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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Design and properties of water-soluble trinuclear ruthenium complexes featuring imidazole-derived ligands
Bruno Faria Abrantes Pinheiro1, Pedro Henrique de Oliveira Santiago2, Nathália de Lima Martins Abichabki3
1Department of Chemistry, LABiQSC(2) - Laboratory of Biological Activity and Supramolecular Chemistry of Coordination Compounds, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract:
Four different fully water soluble triruthenium acetate complexes with general formula [Ru3O(CH3COO)6(L)3]Cl where L = imidazole (1), 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)imidazole (2), 1-methylimidazole (3) and 1-vinylimidazole (4) ligands were synthesized and characterized. Single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments were done for complexes 1 and 3, both presenting a highly organized supramolecular structure held by conventional and non-conventional hydrogen bonds. Spectroscopic and voltammetric data showed the strong π-donation of electronic density from the imidazole ligands to the polynuclear metallic core. Physical-chemical data from 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and crystallography corroborates to this observation, with more shielded bridging acetates, and the shortening of the RuN bond. Partition coefficient was calculated and, for all complexes, the obtained values were near -1, which relates directly with the high water-solubility characteristic of the complexes. All complexes were also evaluated for their biological properties as bactericidal activity against 19 Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains and, for its trypanocide activity, against the parasite T. cruzi in the amastigote form.
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