Dinuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes: Mechanistic study with biomolecules, DNA/BSA interactions and cytotoxic activity

Abstract The substitution reactions of dinuclear Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes, i.e. [{RuCl(bpy)2}2 (μ-pzn)][PF6]2 (1) and [{RuCl(phen)2}2(μ-pzn)][PF6]2 (2) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, μ-pzn = pyrazine), with mononucleotide guanosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP) and sulfur-containing nucleophiles, such as L-methionine (L-Met) and glutathione (GSH) were studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The structures of dinuclear Ru(II) complexes 1 and 2 were preserved during the substitution processes and the calculated enthalpies and entropies of activation (ΔH≠ > 0, ΔS≠