Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Investigations of Half-Sandwich Ruthenium(II) Complexes Containing Benzimidazole Moiety

Half-sandwich Ru(II) complexes belong to group of biologically active metallo-compounds with promising antimicrobial and anticancer activity. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of arene ruthenium complexes containing benzimidazole moiety, namely, [(η⁶-p-cymene)RuCl(bimCOO)] (1) and [(η⁶-p-cymene)RuCl₂(bim)] (2) (where bimCOO = benzimidazole-2-carboxylate and bim = 1-H-benzimidazole). The compounds were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, UV-vis and CV. Molecular structures of the complexes were determined by SC-XRD analysis, and the results indicated the presence of a pseudo-tetrahedral (piano stool) geometry. Interactions in the crystals of the Ru complexes using the Hirshfeld surface analysis were also examined. In addition, the biological studies of the complexes, such as antimicrobial assays (against planktonic and adherent microbes), cytotoxicity and lipophilicity, were performed. Antibacterial activity of the complexes was evaluated against S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa PAO1 and LES B58. Cytotoxic activity was tested against primary human fibroblasts and adenocarcinoma human alveolar basal epithelial cells. Obtained biological results show that the ruthenium compounds have bacteriostatic activity toward Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 strain and are not toxic to normal cells. A molecular docking study was applied as a predictive source of information about the plausibility of examined structures binding with HSA as a transporting system.

Crystal Structures of Half-Sandwich Ru(II) Complexes, [(η6-p-Cymene)(3-chloro-6-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridazine)Ru(X)]BF4, (X = Cl, Br, I)

Herein, we report the synthesis and single-crystal X-ray structures of three (η6-p-cymene)Ru(II) tetrafluoroborate salts, viz., [(η6-p-cymene)(3-chloro-6-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridazine)Ru(X)]BF4, (X = Cl, Br, I), Ru1-3. They were prepared by the reactions of [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(μ-X)(X)]2, (X = Cl, Br, I) with two-mole equivalents of 3-chloro-6-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridazine, under inert conditions at ambient temperatures, and subsequently precipitated by the addition of excess BF4− ions. Orange crystalline precipitates were obtained in good yields, from which the respective single crystals for X-ray diffraction analysis were recrystallized by slow evaporation from their methanolic/diethyl ether solutions. The Ru(II) complexes were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and chemical methods, which included FTIR, 1H/13C NMR, UV-visible absorption, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The molecular structures were solved by single-crystal X-ray crystal diffraction analysis. The complexes crystallized in the monoclinic crystal system in the P21/c (Ru1-2) and P21/n (Ru3) space groups. Density Functionals Theoretical (DFT) calculations were performed in methanol to gain an understanding of the electronic and structural properties of the complexes. Trends in the data metrics were established, and selected data were compared with the diffraction data. The electrophilicity indices of Ru1-3 follow the order Ru3 > Ru2 > Ru1, and the trend is in line with their anticipated order of reactivity towards nucleophiles.