Introducing N-, P-, and S-donor leaving groups: an investigation of the chemical and biological properties of ruthenium, rhodium and iridium thiopyridone piano stool complexes.

A series of 15 piano-stool complexes featuring either a RuII, RhIII or IrIII metal center, a bidentate thiopyridone ligand, and different leaving groups was synthesized. The leaving groups were selected in order to cover a broad range of different donor atoms. Thus, 1-methylimidazole served as a N-donor, 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (pta) as a P-donor, and thiourea as a S-donor. Additionally, three complexes featuring different halido leaving groups (Cl, Br, I) were added. Leaving group alterations were carried out with respect to a possible influence on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters, as well as the cytotoxicity of the respective compounds. The complexes were characterized via NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (where possible), mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Cytotoxicity was assessed in 2D cultures of human cancer cell lines by microculture and clonogenic assays as well as in multicellular tumor spheroids. Furthermore, cellular accumulation studies, flow-cytometric apoptosis and ROS assays, DNA plasmid assays, and laser ablation ICP-MS studies for analyzing the distribution in sections of multicellular tumor spheroids were conducted. This work demonstrates the importance of investigating each piano-stool complexes' properties, as the most promising candidates showed advantages over each other in certain tests/assays. Thus, it was not possible to single out one lead compound, but rather a group of complexes with enhanced cytotoxicity and activity.