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1. Light‐responsive and Protic Ruthenium Compounds Bearing Bathophenanthroline and Dihydroxybipyridine Ligands Achieve Nanomolar Toxicity towards Breast Cancer Cells ^†

   https://doi.org/10.1111/php.13508  

   Oladipupo, Olaitan E.; Brown, Spenser R.; Lamb, Robert W.; Gray, Jessica L.; Cameron, Colin G.; DeRegnaucourt, Alexa R.; Ward, Nicholas A.; Hall, James Fletcher; Xu, Yifei; Petersen, Courtney M.; et al (November 2021, Photochemistry and Photobiology)

   ABSTRACT We report new ruthenium complexes bearing the lipophilic bathophenanthroline (BPhen) ligand and dihydroxybipyridine (dhbp) ligands which differ in the placement of the OH groups ([(BPhen)₂Ru(n,n′‐dhbp)]Cl₂withn = 6 and 4 in 1_Aand 2_A, respectively). Full characterization data are reported for 1_Aand 2_Aand single crystal X‐ray diffraction for 1_A. Both 1_Aand 2_Aare diprotic acids. We have studied 1_A, 1_B, 2_A, and 2_B(B = deprotonated forms) by UV‐vis spectroscopy and 1 photodissociates, but 2 is light stable. Luminescence studies reveal that the basic forms have lower energy³MLCT states relative to the acidic forms. Complexes 1_Aand 2_Aproduce singlet oxygen with quantum yields of 0.05 and 0.68, respectively, in acetonitrile. Complexes 1 and 2 are both photocytotoxic toward breast cancer cells, with complex 2 showing EC₅₀light values as low as 0.50 μM with PI values as high as >200vs. MCF7. Computational studies were used to predict the energies of the³MLCT and³MC states. An inaccessible³MC state for 2_Bsuggests a rationale for why photodissociation does not occur with the 4,4′‐dhbp ligand. Low dark toxicity combined with an accessible³MLCT state for¹O₂generation explains the excellent photocytotoxicity of 2. 

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2. Crystal structures of [Cu(phen)(H 2 O) 3 ( M F 6 )]·H 2 O ( M = Ti, Zr, Hf) and [Cu(phen)(H 2 O) 2 F] 2 [HfF 6 ]·H 2 O

   https://doi.org/10.1107/S2056989021000645  

   Nisbet, Matthew L.; Poeppelmeier, Kenneth R. (February 2021, Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications)

   null (Ed.)

   The crystal structures of three bridged bimetallic molecular compounds, namely, triaqua-2κ 3 O -μ-fluorido-pentafluorido-1κ 5 F -(1,10-phenanthroline-2κ 2 N , N ′)copper(II)titanium(IV) monohydrate, [Cu(TiF 6 )(phen)(H 2 O) 3 ]·H 2 O (phen is 1,10-phenanthroline, C 12 H 8 N 2 ), (I), triaqua-2κ 3 O -μ-fluorido-pentafluorido-1κ 5 F -(1,10-phenanthroline-2κ 2 N , N ′)copper(II)zirconium(IV) monohydrate, [Cu(ZrF 6 )(phen)(H 2 O) 3 ]·H 2 O, (II), and triaqua-2κ 3 O -μ-fluorido-pentafluorido-1κ 5 F -(1,10-phenanthroline-2κ 2 N , N ′)copper(II)hafnium(IV) monohydrate, [Cu(HfF 6 )(phen)(H 2 O) 3 ]·H 2 O, (III), and one molecular salt, bis[diaquafluorido(1,10-phenanthroline-κ 2 N , N ′)copper(II)] hexafluoridohafnate(IV) dihydrate, [CuF(phen)(H 2 O) 2 ] 2 [HfF 6 ]·2H 2 O, (IV), are reported. The bridged bimetallic compounds adopt Λ-shaped configurations, with the octahedrally coordinated copper(II) center linked to the fluorinated early transition metal via a fluoride linkage. The extended structures of these Λ-shaped compounds are organized through both intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds and intermolecular π–π stacking. The salt compound [Cu(phen)(H 2 O) 2 F] 2 [HfF 6 ]·H 2 O displays an isolated square-pyramidal Cu(phen)(H 2 O) 2 F + complex linked to other cationic complexes and isolated HfF 6 2− anions through intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions. 

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3. Photocytotoxicity and photoinduced phosphine ligand exchange in a Ru( ii ) polypyridyl complex

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d1sc05647f  

   Steinke, Sean J.; Gupta, Sayak; Piechota, Eric J.; Moore, Curtis E.; Kodanko, Jeremy J.; Turro, Claudia (February 2022, Chemical Science)

   Two new tris-heteroleptic Ru( ii ) complexes with triphenylphosphine (PPh 3 ) coordination, cis -[Ru(phen) 2 (PPh 3 )(CH 3 CN)] 2+ (1a, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) and cis -[Ru(biq)(phen)(PPh 3 )(CH 3 CN)] 2+ (2a, biq = 2,2′-biquinoline), were synthesized and characterized for photochemotherapeutic applications. Upon absorption of visible light, 1a exchanges a CH 3 CN ligand for a solvent water molecule. Surprisingly, the steady-state irradiation of 2a followed by electronic absorption and NMR spectroscopies reveals the photosubstitution of the PPh 3 ligand. Phosphine photoinduced ligand exchange with visible light from a Ru( ii ) polypyridyl complex has not previously been reported, and calculations reveal that it results from a trans -type influence in the excited state. Complexes 1a and 2a are not toxic against the triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 in the dark, but upon irradiation with blue light, the activity of both complexes increases by factors of >4.2 and 5.8, respectively. Experiments with PPh 3 alone show that the phototoxicity observed for 2a does not arise from the released phosphine ligand, indicating the role of the photochemically generated ruthenium aqua complex on the biological activity. These complexes represent a new design motif for the selective release of PPh 3 and CH 3 CN for use in photochemotherapy. 

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4. Unlocking the Potential of Ru(II) Dual‐action Compounds with the Power of the Heavy‐atom Effect ^†

   https://doi.org/10.1111/php.13573  

   Toupin, Nicholas P.; Steinke, Sean J.; Herroon, Mackenzie K.; Podgorski, Izabela; Turro, Claudia; Kodanko, Jeremy J. (December 2021, Photochemistry and Photobiology)

   ABSTRACT We report the synthesis, photochemical and biological characterization of two new Ru(II) photoactivated complexes based on [Ru(tpy)(Me₂bpy)(L)]²⁺(tpy = 2,2':6',2''‐terpyridine, Me₂bpy = 6,6'‐dimethyl‐2,2'‐bipyridine), where L = pyridyl‐BODIPY (pyBOD). Two pyBOD ligands were prepared bearing flanking hydrogen or iodine atoms. Ru(II)‐bound BODIPY dyes show a red‐shift of absorption maxima relative to the free dyes and undergo photodissociation of BODIPY ligands with green light irradiation. Addition of iodine into the BODIPY ligand facilitates intersystem crossing, which leads to efficient singlet oxygen production in the free dye, but also enhances quantum yield of release of the BODIPY ligand from Ru(II). This represents the first report of a strategy to enhance photodissociation quantum yields through the heavy‐atom effect in Ru(II) complexes. Furthermore, Ru(II)‐bound BODIPY dyes display fluorescence turn‐on once released, with a lead analog showing nanomolar EC₅₀values against triple negative breast cancer cells, >100‐fold phototherapeutic indexes under green light irradiation, and higher selectivity toward cancer cells as compared to normal cells than the corresponding free BODIPY photosensitizer. Conventional Ru(II) photoactivated complexes require nonbiorthogonal blue light for activation and rarely show submicromolar potency to achieve cell death. Our study represents an avenue for the improved photochemistry and potency of future Ru(II) complexes. 

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5. Ruthenium Complexes with Protic Ligands: Influence of the Position of OH Groups and π Expansion on Luminescence and Photocytotoxicity

   https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24065980  

   Oladipupo, Olaitan E.; Prescott, Meredith C.; Blevins, Emily R.; Gray, Jessica L.; Cameron, Colin G.; Qu, Fengrui; Ward, Nicholas A.; Pierce, Abigail L.; Collinson, Elizabeth R.; Hall, James Fletcher; et al (March 2023, International Journal of Molecular Sciences)

   Protic ruthenium complexes using the dihydroxybipyridine (dhbp) ligand combined with a spectator ligand (N,N = bpy, phen, dop, Bphen) have been studied for their potential activity vs. cancer cells and their photophysical luminescent properties. These complexes vary in the extent of π expansion and the use of proximal (6,6′-dhbp) or distal (4,4′-dhbp) hydroxy groups. Eight complexes are studied herein as the acidic (OH bearing) form, [(N,N)2Ru(n,n′-dhbp)]Cl2, or as the doubly deprotonated (O− bearing) form. Thus, the presence of these two protonation states gives 16 complexes that have been isolated and studied. Complex 7A, [(dop)2Ru(4,4′-dhbp)]Cl2, has been recently synthesized and characterized spectroscopically and by X-ray crystallography. The deprotonated forms of three complexes are also reported herein for the first time. The other complexes studied have been synthesized previously. Three complexes are light-activated and exhibit photocytotoxicity. The log(Do/w) values of the complexes are used herein to correlate photocytotoxicity with improved cellular uptake. For Ru complexes 1–4 bearing the 6,6′-dhbp ligand, photoluminescence studies (all in deaerated acetonitrile) have revealed that steric strain leads to photodissociation which tends to reduce photoluminescent lifetimes and quantum yields in both protonation states. For Ru complexes 5–8 bearing the 4,4′-dhbp ligand, the deprotonated Ru complexes (5B–8B) have low photoluminescent lifetimes and quantum yields due to quenching that is proposed to involve the 3LLCT excited state and charge transfer from the [O2-bpy]2− ligand to the N,N spectator ligand. The protonated OH bearing 4,4′-dhbp Ru complexes (5A–8A) have long luminescence lifetimes which increase with increasing π expansion on the N,N spectator ligand. The Bphen complex, 8A, has the longest lifetime of the series at 3.45 μs and a photoluminescence quantum yield of 18.7%. This Ru complex also exhibits the best photocytotoxicity of the series. A long luminescence lifetime is correlated with greater singlet oxygen quantum yields because the triplet excited state is presumably long-lived enough to interact with 3O2 to yield 1O2. 

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