Advanced-designed Ru(II) complexes containing phosphinite ligands derived from chiral amino alcohols: Electrochemical behavior, DFT calculations, and biological activity

We report two phosphinite ligands derived from chiral amino alcohols, and their complexes with ruthenium(II). These compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods. Then, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and DNA binding activities of the chiral Ru(II)-phosphinite complexes were tested. Complex (1R)-2-{benzyl[(1S)-1-(naphthalen-1-yl)ethyl]amino}-1-phenylethyl diphenylphos- phinito[dichloro(η⁶-p-cymene)ruthenium(II)], 7 showed both the highest radical scavenging activity (90.93 ± 0.98 %) and the highest metal chelating activity (65.45 ± 1.46 %) at 200.0 mg l^-1 concentration. In addition, all of complexes had different rates of binding activity to calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA). Moreover, extensive theoretical and experimental investigations were conducted to gain a more profound understanding of the chemical descriptors and the diverse electronic transitions taking place within the ruthenium complexes, as well as their electrochemical characteristics.