Full text of DOI:10.1080/00958972.2018.1469749

Journal of Coordination Chemistry
ISSN: 0095-8972 (Print) 1029-0389 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/gcoo20
Synthesis, characterization and antitumor
activity of mononuclear and dinuclear ruthenium
complexes
Yan Zhang, Veikko Uahengo, Ping Cai & Gong-Zhen Cheng
To cite this article: Yan Zhang, Veikko Uahengo, Ping Cai & Gong-Zhen Cheng (2018): Synthesis,
characterization and antitumor activity of mononuclear and dinuclear ruthenium complexes, Journal
of Coordination Chemistry, DOI: 10.1080/00958972.2018.1469749
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/00958972.2018.1469749
Accepted author version posted online: 27
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Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Journal: Journal of Coordination Chemistry
DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/00958972.2018.1469749
Synthesis, characterization and antitumor activity of mononuclear and dinuclear
ruthenium complexes
YAN ZHANG*†, VEIKKO UAHENGO‡, PING CAI§ and GONG-ZHEN CHENG§
†
School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tai Yuan University of Science and Technology, 030021,
Taiyuan, China
‡
§
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Namibia Windhoek, Namibia
College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, China
Dinuclear ruthenium complexes [Ru (bpy) BL](ClO ) (Ru-1), where bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine and
2
4
4 2
BL = 2,2′-((1E,1′E)-((E)-diazene-1,2-diyl-bis(2,1-phenylene))-bis(azanylyl-
idene))bis(methanylylidene))diphenol (a bidentate bridging ligand), and mononuclear ruthenium
complexes [Ru(bpy) L](ClO ) (Ru-2), where L = (E)-2-((phenylimino)methyl)phenol, were
2
4
synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and electrospray ionization mass
spectrometry. Their photophysical and electrochemical properties were also studied. The
cytotoxicity of the two complexes in vitro was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-
2
,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The results indicated that Ru-1 and Ru-2 exhibited
significant dose-dependent cytotoxicity to human breast cancer (MCF-7), gastric cancer (SGC-
901), cervical cancer (Hela) and lung cancer (A549) tumor cell lines. Ru-1 showed excellent
antitumor effects in a cellular study (IC values of 3.61 μM for MCF-7 human breast cancer
7
5
0
cells in vitro). However, Ru-2 exhibited the highest cytotoxicity to Hela cells; the IC value is
5
0
3
.71 μM. The results reveal that Ru-1 and Ru-2 have obvious selectivity and might be a
potential anticancer agent that could improve on the efficacy of common anticancer therapies.
*
Corresponding author. Email: yanzhang872010@163.com
1

Keywords: Ru(II) Complexes; Spectral characteristic; Electrochemistry; Antitumor activity
1
. Introduction
Development of more efficient anticancer drugs with better selectivity but less toxic side-effects
is currently an area of hot research topic in bioinorganic chemistry [1, 2]. Since the discovery of
cisplatin by Rosenberg in 1964, more and more attention has been paid to the metal complexes
as potential anticancer drugs [3-5]. Cisplatin is still used today and is highly effective against
testicular and ovarian carcinoma as well as bladder, head and neck tumors [6]. However,
platinum-based anticancer chemotherapy is associated with severe side-effects because of poor
specificity [7]. In the case of cisplatin, systemic toxicities like nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity and
ototoxicity inflict serious disorders or injuries on the patients during treatment, which badly
restrict its efficacy [8]. Therefore, alternative metal compounds are presently being evaluated in
clinical trials [9-12]. One of the most promising metals is ruthenium [13]. Ruthenium
compounds are regarded as promising alternatives to platinum compounds and offer many
approaches to innovative metallopharmaceuticals [14, 15]. The compounds are known to be
stable and to have predictable structures both in the solid state and in solution: tuning of ligand
affinities and accompanied by a steadily increasing knowledge of the biological effects of
ruthenium compounds [16]. In year 1999, NAMI-A (ImH[trans-RuCl (DMSO)(Im)]) and in year
4
2
003, KP1019 (InH[trans-RuCl In ]) was successfully entered into phase I clinical trials for the
4 2
treatment of metastatic tumors and colon cancers [17]. Now NAMI-A was successfully entered
into phase II clinical trials for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer [18]. Schiff bases have
regularly been studied as ligands in coordination chemistry as a result of their good metal
binding ability. The bidentate and multidentate Schiff bases with delocalized pi-orbitals are
suitable ligands for the metals of biological importance, and the study of the chemical properties
of such metal-Schiff base complexes also represents a good strategy for the design and synthesis
of models of biological systems [19-22]. For example, the Ru(II) complex Ru(II)-2,6-bis(2,6-
diisopropylphenyliminomethyl)pyridine exhibits very high cytotoxicity toward cancer cells [23],
2

and Ru(II)-bis(arylimino)pyridine complexes with the co-ligands 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and
,2′-dipyridyl (bpy) can effectively inhibit the proliferation of the cancer cell lines with a low
half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC ) [24]. On the side, Thota’s group reported a series of
2
5
0
novel mononuclear Ru(II) compounds and their in vitro antitumor activity toward the cell lines
murine leukemia L1210, human lymphocyte CEM, human epithelial cervical carcinoma HeLa,
BEL-7402 and Molt4/C8. Some of the complexes exhibited more potent antiproliferative activity
against cell lines than the standard drug cisplatin [25]. These studies stimulate us to combine Ru
metal with Schiff base to study its cytotoxicity toward cancer cells. So in this study, one
dinuclear ruthenium complex [Ru (bpy) BL](ClO ) (Ru-1) [26, 27] and mononuclear ruthenium
2
4
4 2
complex [Ru(bpy) L](ClO ) (Ru-2) (figure 1) were synthesized and characterized. The UV-vis
2
4
absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical behavior of them were also studied. Moreover,
their antitumor effects were investigated in vitro [28].
2
2
. Experimental
.1. Materials and instrumentation
All reagents and solvents were of commercial origin and used without further purification unless
otherwise noted. Ultrapure Milli-Q water was used in all experiments. Dimethylsulfoxide
(
DMSO) and RPMI 1640 were purchased from Sigma. Hela (human cervical carcinoma), SGC-
901 (human gastric carcinoma), MCF-7 (human breast cancer) and A549 (human lung cancer)
cell lines were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection. RuCl ·3H O, 2,2′-
7
3
2
bipyridyl(bpy), (E)-2-((phenylimino)methyl)phenol (L), and the bridging ligand (BL), 2,2'-
(1E,1'E)-(((E)-diazene-1,2-diylbis(2,1-phenylene))-bis-(azanylylidene))bis(methanylylidene))-
diphenol were purchased from the Wuhan Shenshi Huagong, [Ru(bpy) Cl ]·2H O was
(
2
2
2
synthesized and purified according to literature methods. Microanalysis (C, H and N) was
conducted with a Perkin Elmer 240Q elemental analyzer. Electrospray ionization mass spectra
were recorded with an LCQ system (Finnigan MAT, USA) using CH OH as the mobile phase.
3
1
3
00 MHz H NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker AM-300 NMR spectrometer using d -
6
3

DMSO as solvent and TMS (SiMe ) as an internal reference at 25 C. Solution electronic
4
absorption were recorded on a Shimadzu 3100 spectrophotometer in methanol. Cyclic
voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DVP) were done with a CHI 630E
instrument in a three-electrode cell with a pure Ar gas inlet and outlet. The working and counter
electrodes were Pt electrode, and the reference electrode was a saturated calomel electrode
(
SCE). The experiments were carried out in the presence of CH CN. DPV experiments were
3
-1
performed with a scan rate of 20 mVs .
2
2
.2. Synthesis of Ru complexes
.2.1. [Ru(bpy) BL)](ClO ) (Ru-1). AgNO (0.34 g, 2 mmol) was added to
4
4 2
3
[
Ru(bpy) Cl ]2H O (0.52 g, 1 mmol) in absolute ethanol and the mixture was refluxed for
2
2
2
4
0 min. After cooling to room temperature, the solid residue (AgCl) was filtered off and
discarded. To the filtrate, the ligand (BL) (0.11 g, 0.25 mmol) was added and refluxed for 6 h
while magnetically stirred. After room temperature cooling, the solution was concentrated
(10 mL) by evaporating most of the solvent. To the resulting solution, a saturated ethanolic
solution of NaClO (10 mL) was added, followed by water (100 mL). The solution mixture was
4
left to settle at ambient temperature overnight. The brown precipitate was filtered off, washed
with cold water and dried in vacuum. The purification of Ru-1 was performed on a neutral
aluminum oxide column. The first moving brown red band was eluted with acetonitrile
containing 5% water. This was collected and evaporated, washed with cold water and dried in
vacuum (yield 1.18 g, 82%). Data analysis: Elemental analysis calcd (%) for
C H Cl N O Ru : C, 54.89; H, 3.49; N, 11.64. Found: C, 54.88; H, 3.50; N, 11.63. ESI-MS:
6
6
50
2
12 10
2
2
+
m/z = 622.5 for [Ru-1] . UV-vis (in ethanol), λmax(nm) (logε): 293 (2.48), 485 (0.44).
2
.2.2. [Ru(bpy) L](ClO ) (Ru-2). AgNO (0.34 g, 2 mmol) was added to [Ru(bpy) Cl ]2H O
2
4
3
2
2
2
(0.52 g, 1 mmol) in absolute ethanol and the mixture was refluxed for 40 min. After cooling to
room temperature, the solid residue (AgCl) was filtered off and discarded. To the filtrate, the
4

ligand (L) (0.20 g, 1 mmol) was added and refluxed for 6 h while magnetically stirred. After
room temperature cooling, the solution was concentrated (10 mL) by evaporating most of the
solvent. To the resulting solution, a saturated ethanolic solution of NaClO (10 mL) was added,
4
followed by water (100 mL). The solution mixture was left to settle at ambient temperature
overnight. The brown precipitate was filtered off, washed with cold water and dried in vacuum.
The purification of Ru-2 was performed on a neutral aluminum oxide column. The first moving
brown red band was eluted with acetonitrile containing 5% water. This was collected and
evaporated, washed with cold water and dried in vacuum (yield 1.4 g, 90%). Data analysis:
Elemental analysis calcd (%) for C H ClN O Ru: C, 55.89; H, 3.70; N, 9.88. Found: C, 55.87;
3
3
26
5
5
H, 3.71; N, 9.87. ESI-MS: m/z = 610.1 for [Ru-2]+.
2
2
.3. Methods
.3.1. Cytotoxicity assay in vitro. Standard MTT assay procedures were used. Cells were placed
3
in 96-well microassay culture plates (8×10 cells per well) and grown overnight at 37 °C in a 5%
CO incubator. The complexes tested were then added to the wells to achieve final
2
concentrations. Control wells were prepared by addition of culture medium (200 µL). The plates
were incubated at 37 °C in a 5% CO incubator for 48 h. On completion of the incubation, stock
2
MTT dye solution (20 µL, 5 mg/mL) was added to each well. After 4 h, 150 mL DMSO was
added to solubilize the MTT formazan. The optical density of each well was then measured with
a microplate spectrophotometer at 490 nm. The IC values were determined by plotting the
5
0
percentage viability versus the concentration and reading off the concentration at which 50% of
the cells remained viable relative to the control. Each experiment was repeated at least three
times to obtain the mean values. Four different tumor cell lines were the subjects of this study:
MCF-7 (human breast carcinoma), SGC-7901 (human gastric carcinoma), Hela (huamn cervical
cancer) and A549 (human lung carcinoma).
5

2
.3.2. Colony formation assay. The cells were plated in six well plates at 2000 cells per well.
2
4 h later, the complex was added to the plates. After treatment, fresh medium was applied to the
plates. The cells were allowed to grow for ten additional days before staining with Crystal Violet
Sigma). All experiments were repeated at least three times, and similar results were obtained in
each trial.
(
3
3
. Results and discussion
1
.1. Synthesis and H NMR
Ru-1 and Ru-2 were synthesized using the general procedure; the crystals of the complexes were
1
not obtained. However, H NMR spectra, ESI-MS and elemental analysis helped us to determine
1
their structure. H NMR spectra of the two complexes were recorded in d -DMSO. Since the
6
electronic environments of many aromatic hydrogen atoms were very similar, their signals may
appear in a narrow chemical shift range (7.0-9.0 ppm). In fact, the aromatic regions of the spectra
were complicated, however, the number of the aromatic proton signals were consistent with the
1
number of protons of molecular formula by integral area. The detailed H NMR information of
1
Ru-1 and Ru-2 are shown in figure 2. The H NMR spectrum of Ru-1 shows 11 sets of signals
in the aromatic region, in fact there are 13 sets of signals theoretically, the partial overlapping of
the signals made it less than theoretical peak. The signal assignment was rather straightforward
by the comparison of chemical shifts with those of similar complexes [29-32]. The resonances at
8
.64, 7.96, 7.61 and 7.40 ppm were assigned to the H protons of the 2,2′-bipyridine ring. The
resonances at 8.70, 8.49, 8.01, 7.69, 7.44 and 7.19 ppm were assigned to the H protons of the
phenyl ring. There was a singlet at 8.58 ppm, which indicated formation of -C=N in the Schiff
1
base. The H NMR spectrum of Ru-2 shows 12 sets of signals in the aromatic region, in fact
there are 14 sets of signals theoretically, the partial overlapping of the signals made it less than
theoretical peak. The resonances at 8.81, 8.71, 7.96, 7.60, 7.50 and 7.36 ppm were assigned to
the H protons of the 2,2′-bipyridine ring. The resonances at 8.74, 7.99, 7.95, 7.91, 7.82, 7.78 and
7
.49 ppm were assigned to the H protons of the phenyl ring.
6

3
.2. ESI-MS Spectroscopy
The structures of Ru-1 and Ru-2 were further established by electrospray mass spectrometry
ESI-MS) in CH OH. This technique has proven to be very helpful for identifying metal
(
3
complexes with high molecular masses. Dinuclear species Ru-1 (figure 3), with one doubly
+
+
2+
(
M ) charged ion main peak obtained at m/z 623.2 [Ru BL] , results from the total molecular
2
+
+
weight 1444-(ClO ) to give a true mass of 1245 for which its doubly charged ion (M ) is 622.5.
4
2
Mononuclear complex Ru-2 displayed one main peak at m/z 610.1 while there is no doubt that
+
+
the peak at m/z 610.1 belongs to [RuL] (i.e. [710-(ClO )-H ] giving 609.5). It was suggested
4
that both the dinuclear and mononuclear species should be stable in the solution.
3
.3. Electronic absorption spectra studies
The UV-vis spectra of Ru-1 and Ru-2 are displayed in figure 4. Ru-1 is characterized by two
distinctive bands at 293 and 485 nm, and with a shoulder at about 340 nm, while the absorption
spectrum of Ru-2 is shown with complementary bands at 293 nm, 336 nm and 460 nm. The
absorption bands below 350 nm are normally attributed to the overlapped π-π* intraligand
transitions (ILCT) of the ligands while the broad absorption bands at 460 and 485 nm are
ascribed to the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) of the respective complexes [33, 34].
Compared with Ru-2, the MLCT band of Ru-1 shows a significant broader band and slightly
red-shifted with 25 nm (figure 4, inset) towards longer wavelength. This is due to the increase in
the molecular area and the conjugation system of Ru-1 as compared to Ru-2.
3
.4. Electrochemistry studies
The characterization of Ru-1 by cyclic voltammetry (CV) shows a reversible pattern with three
redox peaks 0.51 V, 0.88 V and 1.13 V vs. SCE reference electrode in acetonitrile containing
0
.1 M [N(t-Bu) ](ClO ), as compared to only two peaks (0.71 V, 0.88 V) for Ru-2. The CV data
4 4
are further complemented by the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) peaks (figure 5(b)) for
7

Ru-1 at 0.50 V, 0.79 V and 1.27 V, while for Ru-2 at 0.70 V and 0.82 V, respectively. The three
redox peaks observed for Ru-1 are corresponding to the two one-step oxidation processes:
12+
↔1 ↔1 and one for BL, which shows a very good electronic communication between the
3+
4+
two ruthenium centers through the conjugated π-electron system as displayed by the weaker
peak. The two peaks for Ru-2 must be emanating from the ruthenium center and the ligand [35].
3
.5. In vitro cytotoxicity
The MCF-7 (human breast cancer cell line), SGC-7901 (human gastric cancer cell line), Hela
human cervical cancer cell line) and A549 (human lung cancer cell line) were treated with
(
different concentrations of ligands and complexes for 48 h. The cytotoxicity of these compounds
towards the aforementioned cell lines was evaluated using the MTT method. Culture medium
containing 0.05% DMSO was used as the negative control. After treatment of four cell lines for
4
8 h with Ru-1 and Ru-2 in a range of concentrations, the percentage inhibition of growth of the
cancer cells was determined. The cell viabilities (%) vs. concentrations obtained with continuous
exposure for 48 h are depicted in figure 6; the IC values are listed in table 1. The cytotoxicity
5
0
of the complexes was found to be concentration-dependent. The cell viability decreased with
increasing concentrations of both complexes. On comparison to ruthenium complexes, the
ligands displayed the cytotoxicity at higher μM concentration. As shown in table 1, it was clear
that Ru-1 was active and exhibited low IC values (3.61±0.98 μM) to the MCF-7 cells at 48 h.
5
0
However, Ru-2 exhibited the highest cytotoxicity to Hela cells; the IC value is 3.71±3.5 μM.
5
0
Moreover, the IC of Ru-2 to SGC-7901 was lower than the [Ru(bpy) (adpa)](PF ) (bpy = 2,2′-
5
0
2
6 2
bipyridine, adpa = 4-(4-aminophenyl)diazenyl-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)aniline) which had
been synthesized and reported by our group [36]. Dinuclear Ru-1 displayed the cytotoxicity at
1
–3
lower μM concentration than [(bpy) Ru(BL )Ru(bpy) ](PF ) to MCF-7 [37]. On comparison
2
2
6 4
with other ruthenium complexes (e.g. [(bpy) Ru(L)Ru(bpy) ]Cl (L = 1,6-bis(3-(1H-imidazo-
2
2
4
[
4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl)-9H-carbazol-9-yl)hexane), IC >100 μM) [38], these reported
50
ruthenium complexes displayed the cytotoxicity at lower μM concentration. These results reveal
8

that Ru-1 and Ru-2 have obvious selectivity and might be a potential anticancer agent that could
improve on the efficacy of common anticancer therapies [39].
3
.6. Colony formation assay
The colony formation assay was performed to examine the effect of Ru-1 on MCF-7 growth. As
shown in figure 7, MCF-7 cells generated fewer colonies with increasing of Ru-1 concentration,
suggesting that colony was concentration dependent. Treated with 2.5 μM of complex, the
colony number was about three times as much as 10 μM, treated with 30 μM of complex, the
colony number was nearly 10% compared with control [40].
4
. Conclusion
Two new Ru(II) complexes were synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis and
electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Absorption spectra and electrochemical behavior
were also studied. Ru-1 and Ru-2 exhibited the spin-allowed singlet metal-to-ligand charge
transfer transition at 485 and 460 nm. Moreover, Ru-1 undergoes two metal-centered oxidation
and one bridge ligand oxidation, while Ru-2 undergoes one metal-centered oxidation and one
ligand oxidation vs. a saturated calomel electrode. In vitro cytotoxic assays of the complexes
were studied, and according to these studies, Ru(II) complexes showed significant dose-
dependent cytotoxicity to breast cancer (MCF-7), gastric cancer (SGC-7901), cervical cancer
(Hela) and lung cancer (A549) tumor cell lines, and Ru-1 showed excellent antitumor effects in a
cellular study to MCF-7. Ru-2 exhibited the highest cytotoxicity to Hela cells; the IC value is
5
0
3
.71 μM. The results reveal that Ru-1 and Ru-2 have obvious selectivity and might be a
potential anticancer agent that could improve on the efficacy of common anticancer therapies.
This work is ongoing in our group.
9

Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21101121),
the Natural Science Fund of Hubei Province (No. 2010CDB01301) and Doctor Fund of Taiyuan
University of Science and Technology (No. 20172005).
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Cancer, 13, 165 (2014).
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Figure 1. Molecular structures of Ru-1 and Ru-2.
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Figure 2. H NMR spectrum of (a) Ru-1 and (b) Ru-2 in d -DMSO.
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1
3

Figure 3. ESI-MS spectrum of Ru-1 in methanol.
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Figure 4. UV-Vis spectra complexes Ru-1 and Ru-2 (1×10 M) in methanol; the inset shows the
broader band of Ru-1.
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Figure 5. (a) CV and (b) DPV studies of Ru-1 and Ru-2 in acetonitrile.
Figure 6. Cell viability of Ru-1 and Ru-2 toward proliferation of Hela, A549, SGC-7901 and
MCF-7. Each point is the mean ± the standard error obtained from three independent
experiments.
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Figure 7. Antineoplastic activity of Ru-1 to MCF-7 by colony formation assay.
Table 1. The IC (in μM) of ligands and Ru complexes.
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0
Compound
BL
Hela
>100
A549
>100
SGC-7901
95.98±3.55
>100
MCF-7
89.32±2.98
96.74±2.83
3.61±0.98
17.99±1.01
L
85.45±3.23 >100
Ru-1
Ru-2
35.85±2.6 26.79±0.44
20.96±1.98
24.21±0.82
3.71±3.5
21.59±1.02
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