Arene ruthenium (II) complexes with phosphorous ligands as possible anticancer agents

Ruthenium(II) complexes of formula [Ru(?6-arene)Cl2(PTA)] (RAPTA) are potential anticancer drugs with notable antimetastatic and antiangiogenic activity, which are now pointing to clinical trials. Following the great interest aroused by these compounds, a variety of RAPTA derivatives, obtained by chloride substitution and/or containing functionalized arene ligands, and complexes resembling the RAPTA structure but bearing different phosphorous ligands have been synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer activity. An overview of all of these biologically relevant complexes will be given, with particular reference to the anticancer behaviour exhibited by the compounds and the possible relationship with structural aspects.