Structure-Related Mode-of-Action Differences of Anticancer Organoruthenium Complexes with β‑Diketonates

A series of organoruthenium­(II) chlorido complexes with fluorinated O,O-ligands [(η⁶-<i>p</i>-cymene)­Ru­(F₃C-acac-Ar)­Cl] (<b>1a</b>–<b>6a</b>) and their respective 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (pta) derivatives [(η⁶-<i>p</i>-cymene)­Ru­(F₃C-acac-Ar)­pta]­PF₆ (<b>1b</b>–<b>6b</b>) were synthesized and fully characterized in both solution and solid state. All complexes were inactive against nonmalignant keratinocytes but displayed variable activity against cancer cell models (ovarian, osteosarcoma). Compounds with a ligand containing the 4-chlorophenyl substituent (<b>6a</b> and <b>6b</b>) exhibited the strongest anticancer effects. Despite a marginally lower cellular Ru accumulation compared to the chlorido complexes, pta analogues showed higher activity especially in the osteosarcoma model. Reduction of glutathione levels by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) significantly enhanced the activity of all compounds with the most pronounced effects being observed for the pta series resulting in IC₅₀ values down to the nanomolar range. While all chlorido complexes potently induce reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, and apoptosis, the respective pta compounds widely lacked ROS production but blocked cell cycle progression in G0/G1 phase