Two mixed valence diruthenium(II,III) isomeric complexes show different anticancer properties

Dalton Trans. 2021 Jul 13;50(27):9643-9647. doi: 10.1039/d1dt01492g.

Abstract

In this paper it is demonstrated that the nature of the ligands of two Ru2(ii,iii) paddlewheel complexes dramatically affects the overall anticancer properties in cells. Herein, the complex [Ru2(EB776)4Cl] was found to be more active against a glioblastoma model with respect to its isomer [Ru2(EB106)4Cl]. These different effects depend on the steric hindrance, on the allowed conformations of the complexes and on the presence of hydrophilic regions in [Ru2(EB776)4Cl], which overall lead to a lower "steric protection".