Hydrogen Bonding and Anticancer Properties of Water-Soluble Chiral p-Cymene RuII Compounds with Amino-Oxime Ligands

An investigation into the effects of hydrogen bonding on the aggregation tendency of ruthenium compounds [((6)-p-cymene)Ru(NHR,NOH)Cl]Cl {R = Ph (1a), Bn (1b)} and [((6)-p-cymene)Ru((NH)-N-2(2-pic),NOH)][PF6](2) (1c), [((6)-p-cymene)Ru(NHBn,NO)Cl] (2b), and [((6)-p-cymene)Ru(NBn,(NO)-N-2)] (3b) has been performed by means of concentration-dependence H-1 NMR chemical shift and DOSY experiments. The synthesis and full characterization of new compounds 1c, [((6)-p-cymene)Ru(NPh,(NO)-N-2)] (3a) and 3b are also reported. The effect of the water-soluble ruthenium complexes 1a-c on cytotoxicity, cell adhesion, and cell migration of the androgen-independent prostate cancer PC3 cells have been assessed by MTT, adhesion to type-I-collagen, and recovery of monolayer wounds assays, respectively. Interactions of 1a-c with DNA and human serum albumin have also been studied. Together, the properties reported herein suggest that ruthenium compounds 1a-c have considerable potential as anticancer agents against advanced prostate cancer.