Solution, solid state and biological characterization of ruthenium(III)-DMSO complexes with purine base derivatives

J Inorg Biochem. 2004 Feb;98(2):393-401. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2003.12.001.

Abstract

Two new complexes of Ru(III) with purine base derivatives, [mer-RuCl(3)(acv)(DMSO-S)(C(2)H(5)OH)].C(2)H(5)OH (1) (acv=acyclovir, DMSO=dimethyl sulfoxide) and [trans-RuCl(4)(guaH)(DMSO-S)].2H(2)O (2) (guaH=protonated molecule of guanine), were prepared from the same Ru(III) precursor, [trans-RuCl(4)(DMSO-S)(2)](-), by substitution of one DMSO-S. Coordination of acv induced also replacement of one chloride by an ethanol molecule. This reactivity difference was explained by striking contrasts in the hydrogen bonding schemes of the two complexes, evidenced in their X-ray crystal structures. In 1 the guanine derivative acyclovir is coordinated to ruthenium through the N(7) atom, while in 2 the protonated guanine molecule is bound through the N(9) atom. Both complexes were also characterized by various physico-chemical methods in the solid state and in the solution. In vitro, the biological activity of 2 and of the previously described complexes [mer-RuCl(3)(acv)(DMSO-S)(CH(3)OH)].0.5CH(3)OH (3) and [mer-RuCl(3)(acv)(DMSO-S)(H(2)O)].H(2)O (4) on tumour cells appear to be very similar to that of NAMI-A (NAMI-A=[ImH][trans-RuCl(4)(DMSO-S)Im]). All compounds are only weakly active on tumour cell proliferation but show an interesting proadhesive effect that suggest possible activity on tumour malignancy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / analysis
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide / chemistry
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide / metabolism
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Mice
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Organometallic Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Purines / chemistry
  • Purines / metabolism
  • Ruthenium / chemistry
  • Ruthenium / metabolism
  • Ruthenium / pharmacology
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Purines
  • Ruthenium
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide