We
report the synthesis, characterization, and antiproliferative
activity of organo-osmium(II) and organo-ruthenium(II) half-sandwich
complexes [(η6-p-cym)Os(L)Cl]Cl
(1 and 2) and [(η6-p-cym)Ru(L)Cl]Cl (3 and 4), where
L = N-(2-hydroxy)-3-methoxybenzylidenethiosemicarbazide
(L1) or N-(2,3-dihydroxybenzylidene)-3-phenylthiosemicarbazide
(L2), respectively. X-ray crystallography showed that
all four complexes possess half-sandwich pseudo-octahedral “three-legged
piano-stool” structures, with a neutral N,S-chelating thiosemicarbazone
ligand and a terminal chloride occupying three coordination positions.
In methanol, E/Z isomerization of
the coordinated thiosemicarbazone ligand was observed, while in an
aprotic solvent like acetone, partial dissociation of the ligand occurs,
reaching complete displacement in a more coordinating solvent like
DMSO. In general, the complexes exhibited good activity toward A2780
ovarian, A2780Cis cisplatin-resistant ovarian, A549 lung, HCT116 colon,
and PC3 prostate cancer cells. In particular, ruthenium complex 3 does not present cross-resistance with the clinical drug
cisplatin in the A2780 human ovarian cancer cell line. The complexes
were more active than the free thiosemicarbazone ligands, especially
in A549 and HCT116 cells with potency improvements of up to 20-fold
between organic ligand L1 and ruthenium complex 1.