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Updated: Feb 27, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Turning on the red phosphorescence of a [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(Cl)]Cl complex by amide substitution: self-aggregation,
B Siewert1, M Langerman, Y Hontani
1Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 233CC Leiden, The Netherlands. bonnet@chem.leidenuniv.nl.
Abstract:
Coupling the notoriously non-emissive complex [Ru(tpy)(bpy)Cl]Cl (tpy = 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) to a C12 alkyl chain via an amide linker on the 4' position of the terpyridine yielded a new amphiphilic ruthenium complex showing red emission and chloride-dependent aggregation properties. This emissive complex is highly cytotoxic in A549 non-small lung cancer cells where it can be followed by confocal microscopy. Uptake occurs within minutes, first by insertion into the cellular membrane, and then by migration to the peri-nuclear region.
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