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Amide Coupling Reaction for the Synthesis of Bispyridine-based Ligands and Their Complexation to Platinum as Dinuclear Anticancer Agents

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Multichiral Half-Sandwich Ru(II) and Os(II) Anticancer Complexes Containing a Glutathione Synthesis Inhibitor.

Pragya Kumari¹, Hannah E Bridgewater^2,3, Sara Anisi²

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.

Organometallics

|December 26, 2025

Summary

Novel organometallic complexes with L-buthionine sulfoximine (L-BSO) were synthesized. The Os-LBSO complex showed cytotoxicity to ovarian cancer cells and inhibited glutathione synthesis, unlike its Ru counterpart.

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Area of Science:

Organometallic Chemistry
Medicinal Chemistry
Biochemistry

Background:

L-buthionine sulfoximine (L-BSO) is a known inhibitor of glutathione synthesis.
Organometallic complexes are explored for therapeutic potential.
Chirality in drug development presents significant challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

To synthesize and characterize novel half-sandwich organometallic complexes incorporating L-BSO and glycine analogs.
To investigate the solution chemistry and biological activity of these complexes.
To explore the potential of these complexes as anticancer agents.

Main Methods:

Synthesis and characterization of ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) complexes.
Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations for diastereomer stability.
Cytotoxicity assays against various cancer and normal cell lines.
Glutathione inhibition assays.

Main Results:

Novel Ru-LBSO, Os-LBSO, Ru-Gly, and Os-Gly complexes were successfully synthesized and characterized.
DFT calculations indicated preferential stability for specific diastereomers of Ru-LBSO and Os-LBSO.
Os-LBSO exhibited cytotoxicity against human ovarian cancer cells (IGROV-1) but not lung or cervical cancer cells.
Os-LBSO demonstrated significant glutathione inhibition, while Ru-LBSO did not.
Glycine analogs (Ru-Gly, Os-Gly) showed no toxicity to cancer or normal cells.

Conclusions:

The development of chiral organometallic complexes for clinical use faces challenges due to multiple chiral centers.
Os-LBSO shows promise as a targeted cytotoxic agent for ovarian cancer with a novel mechanism of action (glutathione inhibition).
These findings open avenues for discovering new drugs with unique mechanisms, despite synthetic complexities.