A theoretical study on the hydrolysis process of two Keppler-type antitumor complexes [TzH][trans-RuCl4(Tz)2] and [2-NH2TzH][trans-RuCl4(2-NH2Tz)2]

The hydrolysis processes of two Keppler-type antitumor ruthenium(III) complexes of [TzH][trans-RuCl4(Tz)2] (TzICR) and [2-NH2TzH][trans-RuCl4(2-NH2Tz)2] ((2-NH2)TzICR) have been investigated by using density functional theory (DFT) method, and the solvent effect was also considered and calculated by conductor-like polarizable calculation model (CPCM). The structural characteristics and the detailed energy profiles for the hydrolysis processes of title complexes have been obtained. The analysis of thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of hydrolysis reaction suggests the following: For the 1st hydrolysis step, the complex TzICR has a lower hydrolysis rate than the reported drug [ImH][trans-RuCl4Im2](ICR, Im = imidazole). However, complex (2-NH2)TzICR has obviously a higher hydrolysis rate than TzICR and ICR. The result is in good agreement with the experimental one and the related regularity was further explained in theory. For the 2nd hydrolysis step, it is very significant to find that the formation of cis-diaqua products is thermodynamically preferred to that of trans isomers. Combining with the hydrolysis action mechanism of cisplatin, this is related to the so-called “cis effect”, in which the cis-diaqua products are advantageous to binding to pertinent biomolecular targets. Therefore, the cis-diaqua products can be expected to be important precursors for the biological actions. These theoretical results would help to understand the action mechanism of these potential drugs with the pertinent biomolecular target.