Hydrogen Bonding and Anticancer Properties of Water‐Soluble Chiral <i>p</i>‐Cymene Ru^II Compounds with Amino‐Oxime Ligands

Abstract

The investigation of the hydrogen-bonding effect on the aggregation tendency of ruthenium compounds [(η⁶-<i>p</i>-cymene)Ru(κNHR,κNOH)Cl]Cl (R = Ph (<b>1a</b>), Bn (<b>1b</b>)) and [(η⁶-<i>p</i>-cymene)Ru(κ²NH(2-<i>pic</i>),κNOH)][PF₆]₂ (<b>1c</b>), [(η⁶-<i>p</i>-cymene)Ru(κNHBn,κNO)Cl] (<b>2b</b>) and [(η⁶-<i>p</i>-cymene)Ru(κNBn,κ²NO)] (<b>3b</b>), has been performed by means of concentration dependence ¹H NMR chemical shifts and DOSY experiments. The synthesis and full characterization of new compounds <b>1c</b>, [(η⁶-<i>p</i>-cymene)Ru(κNPh,κ²NO)] (<b>3a</b>) and <b>3b</b> are also reported. The effect of the water soluble ruthenium complexes <b>1a-1c</b> on cytotoxicity, cell adhesion and cell migration of the androgen-independent prostate cancer PC3 cells have been assessed by MTT, adhesion to type-I-collagen and recovery of monolayer wounds assays, respectively. Interactions of <b>1a-1c</b> with DNA and human serum albumin have also been studied. Altogether, the properties reported herein suggest that ruthenium compounds <b>1a-1c</b> have considerable potential as anticancer agents against advanced prostate cancer.