The
synthesis, chemical and biological characterization of seven
Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes containing acetylacetonate (acac) ligands
are reported. Electronic absorption spectra were determined and electrochemical
potentials consistent with Ru(III/II) couples ranging from +0.60 to
+0.73 V vs Ag/AgCl were measured. A series of complexes were screened
against MDA-MB-231, DU-145, and MCF-10A cell lines to evaluate their
cytotoxicities in cancer and normal cell lines. Although most complexes
were either nontoxic or equipotent in cancer cells and normal cell
lines, compound 1, [Ru(dpqy)(acac)(py)](PF6), where dqpy is 2,6-di(quinolin-2-yl)pyridine, showed up to 2.5:1.0
selectivity for cancer as compared to normal cells, along with nanomolar
EC50 values in MDA-MB-231 cells. Lipophilicity, determined
as the octanol/water partition coefficient, log P
o/w, ranged from −0.33 (0.06) to 1.15 (0.10) for
the complexes. Although cytotoxicity was not correlated with electrochemical
potentials, a moderate linear correlation between lipophilicity and
toxicities was observed. Cell death mechanism studies indicated that
several of the Ru–acac compounds, including 1,
induce apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells.