Ru(II) trithiacyclononane 5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-[(4-methoxystyryl)pyrazole], a complex with facile synthesis and high cytotoxicity against PC-3 and MDA-MB-231 cells

The ruthenium(II) complex [Ru([9]aneS 3)(phpz)Cl 2] (1) ([9]aneS 3=trithiacyclononane, phpz=5-(2- hydroxyphenyl)-3-[(4-methoxystyryl)pyrazole]) was readily isolated by reacting [Ru([9]aneS 3)(DMSO)Cl 2] with one equivalent of the ligand phpz. A combination of MS, FT–IR and solution NMR studies (1-D and 2-D) was employed to determine the structural formula of the complex 1, in which phpz coordinates in a monodentate mode to Ru(II) by a simple replacement of the leaving group DMSO of the precursor. The cytotoxic properties of 1 in vitro were investigated by determination of the half-maximal growth inhibition on the human prostate (PC-3) and breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231).