Synthesis, Crystallographic Structure, Theoretical Analysis, Molecular Docking Studies, and Biological Activity Evaluation of Binuclear Ru(II)-1-Naphthylhydrazine Complex

Ruthenium(II)-arene complexes have gained significant research interest due to their possible application in cancer therapy. In this contribution two new complexes are described, namely [{RuCl(η - -cymene)} (μ-Cl)(μ-1- , -naphthyl)]X (X = Cl, ; PF , ), which were fully characterized by IR, NMR, and elemental microanalysis. Furthermore, the structure of in the solid state was determined by a single crystal X-ray crystallographic study, confirming the composition of the crystals as . The Hirshfeld surface analysis was employed for the investigation of interactions that govern the crystal structure of . The structural data for out of was used for the theoretical analysis of the cationic part [{RuCl(η - -cymene)} (μ-Cl)(μ-1- , -naphthyl)] ( ) which is common to both and . The density functional theory, at B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) basis set for H, C, N, and Cl atoms and LanL2DZ for Ru ions, was used for the optimization of the structure. The natural bond orbital and quantum theory of atoms in molecules analyses were employed to quantify the intramolecular interactions. The reproduction of experimental IR and NMR spectra proved the applicability of the chosen level of theory. The binding of to bovine serum albumin was examined by spectrofluorimetry and molecular docking, with complementary results obtained. Compound acted as a radical scavenger towards DPPH and HO radicals, along with high activity towards cancer prostate and colon cell lines.