Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxic and structure activity relationships of some mononuclear Ru(II) complexes

New mononuclear Ru(II) complexes [Ru(A)2(B)]2+, where A = 2,2′-bipyridine/1,10-phenanthroline and B = 3,4,5-tri-OCH3-DPC, 4-CH3-DPC, 4-N(CH3)2-DPC, 4-NO2-DPC, N-BITSZ, PTSZ and PINH, were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of the complexes and their corresponding ligands were investigated against the human cancer T-lymphocyte cell lines molt 4/c8 and CEM and the murine tumor leukemia cell line L1210, human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) and Bel-7402 liver cancer cells by MTT assay. The complexes [Ru(A)2(B)]2+ (A = 1,10-phenanthroline, B = 3,4,5-tri-OCH3-DPC) exerts rather more potent activities against all of these cell lines, especially for CEM and L1210. Ru complexes and structure–activity relationships and anticancer mechanisms are also discussed.