Exploring the Reactivity and Decomposition of Ruthenium Nitrosyl Complexes for the Production of Nitrogen Oxides

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to both suppress and promote tumor growth, depending in part on concentration. Exogenous delivery of NO may lead to tumor suppression. Recent studies have proposed ruthenium nitrosyl complexes as catalytic donors of NO in reductive environments. Catalytic donation can provide a long-term, elevated NO flux compared to single use donors. Site-specific delivery is desirable to reduce systemic side effects, such as lowering of blood pressure. Three new ruthenium nitrosyl complexes were synthesized to impart site-specificity through amide coupling to polymers, silica nanoparticles, iron oxide nanoparticles and antibodies. The catalytic activity of new and existing compounds was then assessed. However, upon one-electron reduction of ruthenium nitrosyl complexes, insignificant amounts of NO were detected, suggesting an alternative mechanism than that proposed in prior reports. The mechanism of [Ru(EDTA)NO]²⁻ decay was more thoroughly analyzed. Spectrophotometric decay of [Ru(EDTA)NO]²⁻ indicates that one or multiple nitrogen oxide species are released. Previous studies have suggested a disproportionation mechanism leading to the generation of more highly reduced species such as N₂ and NH₄⁺. Experiments were designed to analyze possible decomposition products such as [Ru(EDTA)NO]⁻ and [Ru(EDTA)H₂O]²⁻. A disproportionation mechanism was determined likely. Decomposition of [Ru(EDTA)NO]²⁻ was also observable following reductive nitrosylation of [Ru(EDTA)H₂O]⁻ in the presence of HNO. The decomposition product, [Ru(EDTA)H₂O]²⁻, was observed through the binding of pyrazine (pz) or dipyridine (bipy) and formation of [Ru(EDTA)pz]²⁻ or [Ru(EDTA)bipy]³⁻. Formation of [Ru(EDTA)bipy]³⁻ or [Ru(EDTA)pz]²⁻ via reductive nitrosylation of [Ru(EDTA)H₂O]⁻ also provides an indirect method of HNO detection that is selective from NO.