Photoactive Ru(II) Complexes With Dioxinophenanthroline Ligands Are Potent Cytotoxic Agents

Abstract

Two novel strained ruthenium­(II) polypyridyl complexes containing a 2,3-dihydro-1,4-dioxino­[2,3-<i>f</i>]-1,10-phenanthroline (dop) ligand selectively ejected a methylated ligand when irradiated with >400 nm light. The best compound exhibited a 1880-fold increase in cytotoxicity in human cancer cells upon light-activation and was 19-fold more potent than the well-known chemotherapeutic, cisplatin