Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Cytotoxicity Activities of Ruthenium(II)/ Bipyridine/Diphosphine/Pyrimidine-2-thiolate Complexes: The Role of the Non- Coordinated N-Atom

The [Ru(Spym)(bipy)(P–P)]PF₆, [Spym = pyrimidine-2-thiolate anion; P–P = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane and 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene] complexes were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic, electrochemical and elemental analysis, and by X-ray crystallography. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the compounds against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the complex concentration causing 50% tumor cell growth inhibition (IC₅₀) against breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231, were determined. All three compounds gave promising values in both tests. It is interesting to mention that all three complexes display MICs against Mycobacteriumtuberculosis showing higher activity than cycloserine, a second line drug used in the treatment of the illness. The complexes interact weakly with the DNA.

Keywords:
ruthenium complexes; pyrimidine-2-thiolate; diphosphine ligand; cytotoxity; tuberculosis