Polypyridyl Metal Complexes with Biological Activity

Polypyridyl metal complexes have optical properties that have been exploited in a wide range of biological and technological applications. Their structural diversity, chemical and redox properties provide a unique opportunity for designing new anticancer agents. Despite this great potential, relatively little is known about the cytotoxic effects of metal polypyridyl complexes, at least in comparison with other classes of coordination and organometallic compounds. This review uses selected examples to illustrate the most recent research carried out on this class of complexes as enzyme inhibitors and cytotoxic agents.