Arene–ruthenium complexes with ferrocene-derived ligands: Synthesis and characterization of complexes of the type [Ru(η⁶-arene)(NC₅H₄CH₂NHOC-C₅H₄FeC₅H₅)Cl₂] and [Ru(η⁶-arene)(NC₃H₃N(CH₂)₂O₂C–C₅H₄FeC₅H₅)Cl₂]

Arene–ruthenium complexes of general formula [Ru(η⁶-arene)(L)Cl₂] where L = NC₅H₄CH₂NHOC-C₅H₄FeC₅H₅, arene = <i>p-ⁱ</i>PrC₆H₄Me (<b>1</b>) or C₆Me₆ (<b>2</b>); L = NC₃H₃N(CH₂) ₂O₂C–C₅H₄FeC₅H₅, arene = <i>p-ⁱ</i>PrC₆H₄Me (<b>3</b>) or C₆Me₆ (<b>4</b>), and diruthenium–arene complexes of general formula [Ru(η⁶-arene)Cl₂] ₂ (L) where L = 1,1′-(NC₅H₄CH₂NHOC)₂-C₅H₄FeC₅H₄, arene = <i>p-ⁱ</i>PrC₆H₄Me (<b>5</b>) or C₆Me₆ (<b>6</b>); L = 1,1′-(NC₃H₃N(CH₂)₂O₂C)₂–C₅H₄FeC₅H₄, arene = <i>p-ⁱ</i>PrC₆H₄Me (<b>7</b>) or C₆Me₆ (<b>8</b>) have been synthesized and characterized. The molecular structures of <b>1</b> and <b>3</b> were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The <i>in vitro</i> anticancer activities of complexes <b>1–8</b> have been studied comparatively to the uncoordinated ligands. The complexes exhibit fairly low cytotoxicities in comparison to related ferrocene-derived arene–ruthenium complexes.