Synthesis, and characterization of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes containing α-amino acids and its DNA binding behavior

Abstract

Reactivity of the ruthenium complexes [Ru(κ³-tptz)(PPh₃)Cl₂] (1) and [Ru(κ³-tpy)(PPh₃)Cl₂] (2) [tptz=2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine; tpy=2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine] with several α-amino acids [glycine (gly); leucine (leu); isoleucine (isoleu); valine (val); tyrosine (tyr); proline (pro) and phenylalanine (phe)] have been investigated. Cationic complexes with the general formulations [Ru(κ³-L)(κ²-L″)(PPh₃)]⁺ (L=tptz or tpy; L″=gly, leu, isoleu, val, tyr, pro, and phe] have been isolated as tetrafluoroborate salts. The resulting complexes have been thoroughly characterized by analytical, spectral and electrochemical studies. Molecular structures of the representative complexes [Ru(κ³-tptz)(val)(PPh₃)]BF₄ (6)_, [Ru(κ³-tpy)(leu)(PPh₃)]BF₄ (10) and [Ru(κ³-tpy)(tyr)(PPh₃)]BF₄ (13) have been determined crystallographically. The complexes [Ru(κ³-tptz)(leu)(PPh₃)]BF₄ (4), [Ru(κ³-tptz)(val)(PPh₃)]BF₄ (6), [Ru(κ³-tpy)(leu)(PPh₃)]BF₄ (10) [Ru(κ³-tpy)(tyr)(PPh₃)] BF₄•3H₂O (13) exhibited DNA binding behavior and acted as mild Topo II inhibitors (10–40%). The complexes also inhibited heme polymerase activity of the malarial parasite Plasmodium yoelii lysate.