6 Hz), 5.45 (s, 1H, methine CH), 2.11 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3)
13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 125.9 MHz, 300.0 K)  187.9 (Q), 163.4 (Q), 141.6 (Q), 138.0 (Q), 134.5 (Q C-Cl), 132.4 (Q C-Cl), 131.0 (Q C-Cl).
129.3 (CH), 128.4 (CH), 126.9 (CH), 126.4 (CH), 125.1 (CH), 97.8 (methane CH), 20.2 (CH3) Analysis Calculated for C16H12Cl3NO: C
56.42, H 3.55, Cl 31.22, N 4.11% Analysis Found for C16H12Cl3NO: C 56.25, H 3.45, Cl 31.05, N 4.05% ES MS (+): m/z 340.0 [M+]
Ligand L7 (0.42 g, 1.3 mmol, 62%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz, 300 K) δ 13.08 (s, 1H, NH), 8.06 (t, 1H, CH, 4J (1H-1H) = 1.7 Hz), 7.84 (br. dt, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 8.0 Hz
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and J (1H-1H) = 1.5 Hz), 7.59 (dq, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 7.9 Hz and J (1H-1H) = 0.9(x3) Hz), 7.40 (br. t, 2H, CH, 3J(1H-1H) = 8.1 Hz)
7.31 (t, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 7.9 Hz), 7.25 (br. t, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 7.2 Hz), 7.20 (br. d, 2H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 7.5 Hz), 5.83 (s, 1H,
methine CH), 2.16 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz, 300 K) δ 186.7(Q), 163.0 (Q), 142.0 (2 x Q), 138.4 (Q C-Br),
133.6 (CH), 130.2 (CH), 129.8 (CH), 129.2 (CH), 126.1 (CH), 125.6 (CH), 124.9 (CH), 94.0 (methine CH), 20.4 (aliphatic CH3)
Analysis Calculated for C16H14BrNO: C 60.76, H 4.47, N 4.43% Analysis Found for C16H14BrNO: C 60.80, H 4.45, N 4.43% ES MS
(+): m/z 316.3 [M+]
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Ligand L8 (0.44 g, 1.0 mmol, 67%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz, 300 K) δ 12.42 (s, 1H, NH), 7.73 (d, 2H, CH, 3J(1H-1H) = 7.2 Hz), 7.56 (m, 1H, CH), 7.45 (d, 2H, CH), 7.42
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(d, 1H, CH, J(1H-1H) = 7.5 Hz) 7.37 (d, 2H, CH, J(1H-1H) = 8.0 Hz), 5.87 (s, 1H, methine CH), 2.19 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3) 13C{1H}
NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz, 300 K) δ 173.9 (Q), 134.9 (Q), 131.9 (2 x CH), 130.4 (2 x CH), 129.9 (2 x CH), 126.8 (CH), 125.0 (2 x CH), 102.2
(methane CH), 22.1 (aliphatic CH3) Analysis Calculated for C16H14BrNO: C 60.80, H 4.46, N 4.40% Analysis Found for
C16H14BrNO: C 61.10, H 5.05, N 4.40% ES MS (+): m/z 316.0 [MH+]
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Ligand L9 (0.76 g, 2.1 mmol, 76%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 500.23 MHz, 300.1 K) 13.09 (br. s, 1H, NH), 7.79 (d, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 8.3 Hz), 7.65 (d, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 8.3
Hz), 7.39 (br. t, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 7.8 Hz), 7.25 (br. t, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 7.3 Hz), 7.19 (br. d, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 7.3 Hz), 5.84
(s, 1H, methine CH), 2.15 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz, 300 K) δ 187.4 (Q), 162.8 (Q), 139.4 (2 x Q), 138.4 (Q
C-I), 137.5 (2 x CH), 129.2 (2 x CH), 128.7 (2 x CH), 126.0 (CH), 124.9 (2 x CH), 93.8 (methine CH), 20.4 (aliphatic CH3) Analysis
Calculated for C16H14INO: C 52.91, H 3.89, I 34.94, N 3.86% Analysis Found for C16H14INO: C 52.95, H 4.10, I 34.65, N 3.75% ES MS
(+): m/z 364.0 [MH+]
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Ligand L10 (0.40 g, 1.4 mmol, 38%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 500.13 MHz, 319.2 K) 13.01 (br. s, 1H, NH), 7.91 (br. d, 2H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 8.8 Hz), 7.39-7.34 (br. t, 2H, CH, J
(1H-1H) = 7.3 Hz), 7.23-7.20 (m, 1H, CH), 7.18 (br. d, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 8.8 Hz), 5.86 (s, 1H, methine CH), 4.11 (q, 2H, ethoxy CH2,
3J (1H-1H) = 6.7 Hz ), 2.14 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3), 1.45 (t, 3H, ethoxy CH3, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.7 Hz) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75.5 MHz, 300.0
K) 187.9 (Q), 161.4 (Q), 138.9 (2 x Q), 132.5 (Q), 129.1 (2 x CH), 129.0 (2 x CH), 125.5 (CH), 124.7 (2 x CH), 114.0 (2 x CH), 93.8
(methine CH), 63.6 (ethoxy CH2), 20.5 (aliphatic CH3), 14.8 (ethoxy CH3) Analysis Calculated for C18H19NO: C75.23, H 5.65, N
13.85 Analysis Found for C18H19NO: C 74.75, H 5.70, N 13.80 ES MS (+): m/z 282.15 [MH+]
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Ligand L11 (0.42 g, 1.7 mmol, 59%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 500.13 MHz, 319.2 K) 13.12 (br. s, 1H, NH), 7.87 (d, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 8.2 Hz), 7.41 (d, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 7.6
Hz), 7.28 (m, 2H, CH), 7.25 (m, 2H, CH), 7.23 (m, 1H, CH), 5.89 (s, 1H, methine CH), 2.44 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3), 2.19 (s, 3H,
methyl CH3) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75.5 MHz, 300.0 K) 89.0 (Q), 162.2 (Q), 141.7 (Q), 139.2 (Q), 137.7 (Q), 129.7 (2 x CH), 129.4 (2
x CH), 127.5 (CH), 126.1 (CH), 125.1 (2 x CH), 94.5 (methine CH), 21.9 (aliphatic CH3), 20.9 (methyl CH3) Analysis Calculated for
C17H17NO: C81.20, H 6.82, N 5.60% Analysis Found for C17H17NO: C 79.80, H 6.80, N 5.10 ES MS (+): m/z 252.20 [MH+]
Ligand 12 (0.65 g, 2.3 mmol, 81%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 500 MHz, 300.0 K13.13 (br. s, 1H, NH), 8.51 (d, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 8.3 Hz), 7.89 (br. t, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 8.3
Hz), 7.70 (br. d, 1H, CH, 4J (1H-1H) = 6.9 Hz), 7.57-7.53 (m, 1H, CH), 7.53-7.48 (m, 2H, CH), 7.42 (br, t, 2H, CH, 3J(1H-1H) = 8.3 Hz),
7.28-7.25 (m, 2H, CH), 5.70 (s, 1H, methine CH), 2.16 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 125 MHz, 300 K) 193.0 (Q),
162.0 (Q), 143.2 (Q), 140.1 (Q), 138.6 (2 x Q), 130.3 (CH), 129.9 (CH), 129.2 (CH), 128.4 (CH), 126.6 (CH), 126.1 (CH), 125.4 (CH),
124.9 (CH), 124.9 (CH), 99.0 (methine CH), 20.3 (aliphatic CH3) Analysis Calculated for C20H17NO: C 83.59, H 5.96, N 4.87%
Analysis Found for C20H17NO: C 83.70, H 6.00, N 4.80% ES MS (+): m/z 288.14 [MH+]
Ligand L13 (0.56 g, 1.9 mmol, 64%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300.13 MHz, 300.0 K) 12.90 (br. s, 1H, NH), 7.97-7.92 (m, 2H, CH), 7.16-7.09 (m, 3H, 3 x CH), 6.99 (ddd, 1H, CH,
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3J (1H-1H) = 9.0 Hz and J (1H-19F) = 3.1 and 2.0 Hz), 6.93–6.87 (m, 1H, CH), 5.95 (s, 1H, methine CH), 2.17 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3)
13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 125.9 MHz, 300.0 K) 188.1 (Q), 164.8 (d, Q, C-F, 1J (13C-19F) = 250.5 Hz), 161.5 (Q), 158.3 (dd, Q C-F, 1J (13C-19F)
= 242.3 Hz and 4J (13C-19F) = 3.1 Hz), 152.7 (dd, Q C-F, 1J (13C-19F) = 242.3Hz and 4J (13C-19F) = 3.1 Hz), 135.7 (d, Q, 4J(13C-19F) = 3.1 Hz),
129.6 (d, 2 x CH, 3J (13C-19F) = 8.3 Hz). 127.9 (dd, Q, 2J (13C-19F) = 24.7 Hz and 3J (13C-19F) = 4.1 Hz), 115.3 (d, 3 x CH, 3J (13C-19F) = 21.7
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2
Hz), 113.1 (d, CH, J(13C-19F) = 23.7 Hz), 113.0 (d, CH, J (13C-19F) = 25.8Hz), 95.3 (methine CH), 20.3 (aliphatic CH3) Analysis
Calculated for C16H12F3NO: C 65.98, H 4.15, N 4.81% Analysis Found for C16H12F3NO: C 65.35, H 4.35, N 4.70% ES MS (+): m/z
292.09 [MH+]
Ligand L14
This ligand was prepared as previously reported by Roshchupkina et al.18
Complexes 2-13
Complexes 2-13 were synthesised by addition of [p-cymRuCl2]2 (1 eq), a functionalised -ketoiminate ligand (2 eq) and Et3N (2
eq). All were stirred in dichloromethane (30 mL) at room temperature overnight. The solvent was removed under reduced
pressure and the crude product recrystallised using slow evaporation from a methanolic solution.
Complex 2 (0.07 g, 0.13 mmol, 54%)
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1H NMR (CDCl3, 500.57 MHz, 300.0 K7.84 (d, 2H, CH, J (1H-1H)= 9.0 Hz and J (1H-1H)= 2.2 Hz), 7.75 (br. d, 1H, CH, J (1H-
1H)= 9.0 Hz), 7.43 (br. t, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 7.7 Hz), 7.26-7.22 (br. dd, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 6.2 Hz and 4J (1H-1H) = 2.1 Hz), 7.09 (br.
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d, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H)= 6.9 Hz), 7.03-6.99 (a. t (v. dd), 2H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 8.6 Hz and J (1H-1H) = 3.9 Hz), 5.37 (s, 1H, methine
CH), 5.35 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.0 Hz), 5.16 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.0 Hz), 5.06 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 5.6 Hz), 3.68
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(br. d, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 5.6 Hz), 2.67 (br. sept, 1H, CH(CH3)2, J (1H-1H) = 6.9 Hz), 2.03 (s, 3H, methyl CH3), 1.79 (s, 3H,
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Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
aliphatic CH3), 1.20 (a. t (v.dd), 6H, CH(CH3)2, J (1H-1H) = 7.5 Hz) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 125.9 MHz, 300.0 K170.6 (Q), 164.8
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(Q), 163.6 (d, Q C-F, 1J (13C-19F) = 247.4 Hz), 157.2 (Q), 137.5 (Q), 129.6 (2 x CH), 128.2 (d, 2 x CH, 3J (13C-19F) = 7.3 Hz), 126.1 (CH),
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125.4 (CH), 123.9 (CH), 114.6 (d, 2 x CH, J (13C-19F) = 21.7 Hz), 100.8 (Q), 96.2 (Q), 94.2 (methine CH), 87.0 (CH), 84.6 (CH), 84.5
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(CH), 79.4 (CH), 30.5 (CH(CH3)2), 24.7 (aliphatic CH3), 23.6 (CH(CH3)2), 20.9 (CH(CH3)2), 18.3 (methyl CH3) Analysis Calculated
for C26H27ClFNORu: C 59.48, H 5.18, N 2.67% Analysis Found for C26H27ClFNORu: C 59.25, H 5.20, N 2.75% ES MS (+): m/z 490.11
[M+]-Cl
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Complex 3 (0.06 g, 0.11 mmol, 62%)
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1H NMR (CDCl3, 500.23 MHz, 299.9 K 7.81-7.77 (br. dt, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 8.7 Hz and J (1H-1H)= 1.8 Hz ), 7.74 (br. d, 1H, CH, J
(1H-1H)= 7.5 Hz), 7.43 (br. t, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 8.3 Hz), 7.30 (br. dt, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 8.7 Hz and 4J (1H-1H)= 2.0 Hz), 7.26-7.22
(br. t, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 7.5 Hz), 7.09 (br. d, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 6.8 Hz), 5.39 (s, 1H, methine CH), 5.35 (br. d, CH, 3J (1H-1H) =
3
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6.0 Hz), 5.16 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.0 Hz), 5.06 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 5.6 Hz), 3.68 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 5.6 Hz),
2.67 (br. sept, 1H, CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-1H) = 7.0 Hz), 2.03 (s, 3H, methyl CH3), 1.79 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3), 1.21 (d, 3H, CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-
1H) = 9.9 Hz), 1. 91 (d, 3H, CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-1H) = 9.9 Hz) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75.5 MHz, 300.1 K) 170.3(Q), 164.9 (Q), 157.2 (Q),
138.0 (Q), 135.2 (Q), 129.6 (CH), 128.2 (CH), 128.0 (CH), 127.8 (CH), 126.0 (CH), 125.5 (CH), 123.3 (CH), 104.4 (Q), 96.3 (Q), 94.5
(methine CH), 87.1 (CH), 84.6 (CH), 84.7 (CH), 84.7 (CH), 79.5 (CH), 30.5 (CH(CH3)2), 24.7 (aliphatic CH3), 23.6 (CH(CH3)2),
20.9 (CH(CH3)2), 18.4 (methyl CH3) Analysis Calculated for C26H27Cl2NORu: C 57.67, H 5.03, N 2.59, Cl 13.09% Analysis Found for
C26H27Cl2NORu: C 57.40, H 5.00, N 2.40, Cl 13.05% ES MS (+): m/z 506.08 [M+]-Cl
Complex 4 (0.06 g, 0.11 mmol, 62%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 500.13 MHz, 240.2 K) 7.72 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 7.8 Hz ), 7.45 (br. d, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 6.2 Hz), 7.35 (br.
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d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 5.9 Hz), 7.32 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 8.2 Hz), 7.26-7.23 (m, 1H, CH), 7.20 (br. dd, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H)= 8.2
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Hz and J (1H-1H)= 1.9 Hz), 5.30 (br. d, 1H, CH), 5.22 (br. d, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 6.0 Hz), 5.01 (br. d, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 5.2 Hz),
4.93 (s, 1H, methine CH), 3.44 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 5.1 Hz), 2.74 (br. sept, CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.6 Hz), 2.05 (s, 3H, methyl
CH3), 1.74 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3), 1.27 (br. d, 3H, CH(CH3)2, J (1H-1H) = 6.7 Hz), 1. 22 (br. d, 3H, CH(CH3)2, J (1H-1H) = 6.7 Hz)
13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 125.8 MHz, 240.2 K) 171.5 (Q), 164.3 (Q), 156.7 (Q), 138.5 (Q), 133.9 (Q C-Cl), 131.4 (Q C-Cl), 130.9 (CH),
129.6 (CH), 129.1 (CH), 127.8 (CH), 126.7 (CH), 125.2 (CH), 99.6 (Q), 98.1 (methine CH), 97.2 (Q), 87.8 (CH), 83.4 (CH), 83.2 (CH),
79.9 (CH), 30.1 (CH(CH3)2), 24.6 (aliphatic CH3), 23.8 (CH(CH3)2), 21.1 (CH(CH3)2), 18.8 (methyl CH3) Analysis Calculated for
C26H26Cl3NORu: C 54.22, H 4.55, N 2.43, Cl 18.47% Analysis Found for C26H26Cl3NORu: C 54.05, H 4.65, N 2.35, Cl 18.45% ES MS
(+): m/z 540.04 [M+]-Cl
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Complex 5 (0.32 g, 0.56 mmol 61%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300.13 MHz, 295.5 K7.78-7.73 (m, 1H, CH), 7.47-7.43 (br. d, 2H, CH), 7.42 (m, 1H, CH), 7.25 (d, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-
1H)= 7.0 Hz), 7.21-7.16 (m, 1H, CH), 7.13-7.08 (m, 1H, CH), 5.28 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.2 Hz), 5.14 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) =
6.2 Hz), 5.02 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 5.5 Hz), 4.94 (s, 1H, methane CH), 3.64 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 5.7 Hz), 2.76 (br. sept,
1H, CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-1H) = 7.0 Hz), 2.07 (s, 3H, methyl CH3), 1.74 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3), 1.28 (br. d, 3H, CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.8
Hz), 1.22 (br. d, 3H, CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-1H) = 7.0 Hz) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75.5 MHz, 295.6 K) Q), 164.9 (Q), 156.9 (Q, 2 x C-
Cl), 141.7 (Q), 132.3 (Q), 130.6 (CH), 130.2 (CH), 129.0 (CH), 127.0 (CH), 125.8 (CH), 125.6 (CH), 123.2 (CH), 100.7 (Q), 98.5 (methine
CH), 97.2 (Q), 87.0 (CH), 83.7 (CH), 83.5 (CH), 80.4 (CH), 30.3 (CH(CH3)2), 24.3 (aliphatic CH3), 23.5 (CH(CH3)2), 21.4
(CH(CH3)2), 18.6 (methyl CH3) Analysis Calculated for C26H26Cl3NORu: C 54.22, H 4.55, N 2.43, Cl 18.47% Analysis Found for
C26H26Cl3NORu: C 53.95, H 4.50, N 2.35, Cl 18.70% ES MS (+): m/z 540.05 [M+]-Cl
Complex 6 (0.06g, 0.10 mmol, 60%)
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1H NMR (CDCl3, 300.13 MHz, 300.0 K) dd, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H)= 7.3 Hz, 4J (1H-1H)= 1.6 Hz), 7.45 (br. t, 2H, CH, J (1H-1H)= 8.5
3
Hz), 7.34 (d, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H)= 8.3 Hz), 7.27-7.22 (m, 2H, CH), 7.14-7.09 (m, 1H, CH), 5.27 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.2 Hz), 5.12
(br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.2 Hz), 5.03 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 5.7 Hz), 4.88 (s, 1H, methine CH), 3.63 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)
= 5.7 Hz), 2.76 (br. sept, 1H, CH(CH3)2, J (1H-1H) = 7.0 Hz), 2.07 (s, 3H,methyl CH3), 1.74 (s, 3H,aliphatic CH3), 1.30 (d, 3H,
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3
3
CH(CH3)2, J (1H-1H) = 6.8 Hz), 1. 23 (d, 3H, CH(CH3)2, J (1H-1H) = 7.0 Hz) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75.5 MHz, 295.6 K) Q),
165.0 (Q), 156.9 (Q), 141.0 (Q), 133.4 (Q, C-Cl), 131.5 (Q, C-Cl), 130.9 (Q, C-Cl, C22-24), 129.7 (2 x CH), 128.5 (CH), 128.1 (CH), 127.8
(CH), 125.6 (CH), 123.2 (CH), 100.8 (Q), 98.5 (methine CH), 97.2 (Q), 87.0 (CH), 83.8 (CH), 83.7 (CH), 80.4 (CH), 30.3
(CH(CH3)2), 24.3 (aliphatic CH3), 23.6 (CH(CH3)2), 21.4 (CH(CH3)2), 18.6 (methyl CH3) Analysis Calculated for C26H25Cl4NORu: C
51.16, H 4.13, N 2.29, Cl 23.23 % Analysis Found for C26H25Cl4NORu: C 51.00, H 4.15, N 2.20, Cl 23.20% ES MS (+): m/z 574.00 [M+]-
Cl
Complex 7 (0.31 g, 0.54 mmol, 71%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 500.23 MHz, 300.0 K) br. t, 1H, CH, 4J (1H-1H) = 1.6 Hz), 7.76-7.73 (br. d, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 8.0 Hz), 7.48
(br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 7.6 Hz), 7.43 (br. t, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 7.5 Hz), 7.24 (br. t, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 7.6 Hz), 7.20 (t, 1H, CH, 3J
(1H-1H) = 7.9 Hz), 7.09 (d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.4 Hz), 5.38 (s, 1H, methine CH), 5.35 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.4 Hz), 5.17 (br.
d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.0 Hz), 5.07 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 5.6 Hz), 3.69 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 5.6 Hz), 2.67 (br. sept, 1H,
CH(CH3)2), 2.03 (s, 3H, methyl CH3), 1.79 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH), 1.22 (d, 3H, CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-1H) = 7.1 Hz), 1.20 (d, 3H, CH(CH3)2,
3J (1H-1H) = 7.1 Hz) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 125.9 MHz, 301.2 K) 169.9 (Q), 165.1 (Q), 157.1 (Q, C-Br), 141.7 (Q), 132.1 (CH), 130.0 (2 x
CH), 129.7 (CH), 129.3 (CH), 127.8 (CH), 125.4 (CH), 125.4 (CH), 123.3 (CH), 122.2 (Q), 101.0 (Q), 94.8 (methine CH), 87.1 (CH),
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Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
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84.6 (CH), 84.4 (CH), 79.4 (CH), 30.5 (CH(CH3)2), 24.7 (aliphatic CH3), 23.3 (CH(CH3)2), 21.0 (CH(CH3)2), 18.4 ( methyl CH3)
Analysis Calculated for C26H27BrClNORu: C 53.30, H 4.64, N 2.39% Analysis Found for C26H27BrClNORu: C 52.90, H 4.60, N
2.35% ES MS (+): m/z 522.03 [M+]-Cl (79Br)
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9
Complex 8 (0.19 g, 0.32 mmol, 66%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz, 300 K)7.76-7.70m, 3H, 3 x CH), 7.49-7.44 (m, 3H, 3 x CH), 7.42 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 7.6 Hz),
7.23 (a. br. t, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 7.4 Hz), 7.09 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 6.4 Hz), 5.39 (s, 1H, methine CH), 5.35 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J
(1H-1H) = 6.2 Hz), 5.16 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.2 Hz), 5.07 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 5.3 Hz), 3.68 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) =
5.7 Hz), 2.66 (br. sept, 1H, CH(CH3)2, J (1H-1H) = 6.9 Hz), 2.02 (s, 3H, methyl CH3), 1.79 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3), 1.20 (a. t, 6H,
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3
CH(CH3)2, J (1H-1H) = 6.3 Hz) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz, 300 K) 164.9 (Q), 157.2 (Q), 138.7 (Q, C-Br), 135.2 (Q), 130.9 (2 x
CH), 129.6 (CH), 128.5 (2 x CH), 127.8 (CH), 126.0 (CH), 125.5 (CH), 123.3 (CH), 100.9 (Q), 96.2 (Q), 94.4 (methine CH), 87.1 (CH),
84.6 (CH), 84.5 (CH), 79.4 (CH), 30.5 (CH(CH3)2), 24.7 (aliphatic CH3), 23.3 (CH(CH3)2), 20.9 (CH(CH3)2), 18.4 (methyl CH3)
Analysis Calculated for C26H27BrClNORu: C 53.30, H 4.64, N 2.39% Analysis Found for C26H27BrClNORu: C 53.20, H 4.65, N 2.30%
ES MS (+): m/z 552.03 [M+]-Cl (79Br)
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Complex 9 (0.16 g, 0.25 mmol, 62%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz, 300 K) 7.74 d, 2H, 2 x CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 8.3 Hz ), 7.49-7.44 (m, 3H, 3 x CH), 7.42 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-
1H)= 7.6 Hz), 7.23 (a. br. t, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 7.4 Hz), 7.09 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 6.4 Hz), 5.39 (s, 1H, methine CH), 5.35 (br.
d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.2 Hz), 5.16 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.2 Hz), 5.07 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 5.3 Hz), 3.68 (br. d, 1H, CH,
3J (1H-1H) = 5.7 Hz), 2.66 (br. sept, 1H, CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.9 Hz), 2.02 (s, 3H, methyl CH3), 1.79 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3), 1.20 (a.
t, 6H, CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.3 Hz) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz, 300 K) Q), 157.2 (Q), 137.0 (Q, C-I), 135.2 (Q), 130.9 (2
x CH), 129.7 (CH), 128.7 (2 x CH), 127.8 (CH), 126.0 (CH), 125.5 (CH), 123.3 (CH), 100.9 (Q), 95.7 (Q), 94.5 (methine CH), 87.1
(CH), 84.7 (CH), 84.5 (CH), 79.5 (CH), 30.5 (CH(CH3)2), 24.7 (aliphatic CH3), 23.4 (CH(CH3)2), 21.0 (CH(CH3)2), 18.4 (methyl CH3)
Analysis Calculated for C26H27ClINORu: C 49.34, H 4.30, N 2.21% Analysis Found for C26H27ClINORu: C 48.80, H 4.30, N 2.20%
ES MS (+): m/z 632.85 [M+]
Complex 10 (0.16 g, 0.29 mmol, 68%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 500.57 MHz, 300.7 K) br. d, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 8.7 Hz), 7.76 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 8.2 Hz), 7.42 (br.
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3
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t, 2H, CH, J (1H-1H)= 7.6 Hz), 7.25-7.20 (m, 1H, CH), 7.10 (br. d, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H)= 7.4 Hz), 6.84 (br. d, 2H, CH, J (1H-1H)= 8.7
Hz), 5.39 (s, 1H, methine CH), 5.34 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 5.0 Hz), 5.16 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.0 Hz), 5.05 (br. d, 1H, CH,
3J (1H-1H) = 5.0 Hz), 4.07 (q, 2H, ethoxy CH2, J (1H-1H) = 6.9 Hz), 3.69 (br. d, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 5.0 Hz), 2.68 (br. sept, 1H,
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CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-1H)= 7.4 Hz), 2.03 (s, 3H, methyl CH3), 1.78 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3), 1.43 (t, 3H, ethoxy CH3, J (1H-1H) = 6.9 Hz),
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1.24-1.16 (br. t, 6H, CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.9 Hz) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 125.5 MHz, 300.7 K) 171.4 (Q), 164.3 (Q), 160.2 (Q), 157.4
(Q), 131.(Q), 128.5 (2 x CH), 127.7 (2 x CH), 126.3 (CH), 125.3 (CH), 123.7 (CH), 113.6 (2 x CH), 100.7 (Q), 96.1 (Q), 93.5 (methine
CH), 87.1 (CH), 84.6 (CH), 84.4 (CH), 79.4 (CH), 63.4 (ethoxy CH2), 30.5 (CH(CH3)2), 24.7 (aliphatic CH3), 23.4 (CH(CH3)2), 21.0
(CH(CH3)2), 18.4 (methyl CH3), 14.8 (ethoxy CH3) Analysis Calculated for C28H32ClNORu: C 61.03, H 5.85, N 2.54, Cl 6.43%
Analysis Found for C28H32ClNORu: C 59.65, H 5.85, N 2.55, Cl I/m% ES MS (+): m/z 516.15 [M+]-Cl
Complex 11 (0.06 g, 0.12 mmol, 62%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz, 300 K) 7.76 (br. d, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 8.3 Hz), 7.42 (br. t, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 7.7 Hz), 7.25-7.20 (m,
2H, CH), 7.14 (br. d, 2H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 7.9 Hz), 7.09 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H)= 7.2 Hz), 5.42 (s, 1H, methine CH), 5.35 (br. d, 1H,
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CH, J (1H-1H) = 6.0 Hz), 5.17 (br. d, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 6.0 Hz), 5.06 (br. d, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 5.7 Hz), 3.69 (br. d, 1H, CH, J
(1H-1H) = 5.7 Hz), 2.68 (br. sept, 1H, CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-1H)= 6.9 Hz), 2.37 (s, 3H, methyl CH3), 2.03 (s, 3H, methyl CH3), 1.79 (s, 3H,
aliphatic CH3), 1.24-1.16 (m, 6H, CH(CH3)2) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz, 300 K) 171.7 (Q), 164.5 (Q), 157.4 (Q), 139.4 (Q),
136.8.(Q), 128.5 (2 x CH), 127.6 (2 x CH), 126.9 (CH), 125.3 (CH), 123.5 (CH), 100.7 (Q), 96.2 (Q), 94.0 (methine CH), 87.2 (CH),
84.6 (CH), 84.4 (CH), 79.4 (CH), 30.4 (CH(CH3)2), 24.7 (aliphatic CH3), 23.4 (CH(CH3)2), 21.4 (methyl CH3), 20.9 (CH(CH3)2), 18.4
(methyl CH3) Analysis Calculated for C27H30ClNORu: C 62.24, H 5.80, N 2.69, Cl 6.80% Analysis Found for C27H30ClNORu: C
62.10, H 5.85, N 2.65, Cl 6.85% ES MS (+): m/z 486.14 [M+]-Cl
Complex 12 (0.10 g, 0.17 mmol, 61%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz, 300 K) 7.85-7.78 (m, 3H, 3 x CH), 7.53-7.36 (m, 9H, 9 x CH), 5.60 (s, 1H, methine CH), 5.56 (br. d, 1H,
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CH, J (1H-1H) = 6.2 Hz), 5.49 (br. d, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 5.5 Hz), 5.27 (br. d, 2H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 5.7 Hz), 3.00-2.90 (br. q, 1H,
CH(CH3)2), 2.13 (s, 3H, methyl CH3), 1.57 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3), 1.35 (dd, 6H, CHC(CH3)2, J (1H-1H) = 6.9 Hz and J (1H-1H) =
3.9Hz) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz, 300 K) 162.4 (Q), 154.3 (Q), 148.3 (Q), 133.7.(Q), 126.7 (Q), 125.4 (Q), 129.8 (CH), 127.8
(CH), 126.4 (CH), 126.0 (CH), 125.0 (CH), 124.6 (CH), 100.8 (Q), 99.8 (methine CH), 97.5 (Q), 84.3 (CH), 82.5 (CH), 79.1 (CH),
79.0 (CH), 30.7 (CH(CH), 27.9 (aliphatic CH3), 22.4 (CH(CH3)2), 22.3 (CH(CH3)2), 17.9 (methyl CH3) Analysis Calculated for
C30H30ClNORu: C 64.68, H 5.43, N 2.51, Cl 6.36% Analysis Found for C30H30ClNORu: C 61.70, H 5.35, N 1.55, Cl 7.30% ES MS (+):
m/z 522.1 [M+]-Cl
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Complex 13 (0.18 g, 0.32 mmol, 62%)
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300.13 MHz, 300.0 K) 7.88-7.81 (m, 2H, CH), 7.65 (ddd, 1H, CH, J (1H-19F)= 9.3 Hz, J (1H-19F)= 6.2 Hz and J
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(1H-1H)= 3.2 Hz), 7.18 (td, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-19F)= 9.1 Hz and 3J (1H-1H)= 4.8 Hz), 7.06-6.97 (m, 2H, CH), 6.93 (ddt, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-19F) =
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9.1 Hz, 3J (1H-1H)= 7.2 Hz and 4J (1H-19F)= 3.5 Hz), 5.43 (s, 1H, methine CH), 5.41 (br. d, 1H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 5.7 Hz), 5.24 (br. d, 1H,
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CH, J (1H-1H) = 5.7 Hz), 5.18 (br. d, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 6.2 Hz), 3.86 (br. d, 1H, CH, J (1H-1H) = 5.5 Hz), 2.65 (br. sept, 1H,
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CH(CH3)2, J (1H-1H)= 7.0 Hz), 2.05 (s, 3H, methyl CH3), 1.82 (br. d, 3H, aliphatic CH3, J (1H-19F) = 0.8 Hz), 1.18 (dd (vt), 6H,
CH(CH)3)2, 3J (1H-1H) = 7.3 Hz) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75.5 MHz, 300.1 K) 166.1 (Q), 163.8 (d, Q, C-F, 1J (13C-19F) = 247.2 Hz), 161.4
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(Q), 155.0 (d, Q, C-F, J (13C-19F) = 213.9 Hz), 152.6 (d, Q, C-F, J (13C-19F) = 225.0 Hz), 135.4 (Q), 131.3 (d, Q, J (13C-19F) = 119.9 Hz)
128.9 (2 x CH, 3J (13C-19F) = 8.7 Hz), 115.8 (d, CH, 2J (13C-19F) = 23.5 Hz), 115.6 (d, CH, 2J (13C-19F) = 23.5 Hz), 114.7 (2 x CH, 2J (13C-19F)
= 22.3 Hz), 113.3 (d, CH, 2J (13C-19F) = 16.1 Hz), 101.1 (Q), 96.1 (Q), 94.2 (methine CH), 86.9 (CH), 84.9 (CH), 84.3 (CH), 78.5 (CH),
30.6 (CH(CH3)2), 23.9 (CH(CH3)2), 23.2 (CH(CH3)2), 20.7 (aliphatic CH3), 18.3 (methyl CH3) Analysis Calculated for
C26H25ClF3NORu: C 55.66, H 4.49, N 2.50% Analysis Found for C26H25ClF3NORu: C 55.45, H 4.50, N 2.45% ES MS (+): m/z 526.09
[M+]-Cl
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Complex14 (0.08 g, 0.21 mmol, 57%)
Complex 14 was synthesised according to the previous ruthenium complex preparation, with addition of 2 equivalents of
diphenyl--ketoiminate ligand.
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz, 300.0 K7.90-7.85 m, 2H, CH), 7.61-7.56 (m, 2H, CH), 7.45-7.30 (m, 2H, CH), 5.72 (d, 1H, NH, J
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(1H-1H) = 2.3 Hz), 5.45 (br. s, 2H, CH), 5.21 (m, 2H, CH), 2.85 (br. sept, 1H, CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-1H)= 7.0 Hz), 2.30 (s, 3H, methyl CH3),
1.32 (br. d, 6H, CH(CH3)2, 3J (1H-1H) = 6.8 Hz) C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz, 300.0 K) 210.3 (Q), 206.4 (Q), 174.5 (Q), 159.3 (Q),
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129.7 (CH), 128.7 (CH), 127.8 (CH), 126.9 (CH), 126.2 (CH), 100.9 (Q), 99.8 (Q), 99.3 (methine CH), 91.8 (CH), 84.9 (CH), 30.7
(CH(CH3)2), 25.2 (2 x CH(CH3)2), 18.3 (methyl CH3) Analysis Calculated for C20H24ClNORu: C 60.91, H 5.32, N 2.84, Cl 7.19%
Analysis Found for C20H24ClNORu: C 60.90, H 5.30, N 3.10, Cl 7.40% ES MS (+): m/z 456.33 [M+]-Cl
Complex 17 (0.04 g, 0.06 mmol, 46%)
Complex 17 was synthesised according to the previous ruthenium complex preparation, with addition of 2 equivalents of NH--
ketoiminate ligand.
1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, 300 K) 7.86-7.83 (m, 2H, CH), 7.31 (ddd, 3H, CH, 3J (1H-1H) = 19.21 Hz, 11.5 Hz and 7.6 Hz,), 5.38 (d,
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1H, methine CH, J (1H-1H) = 2.1 Hz), 2.09 (s, 3H, aliphatic CH3), 1.68 (br. s, 15H, Cp * methyl CCH3) 13C{1H} NMR (125 MHz,
CDCl3, 300 K) 170.8 (Q), 163.1 (Q), 139.8 (Q), 129.3 (CH), 128.0 (2 × CH), 126.7 (2 × CH), 94.0 (methine CH), 84.7 (Q, Cp*
C(CH)3), 28.6 (aliphatic CH3), 8.7 (Cp * methyl, C(CH3)) Analysis Calculated for C20H25ClIrNO: C 45.9, H 4.8, N 2.6 % Analysis
Found for C20H25ClIrNO: C 45.9, H 4.8, N 2.6 %
Complex 18 (0.07 g, 0.13 mmol, 58%)
Complex 18 was synthesised by addition of [Cp*IrCl2]2 (1 eq), a 3-fluoro--diketonate ligand (2 eq) and Et3N (2 eq). All were
stirred in dichloromethane (30 mL) at room temperature overnight. The solvent removed under reduced pressure and the crude
product recrystallised using slow evaporation from a methanolic solution.
1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz, 299.2 K7.66-7.61 (m, 1H, CH), 7.61-7.54 (m, 1H, CH), 7.35-7.28 (m, 1H, CH), 7.19-7.10 (m, 1H, CH),
5.85 (s, 1H, methine CH), 2.08 (s, 3H, CH3), 1.66 (br. s, 15H, Cp* methyl C(CH)3) 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz, 300 K187.3 (Q),
175.5 (Q), 162.7 (d, Q, C-F, 1J (13C-19F) = 243.5 Hz), 141.1 (Q), 129.6 (d, CH, J (13C-19F) = 8.7 Hz), 122.6 (d, CH, J (13C-19F) = 2.5 Hz),
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117.5 (d, CH, J (13C-19F) = 21.0 Hz), 113.9 (d, CH, J (13C-19F) = 23.5 Hz), 97.3 (methine CH), 83.7 (Q, Cp* C(CH3)), 28.2 (aliphatic
CH3), 8.7 (Cp* methyl C(CH3)) Analysis Calculated for C20H23ClFIrO2: C 44.31, H 4.28 % Analysis Found for C20H23ClFIrO2: C
44.55, H, 4.20,% ES MS (+): m/z 507.0 [MH+]-Cl.
Cell Line Chemosensitivity Studies
In vitro chemosensitivity tests were performed at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Bradford, against MCF-7 (human breast
adenocarcinoma), HT-29 (human colon adenocarcinoma), A2780 (human ovarian carcinoma) and A2780cis (cisplatin resistant
A2780 cells) cell lines. Growth inhibitory effects were also tested against ARPE-19 cells. ARPE-19 are a human retinal epithelial
non-cancer cell line that was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. Cancer cell lines were routinely maintained
as monolayer cultures in appropriate medium (RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% foetal calf serum, sodium pyruvate (1 mM)
and L-glutamine (2 mM) AREP-19 cells were cultured in DMEM-F12 medium containing 10% foetal calf serum. For
chemosensitivity studies, cells were incubated in 96-well plates at a concentration of 2 × 103 cells per well and the plates were
incubated for 24 hours at 37 °C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 prior to drug exposure. Complexes or cisplatin were each dissolved
in dimethylsulfoxide to provide stock solutions that were diluted to provide a range of final concentrations. Drug solutions were
added to cells (the final DMSO concentrations was less than 0.1% (v/v) in all cases) and incubated for 5 days at 37 °C in an
atmosphere of 5% CO2. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) (20 L, 5 mg mL−1) was added to
each well and incubated for 3 hours at 37 °C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2. All solutions were then removed via pipette and 150 μL
of dimethylsulfoxide added to each well in order to dissolve the purple formazan crystals. A Thermo Scientific Multiskan EX
microplate photometer was used to measure the absorbance of each well at 540 nm. Lanes containing medium only and 100%
cells were used as blanks for the spectrophotometer and 100% cell survival respectively. Cell survival was determined as the
absorbance of treated cells divided by the absorbance of controls and expressed as a percentage. The IC50 values were
determined from plots of % survival against drug concentration. Each experiment was repeated three times and a mean value
obtained and stated as IC50 (μM) ± SD. To quantify the response of tumour cells compared to normal cells, IC50 values were
expressed as the ratio of IC50 in ARPE-19 cells divided by the IC50 for individual tumour cells evaluated. A ratio of greater than 1
indicates selectivity towards cancer cells. IC50 values (M) and the standard deviations (SD) after a minimum of three repeats are
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presented in Figure S2 (see SI)
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Influence of Hypoxia
The hypoxia assay was conducted according to the protocol stated previously for normoxic conditions. However, the incubation
period, the addition of the drug dilutions and the addition of the MTT solution were carried out inside a Don Whitley Scientific
H35 Hypoxystation which was set at 1.0 or 0.1% O2. Cisplatin was tested as a comparison and a well-known hypoxic sensitive
compound tirapazimine (TPZ) was tested as a positive control. These results are presented in Table S3a and S3b (see SI).
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Inhibition of thioredoxin reductase activity
Thioredoxin reductase sourced from rat liver was obtained from Sigma Aldrich. It is a buffered aqueous glycerol solution, ≥ 100
units/ mg protein. Solution in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 300 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, and 10% glycerol. The rate of change of UV-
vis absorbance was measure at 412 nm over 1 min to give the reaction velocity. The experiment was carried out using just the
enzyme to get the control (no inhibitor) reaction velocity and then varying dilutions of the test compound were added up to a
maximum of 10 M. The reaction velocity in the presence of inhibitor was normalised relative to the control to generate %
activity and plots of % activity versus concentration were constructed to obtain IC50 values (concentration that inhibited 50% of
enzyme activity) For full experimental and IC50 values cf. Figure S3 (see SI).
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Induction of Cancer Cell Death by Apoptosis
Cells were incubated in T-25 flasks and diluted to concentrations of 2.5 x 104 cells/flask (0.5 x 104 cells/ mL) using complete RMPI
1640 medium. These were incubated for 24 hours at 37°C in an atmosphere of 5.0% CO2. Complexes were dissolved in
dimethylsulfoxide and then further diluted with RMPI 1640 to obtained concentrations ranging from 20-0 M. The cells were
then incubated with the varying concentrations of complex for 48 hours, media/drug solutions were removed and flasks were
washed with PBS (5 mL), adding all washings to a centrifuge tube. Trypsin (1 mL/flask) was added to each flask and then
incubated for 5 minutes until a single cell suspension was obtained. The trypsin was then neutralised with medium (5 mL) and
the whole contents of the flask transferred to the same centrifuge tube. The tube was centrifuged at 1000 rcf for 3-5 minutes, the
supernatant removed and the pellet re-suspended in PBS (1 mL). The 1 mL was transferred to an Eppendorf and centrifuged at
1500 rpm for 5 minutes. The supernatant was removed and the pellet re-suspended in 16 L PI, 16 L AmV and 800 L buffer
solution (100 L). The Eppendorf’s were incubated at room temperature for 10 minutes and kept in suspension; and then
transferred to FACS tubes for analysis. Samples were run using flow cytometry and parameters adjusted depending on the
sample tested. A cell count of 10,000 was necessary to conduct this experiment and gave results of PI versus Annex V, each
quadrant was analysed manually and a percentage taken from each quadrant of the plot, and values are presented in Table S8
(see SI).
Analysis of cellular DNA damage by the comet assay
Slides containing a layer of agarose were prepared in advance, using 1% normal melting point agarose (500 mg) in PBS (50 mL).
The cells were diluted with complete RMPI 1640 to a concentration of 1 x 106 cells/ mL, 2 mL of the cell suspension was placed in
each well of a 6-well plate. The cells were incubated for 24 hours at 37˚C in a 5.0% CO2 atmosphere. Drug samples were prepared
in the range 20-0 M, the medium was removed from the wells, and 2 mL of drug sample added to each well. The plate was then
incubated again for 24 hours in the drug solutions, at 37˚C in a 5.0% CO2 atmosphere. The drug samples were removed and
added to centrifuge tubes, the wells each washed with PBS (1 mL), which was also placed into the centrifuge tube. The wells were
then trypsinised (1 mL) for 5 minutes and then neutralised with complete medium (1 mL), these were all added to the centrifuge
tube and centrifuged at 1500 rpm for 3 minutes. The supernatant was removed and the pellet re-suspended in complete medium
containing 10% DMSO (no not use DMSO with single strand assay). The tubes were wrapped in several sheets of tissue and
stored at -80˚C until required for the assay. When conducting the cross-linking assay, the same protocol is followed with an
additional step of exposing the cells to 10% H2O2 for 20 minutes before harvesting the cells. For reagents, conditions and
graphically analysis see Figure S4-6 (SI)
Supporting Information: Crystallographic data and selected bond lengths and angles for ligands L3-6, 8 and 11, and complexes
2, 4-14, 17 and 18. Additional assays on hydrophobicity and hydrolysis. IC50 figures and tables for normoxic (HT-29, MCF-7,
A2780, A2780cis and ARPE-19) and hypoxic assays (HT-29). Chemicals, experimental and data curves for thioredoxin reductase
assay. Cell viability (%) for apoptosis studies (HT-29 and A2780), chemicals and experimental. Comet assay chemicals, experi-
mental and bar-charts, with selected microscope images. This material is available free of charge via the Internet at
http://pubs.acs.org.
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Corresponding Author
* Dr Patrick C. McGowan, School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK, LS2 9JT. Email: p.c.mcgowan@leeds.ac.uk, Tel:
+44(0)113 3436404
Author Contributions
The manuscript was written through contributions of all authors. All authors have given approval to the final version of the
manuscript.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
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We would like to thank the EPSRC for funding and all the technical staff at the University of Leeds for help with NMR (Mr
Simon Barrett), mass spectrometry (Ms. Tanya Marinko-Covell) and microanalysis (Mr. Ian Blakeley).
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ABBREVIATIONS
A2780, human ovarian carcinoma, A2780cis, cisplatin resistant human ovarian carcinoma, Cp*, pentamethylcyclopentadienyl,
HIF-1, hypoxia-inducible factor-1, HT-29, human colon carcinoma, IC50, 50% inhibitory concentration, MCF-7, human breast
carcinoma, NMR, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Trx-R, thioredoxin reductase, DSB, Double Strand Breakage, SSB, Single Strand
Breakage.
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