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Yes / We report the effect of low-energy thermal neutron irradiation on the antiproliferative activities of a highly hydrophobic organometallic arene ruthenium dithiolatoecarborane complex [Ru(p-cymene) (1,2- dicarba-closo-dodecarborane-1,2-dithiolato)] (1), and of its formulation in Pluronic® triblock copolymer P123 coreeshell micelles (RuMs). Complex 1 was highly active, with and without neutron irradiation, towards human ovarian cancer cells (A2780; IC50 0.14 mM and 0.17 mM, respectively) and cisplatinresistant human ovarian cancer cells (A2780cisR; IC50 0.05 and 0.13 mM, respectively). Complex 1 was particularly sensitive to neutron irradiation in A2780cisR cells (2.6 more potent after irradiation compared to non-irradiation). Although less potent, the encapsulated complex 1 as RuMs nanoparticles resulted in higher cellular accumulation (2.5 ), and was sensitive to neutron irradiation in A2780 cells (1.4 more potent upon irradiation compared to non-irradiation). / We thank the Leverhulme Trust (Early Career Fellowship No. ECF-2013-414 to NPEB), the University of Warwick (Grant No. RD14102 to NPEB), the University of Birmingham/EPSRC Follow-on- Fund (Grant No UOBFOF026 to BP), the ERC (Grant No. 247450 to PJS), EPSRC (EP/F034210/1 to PJS).

Yes / The complexes [RuCp*(PP)Cl] (Cp* = C5Me5; [1], PP = dppm; [4], PP = Xantphos), [RuCp#(PP)Cl] (Cp# = C5Me4(CH2)5OH; [2], PP = dppm; [5], PP = Xantphos) and [RuCp*(dppm)(CH3CN)][SbF6] [3] were synthesized and evaluated in vitro as anticancer agents. Compounds 1–3 gave nanomolar IC50 values against normoxic A2780 and HT-29 cell lines, and were also tested against hypoxic HT-29 cells, maintaining their high activity. Complex 3 yielded an IC50 value of 0.55 ± 0.03 μM under a 0.1% O2 concentration.

Yes / The association of the arene ruthenium metallacycle [Ru4(p-cymene)4(bpe)2(donq)2][DOS]4 (bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene, donq = 5,8-dioxydo-1,4-naphtoquinonato, DOS = dodecyl sulfate) with pyrenyl-functionalized poly(arylester) dendrimers bearing cyanobiphenyl end-groups is reported. The supramolecular dendritic systems display mesomorphic properties as revealed by polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and small-angle X-ray scattering measurements. The multicomponent nature of the dendrimers and of the corresponding host–guest supramolecules (i.e., end-group mesogens, dendritic core, pyrene unit, aliphatic spacers, and metallacycle) leads to the formation of highly segregated mesophases with a complex multilayered structure due to the tendency of the various constitutive building-blocks to separate in different organized zones. The pyrenyl dendrimers exhibit a multilayered smectic A-like phase, thereafter referred to as LamSmA phase to emphasize this unaccustomed morphology. As for the corresponding Ru4–metallacycle adducts, they self-organize into a multicontinuous thermotropic cubic phase with the Im3̅m space group symmetry. This represents a unique example of liquid-crystalline behavior observed for such large and complex supramolecular host–guest assemblies. Models of their supramolecular organizations within both mesophases are proposed. / R.D. thanks the Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant No 200020-140298) for financial support.

Les travaux de thèse retranscrits dans ce mémoire ont pour sujet l’élaboration de nouveaux ligands pour la coordination de métaux et l’application des complexes correspondants pour la catalyse et la thérapie.La première partie du manuscrit traite de l’élaboration de ligands phosphine-diène, de leurs analogues saturés et des complexes arène-ruthénium correspondants. Le départ d’arène permet au ligand phosphine-cycloheptadiène de former avec le ruthénium un complexe bimétallique cationique où le ligand est chélate κ-P/diène-η4. Ces complexes ont été appliqués en catalyse pour l’addition radicalaire par transfert d’atome (ATRA) de CCl4 au styrène. Lors de l’utilisation de conditions dures, la supériorité des complexes « diène » a pu être mise en évidence par rapport aux analogues saturés.La seconde partie rapporte le développement de nouveaux analogues de base de Schiff : les « salicylamidines ». L’utilisation de différentes voies de synthèse a permis d’obtenir plusieurs générations de ligands. Ils ont été utilisés pour la coordination de métaux et sont particulièrement adaptés à la formation de complexes avec le zinc et l’aluminium. Certains de ces composés ont été utilisés pour la polymérisation par ouverture de cycle (ROP) de lactides et ont démontré une bonne activité.La dernière partie concerne la synthèse et l’évaluation de complexes métalliques comme agents anticancéreux. Des complexes phosphine-or et phosphine-ruthénium ont été synthétisés et évalués pour leur activité antiproliférative. Les complexes phosphine-or présentent une activité remarquable, meilleure que le cisplatine. La nature de l’arène des complexes phosphine-ruthénium influe fortement sur leur activité, les dérivés « benzoate d’éthyle » donnent des cytotoxicités significativement meilleures que les analogues « p-cymène ». Des complexes de titane et de zirconium avec un ligand de type aza-dipyrrométhène ont été synthétisés. Une étude préliminaire de leurs propriétés photophysiques a été réalisée et a indiqué que les composés étaient fluorescents. L’étude de leur propriété anticancéreuse a démontré une faible cytotoxicité. / The subject of this thesis concerns the development of new ligands, their coordination chemistry, and the synthesis of the corresponding metal complexes for catalysis and therapy.The first part of this work relates to the synthesis of diene-phosphine ligands, their saturated analogs, and the corresponding arene-ruthenium complexes. Arene decoordination allows the formation of a cationic bimetallic complex where the ligand is diène-η4/κ-P coordinated to the ruthenium. These complexes have been applied to atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) of CCl4 to styrene. When harsh reaction conditions are used, the superiority of the “diene” complexes is highlighted comparing to saturated analogs.The second part concerns the development of new Schiff base analogs: the “salicylamidines”. Several ligand generations have been obtained following different synthetic paths. They have been used for metal coordination, and are especially well-suited for the formation of zinc and aluminium complexes. Some of the compounds have been applied to ring opening polymerization (ROP) of lactides, and demonstrated good activity.The last part reports on the synthesis and assessment of metal-based anticancer agents. Some phosphine-gold and phosphine-ruthenium complexes have been synthesized and tested for their antiproliferative activity on several cancer cell lines. The phosphine-gold complexes showed impressive activities, better than cisplatine. Activity of phosphine-ruthenium is strongly influenced by the nature of the arene, ethyl benzoate derivatives are significantly more cytotoxic than p-cymene ones. Titanium and zirconium complexes with aza-dipyrromethene ligand were synthesized. Preliminary photophysical study was performed and indicated fluorescence. Their anticancer properties were assessed, and they are only poorly cytotoxic.