Thesis(M.Sc. (Chemistry)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Imidazolyl-ethanamine Schiff base ligands of the N^N type were prepared by condensation reaction of histamine dihydrochloride with para-substituted aldehyde derivatives to yield: (E)-N-benzylidene-2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethanamine 119a, 4-((E)(2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethylimino)methyl)phenol 119b, E)-N-(4-fluorobenzylidene)-2(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethanamine 119c and (E)-N-(4-nitrobenzylidene)-2-(1H-imidazol-4yl)ethanamine 119d, which were characterised by 1H and 13C-NMR, FTIR specroscopy and HRMS. 2D-NMR experiments (1H-1H COSY and 2D-HMBC) for representative ligand 119b were performed to qualify success in the condensation reaction. An attempted reaction to coordinate Schiff base ligand 119c to zinc chloride was carried out in an NMR tube and traces of the product were observed between 12 and 24 h monitoring using 1H-NMR. Iodine promoted cyclocondensation reaction of anthranilamide and para-substituted aldehyde derivatives afforded 2-aryl-quinazolin4(3H)-ones 120a-e and subsequent chloro-aromatisation reaction in SOCl2 afforded electrophilic C4-(Cl) 2-aryl-4-chloro-quinazolines 121a-e and the compounds were characterised by 1H and 13C-NMR and FTIR spectroscopic techniques. The 2-aryl-4chloro-quinazolines served as prerequisites for de-chloro amination on the C4-(Cl) position by 2-amino-3-nitropyridine to yield 2-aryl-N-(3-nitropyridin-2-yl)quinazolin-4amine derivatives 123a-e in good yield and the derivatives were characterised by 1H and 13C-NMR, FTIR and HRMS spectroscopic techniques. The C4-(Cl) position further allowed for Sonogashira cross-coupling with ethynylpyridine to yield 2-aryl-4(ethynylpyridine)quinazoline derivatives 125a-e which were characterised by 1H and 13C-NMR, FTIR and HRMS spectroscopic techniques. The 2-aryl-4(ethynylpyridine)quinazoline served as ligands for coordination to monomeric pcymene ruthenium(ll) which yielded (ɳ6-p-cymene)RuCl2-2-aryl-4(ethynylpyridine)quinazoline derivatives 126a-e in good yield. Compounds 126a-e were characterised by 1H and 13C-NMR, FTIR and HRMS spectroscopic techniques. 2D-HMBC NMR of representative ligands 126c and 126e showed long range couplings from 1JCH to 9JCH and this was confirmed by coordination induced shifts (CIS) ranging from 1 ppm to 11 ppm. Compounds 119a-d, 123a-e and 125a-e were inductively docked into the active receptors of tyrosine kinase (PDB:2SRC), glutamine synthetase (PDB:1HTO) and oxidoreductase (PDB:3F8P). The docking scores obtained gave hits ranging from -5 to -10 Kcal/mol. Compounds 119a-d, 121a-e, 123a-e, 125a-e and 126a-e were assayed employing the broth-dilution method which gave promising anti-Mycobaterium tuberculosis activity. Compound 125e gave good activity of <0.244 µg/mL over 7 day and 14 day sampling. Coordination of ligands 125a-e to Ru(ll) group resulted in loss of activity, notably for ligand 125e. / NRF and Sasol Inzalo Bursary

Yes / This report presents the first known p-cymene ruthenium quinaldamide complexes which are stabilised by a hydrogen-bridging atom, [{(p-cym)RuIIX(N,N)}{H+}{(N,N)XRuII(p-cym)}][PF6] (N,N = functionalised quinaldamide and X = Cl or Br). These complexes are formed by a reaction of [p-cymRu(μ-X)2]2 with a functionalised quinaldamide ligand. When filtered over NH4PF6, and under aerobic conditions the equilibrium of NH4PF6 ⇔ NH3 + HPF6 enables incorporation of HPF6 and the stabilisation of two monomeric ruthenium complexes by a bridging H+, which are counter-balanced by a PF6 counterion. X-ray crystallographic analysis is presented for six new structures with O⋯O distances of 2.420(4)–2.448(15) Å, which is significant for strong hydrogen bonds. Chemosensitivity studies against HCT116, A2780 and cisplatinresistant A2780cis human cancer cells showed the ruthenium complexes with a bromide ancillary ligand to be more potent than those with a chloride ligand. The 4’-fluoro compounds show a reduction in potency for both chloride and bromide complexes against all cell lines, but an increase in selectivity towards cancer cells compared to non-cancer ARPE-19 cells, with a selectivity index >1. Mechanistic studies showed a clear correlation between IC50 values and induction of cell death by apoptosis

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a serious public health problem, is characterized by tissue death after prolonged ischemia. Ischemia, the repercussion, triggers cellular processes, such as intracellular calcium overload and oxidative stress. There are few pharmacological intervention strategies for prevention and limitation of these lesions, and it is worth noting that the available forms of intervention are not fully effective. Recent research indicates that, as a therapeutic alternative, the use of drugs derived from natural products with antioxidant action has been shown to be an important preventive and treatment tool for the lesions resulting from the infarction. p-Cymene, a monoterpene present in essential oils of various plant species, is a substance that has a range of proven pharmacological activities, among them antinoceptive, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-treatment with p-cymene on ischemia and reperfusion injury (I / R) in hearts isolated from rats. For this purpose, the Langendorff-type aortic perfusion model was used to submit isolated hearts from rats to global ischemia. Wistar rats pretreated with vehicle or p-cymene at the dose of 150 mg / kg / day orally (gavage) were used for 7 days, and thereafter their isolated hearts were subjected to global ischemia and reperfusion in the Langendorff system . As a control of the adopted experimental model, hearts that were not submitted to I / R were used. Measurements of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), indicative of tissue damage, were also performed on all groups of animals, and the contractile parameters in the isolated heart (left ventricular pressure (LVDP), time derivative of ventricular pressure (dP / Dt) and arrhythmia severity index (ASI)], as well as oxidative parameters in cardiac tissue [malonaldehyde formation (MDA), total sulfhydryl; The activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)]. We observed that the pre-treatment with p-cymene preserved the reduction of PDVE, dP / dt and caused lower ASI, improving the contractile function. It reduced the formation of MDA and LDH (62%). In addition, this monoterpene preserves the sulfhydryl groups (38%) and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes CAT (36%), SOD (62%), GPx and GR when compared to the vehicle. It can be concluded that pre-treatment with p-cymene prevents the reduction of cardiac contractile force caused by ischemia and significantly reduces the oxidative damage caused by infarction in the experimental model. / O infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM), grave problema de saúde pública, é caracterizado pela morte tecidual após isquemia prolongada. A isquemia, seguida da reperfusão, desencadeia processos celulares, tais como sobrecarga intracelular de cálcio e estresse oxidativo, que são os eventos principais que levam a morte celular. Existem poucas estratégias de intervenção farmacológica para prevenção e limitação destas lesões, e ainda, vale destacar que as formas de intervenção disponíveis não são totalmente eficazes. Recentes pesquisas apontam que, como alternativa terapêutica, o uso de drogas derivadas de produtos naturais com ação antioxidante tem se mostrado importante ferramenta preventiva e de tratamento para as lesões decorrentes do infarto. O p-cimeno, um monoterpeno presente em óleos essenciais de várias espécies vegetais, é uma substância que apresenta uma gama de atividades farmacológicas comprovadas, dentre elas, atividade antinoceptiva, anti-inflamatória e antioxidante. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o efeito do pré-tratamento com p-cimeno em lesões decorrentes da isquemia e reperfusão (I/R) em corações isolados de ratos. Para tanto, foi adotado o modelo de perfusão aórtico do tipo Langendorff para submeter corações isolados de ratos à isquemia global. Foram utilizados ratos Wistar pré-tratados com veículo ou p-cimeno na dose 150 mg/kg/dia, via oral (gavagem), durante 7 dias, e, posteriormente, seus corações isolados foram submetidos à isquemia global e reperfusão no sistema de Langendorff. Foram utilizados, como controle do modelo experimental adotado, corações que não foram submetidos à I/R. De todos os grupos de animais foram realizadas medidas de lactato desidrogenase (LDH), indicador de lesão tecidual e ainda, foram avaliados tanto os parâmetros contráteis no coração isolado [pressão desenvolvida pelo ventrículo esquerdo (PDVE), derivada temporal de pressão ventricular (dP/dt) e o índice de severidade de arritmias (ASI)], quanto os parâmetros oxidativos no tecido cardíaco [formação malonaldeído (MDA), sulfidrilas totais; a atividade das enzimas antioxidantes catalase (CAT), superóxido dismutase (SOD), glutationa redutase (GR) e glutationa peroxidase (GPx)]. Observamos que o pré-tratamento com p-cimeno preservou a redução de PDVE, dP/dt e causou menor ASI, melhorando a função contrátil. Reduziu a formação de MDA e LDH (62%). Além disso, este monoterpeno preserva os grupos sulfidrila (38%) e a atividade das enzimas antioxidantes CAT (36%), SOD (62%), GPx e GR quando comparado ao veículo. Pode-se concluir que o pré-tratamento com p-cimeno previne a redução da força contrátil cardíaca provocada pela isquemia e reduz significativamente os danos oxidativos causados pelo infarto no modelo experimental. / Aracaju

Το π–κυμένιο (p–ισοπρόπυλο τολουόλιο) είναι ένα πολύ σημαντικό προϊόν με μεγάλο εμπορικό ενδιαφέρον, καθώς αποτελεί κύριο συστατικό πολλών καλλυντικών, αρωμάτων, φαρμακευτικών προϊόντων, καθώς και την πρώτη ύλη για την παραγωγή της p–κρεσόλης. Η τρέχουσα διαδικασία παραγωγής του π–κυμενίου είναι η κατά Friedel–Crafts αλκυλίωση του τολουολίου με προπυλένιο ή προπανόλη–2, η οποία χρησιμοποιεί μεγάλες ποσότητες επιβλαβών οξέων, προκαλώντας πολλά προβλήματα χειρισμού στους εργαζόμενους με αυτό, προβλήματα διάβρωσης και προβλήματα διάθεσης των παραγόμενων αποβλήτων. Τα τελευταία χρόνια, η Πράσινη Χημεία έχει παρουσιασθεί ως η νέα προσέγγιση της Χημείας για την πρόληψη της μόλυνσης του περιβάλλοντος, καθώς και του σχεδιασμού χημικών προϊόντων και διεργασιών που είναι περισσότερο φιλικά προς το περιβάλλον. Η κατάλυση αποτελεί μία από τις κύριες αρχές, αλλά ταυτόχρονα και εργαλείο της Πράσινης Χημείας. Πιο συγκεκριμένα η ετερογενής κατάλυση, που εξυπηρετεί τους στόχους της Πράσινης Χημείας, λόγω της εξάλειψης της ανάγκης διαχωρισμού του παραγόμενου προϊόντος από τον καταλύτη. Επίσης, μία άλλη βασική παράμετρος της Πράσινης Χημείας είναι η χρήση της βιομάζας, ως ανανεώσιμη πρώτη ύλη, με σκοπό την παραγωγή ενέργειας και χημικών προϊόντων. Στην παρούσα εργασία, μελετάται η δυνατότητα καταλυτικής παραγωγής π–κυμενίου, βασιζόμενη στις αρχές της Πράσινης Χημείας. Για το σκοπό αυτό χρησιμοποιείται ως αντιδρών το α–λεμονένιο, ένα μονοτερπένιο το οποίο αποτελεί ανανεώσιμη πρώτη ύλη, καθώς είναι παραπροϊόν της βιομηχανίας χυμών λεμονιού και πορτοκαλιού, καθώς και της βιομηχανίας χάρτου και πολτού. Πιο αναλυτικά, μελετήθηκε η καταλυτική συμπεριφορά οξειδίων με μεγάλη ειδική επιφάνεια, όπως η SiO2, το MCM–41, ο ζεόλιθος NaY, η γ–Al2O3 και δύο δείγματα TiO2, με διαφορετικές ειδικές επιφάνειες, στην αντίδραση μετατροπής του λεμονενίου προς π–κυμένιο. Επίσης, ερευνήθηκε η επίδραση στη διεργασία τόσο της θερμοκρασίας της αντίδρασης, όσο και της σύστασης της ατμόσφαιρας κάτω από την οποία διεξαγόταν η αντίδραση. Τα πειράματα διεξήχθησαν σε αντιδραστήρα σταθερής κλίνης – ατμοσφαιρικής πίεσης, ενώ για την ανάλυση των λαμβανόμενων προϊόντων χρησιμοποιήθηκε αέριος χρωματογράφος – φασματογράφος μάζας (GC–MS). Από τους καταλύτες που μελετήθηκαν ο πιο αποτελεσματικός αποδείχθηκε η τιτάνια με τη σχετικά μεγάλη ειδική επιφάνεια ακολουθούμενη από την τιτάνια με την χαμηλότερη ειδική επιφάνεια, τον ζεόλιθο NaY και τη γ–Al2O3. Τόσο η σίλικα όσο και το MCM–41 παρουσίασαν μάλλον αμελητέα δραστικότητα. Επίσης, παρατηρήθηκε ότι η απόδοση σε π–κυμένιο αυξανόταν γενικά με τη θερμοκρασία, ενώ δεν επηρεαζόταν πρακτικά από την ατμόσφαιρα που διεξαγόταν η αντίδραση. Τέλος, στους 300 οC και χρησιμοποιώντας την τιτάνια με τη σχετικά μεγάλη ειδική επιφάνεια ως καταλύτη επιτεύχθηκε 90% απόδοση για το π–κυμένιο και 100% μετατροπή για το λεμονένιο. Η αυξημένη απόδοση της τιτάνιας αποδόθηκε σε επιτυχή συγκερασμό ανάμεσα στη σχετικά μεγάλη οξύτητα Brönsted και στη σχετικά εύκολη μεταβολή του λόγου Ti(IV)/Ti(III) κατά τη διάρκεια της αντίδρασης. Τα κινητικά αποτελέσματα επέτρεψαν να γραφεί ένα κινητικό σχήμα για τη διεργασία. / P–cymene is a very important product with great commercial interest because of its use as a main ingredient of cosmetics, perfumes and pharmaceutical products as well as raw material for the production of p–cresol. Current production is achieved by using the Friedel–Crafts reaction of toluene with propylene or propanol–2 which uses large quantities of harmful acids which, in turn, leads to industrial accidents, corrosion problems and the general difficulty of handling toxic wastes. A new concept of chemistry has been developed for confronting environmental problems. Green Chemistry is related to products and processes that are environmentally friendly. One of the basic tools of Green Chemistry is catalysis, mainly heterogeneous catalysis, because it allows the easy separation of the catalysts used from the final product. Moreover, following the principles of the Green Chemistry, biomass should be used in the production of renewable energy and chemical products. The present Thesis deals with the catalytic production of p–cymene based on the principles of Green Chemistry. In particular, we use a–limonene, by–product of the juice of orange and lemon industry as well as the paper industry, to produce p–cymene. A number of oxides with large specific surface area, such as SiO2, MCM–41, zeolite NaY, γ–Al2O3 and two samples of TiO2, were studied as catalysts. The effect of the reaction temperature and the composition of the atmosphere were also studied. All experiments were conducted on a fixed bed micro–reactor operating under atmospheric pressure coupled with an on–line Gas Chromatograph–Mass Spectrometer (GC – MS). The titania with the relatively high specific surface area was proved to be the most efficient catalyst among those studied. The following activity series has been obtained: «high surface area titania > small surface area titania > zeolite NaY > γ–Al2O3 > MCM–41 > SiO2». Negligible activity is exhibited by MCM–41 and SiO2. The percentage yield for p–cymene increases with temperature whereas is practically independent from the carrier gas. Very high percentage yield for p–cymene was obtained at 300οC over the high specific surface area titania (~90%). Complete transformation of a–limonene was obtained over the above catalyst at the same temperature. The very high activity obtained over this catalyst was attributed to good compromise between high acidity and easy transformation of the ratio Ti(IV)/Ti(III) during reaction. The kinetic results allow the clarification of the reaction scheme.

Rhododendron tomentosum is an evergreen shrub with a high content of secondary metabolites, particularly essential oils with antimicrobial effects. Diversity of endophytic fungi in this species and their possible adaptation to growth in the essential oil environment is not much explored. Therefore, the first aim of this thesis was to reveal the diversity of endophytic fungi colonising leaves of R. tomentosum on seven localities in the Czech Republic and one in Estonia. I isolated and determined (using comparison of ITS1 and ITS2 rDNA with the sequences from GenBank and morphological signs) 37 species of endophytic fungi. Among them the ubiquitous species colonising the most of the plants as endophytes were dominant. The second aim of my thesis was to explore whether the essential oil from R. tomentosum influences its endophytic fungi. The hypothesis that the strains obtained from R. tomentosum would be adapted to growth in the environment of the essential oil was postulated. I supposed that they would grow better on mediums with different concentrations of these chemical compounds added, in comparison with strains of the same species obtained from different substrates. Within four of seven species tested, the strains obtained from R. tomentosum grew better, but also on the medium without the...

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The p- cymene is a monoterpene aromatic biosynthetic which has many biological properties , including cardiovascular. Em system actions on the in vivo study, p- cymene showed hypotensive activity through a central effect. Therefore, we sought to investigate the effect of p-cymene on the peripheral vascular resistance in the superior mesenteric artery of rats Rats were sacrificed by exsanguination under anesthesia and the superior mesenteric artery was removed, sectioned and kept in vats containing nutrient solution Tyrode. For recording of isometric contractions, each ring was suspended by cotton thread attached to a force transducer connected to a data acquisition system. In mesenteric artery rings with functional endothelium precontracted with phenylephrine (FE) (control), p- cymene (10-8 - 3x10 -2M) induced relaxation (Emáx = 77.1 ± 3.53% , n = 5) in a concentration-dependent manner not was attenuated after removal of endothelium (Emáx = 72 ± 4.03 %, n = 7) or pre-contracted with 80 mM KCl (Emáx = 79.37 ± 5.25 % n = 6) , suggesting a possible effect independent of the endothelium and surrounding channels for Ca2 +. In preparations without functional endothelium and pre-contracted with FEN and incubated with tetraethylammonium (TEA), tetraethylammonium (TEA), a blocker of non-selective for K+ channels, p- cymene induced relaxation (Emáx = 50.56 ± 4.09 %, n = 8) which was not significantly different from that obtained without functional endothelium in rings pre-contracted with FEN without blocking . Thus, possibly there is no involvement of K + channels for this purpose. Furthermore, incubation with p- cymene (3x10-3, 10-2 and 3x10-2M) was able to antagonize the contractions induced by CaCl2 (3x10-7 - 3x10-2M), and sodium orthovanadate (Na3VO4) (10-5 - 3x10-2M) a non-selective inhibitor of protein tyrosine fosfatase.These results it can be concluded that p- cymene produces vasorelaxant effect independent of the endothelium. The pharmacological evidence suggest that the mechanism of action of p- cymene vasorelaxant involves channels for Ca2+ and voltage sensitive desensitization of the Ca2+ contractile elements. / O p-cimeno é um monoterpeno aromático biossintético que apresenta inúmeras propriedades biológicas, incluindo ações sobre o sistema cardiovascular. Em estudo in vivo, o p-cimeno demonstrou atividade hipotensora, através de um efeito central. Diante disso, buscou-se investigar o efeito do p-cimeno sobre a resistência vascular periférica em artéria mesentérica superior de ratos. Para tanto, ratos Wistar foram eutanasiados por dessangramento sob anestesia e a artéria mesentérica superior foi removida, seccionada e mantidas em cubas contendo solução nutritiva de Tyrode. Para o registro das contrações isométricas, cada anel foi suspenso por linha de algodão fixada a um transdutor de força conectado a um sistema de aquisição de dados. Em anéis de artéria mesentérica com endotélio funcional pré-contraídos com fenilefrina (FEN) (controle), o p-cimeno (10-8 - 3x10-2M) induziu relaxamento (Emáx = 77,1 ± 3,53%; n = 5) de maneira dependente de concentração.Este efeito não foi atenuado após a remoção do endotélio (Emáx =72 ± 4,03%, n = 7) ou pré-contraído com KCl 80 mM (Emáx = 79,37 ± 5,25%; n = 6), sugerindo um possível efeito independente do endotélio e envolvendo canais para Ca2+. Em preparações sem endotélio funcional pré-contraídos com FEN e incubadas com tetraetilamônio (TEA), um bloqueador não seletivo dos canais para K+, o p-cimeno induziu relaxamento (Emáx= 50,56 ± 4,09%; n= 8), que não foi significativamente diferente daquele obtido em anéis sem endotélio funcional pré-contraídos com FEN sem o bloqueador. Portanto, possivelmente, não há participação dos canais para K+ neste efeito. Além disso, a incubação com o p-cimeno (3x10-3, 10-2 e 3x10-2M) foi capaz de antagonizar as contrações induzidas por CaCl2 (10-7 - 3x10-2M) e Ortovanadato de Sódio (Na3VO4) (10-5 - 3x10-2M), um inibidor não-seletivo de proteínas tirosina-fosfatase. Diante desses resultados, pode-se concluir que o p-cimeno produz efeito vasorelaxante independente do endotélio. As evidências farmacológicas sugerem que o mecanismo de ação vasorelaxante do p-cimeno envolve canais para Ca2+ sensíveis à voltagem e dessensibilização de elementos contráteis ao Ca2+.

The alluring order in which complex biological networks exist in nature stimulated the interest of chemists to replicate such systems synthetically. With such examples as the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) double helix and the phospholipid bilayers, the influence of forces within these networks are solely credited for their excellent stability. The synthetically ordered chemical networks are also held together by interactions within them with little or no external force as seen in the natural systems. This spontaneous and reversible association of molecules or ions to form larger, more complex entities according to the intrinsic information contained in the molecules themselves is known as self-assembly. The self-assembly process is pre-eminent to the formation of ordered structures emerging spontaneously from the precursors in which, the overall structure of the final assemblies is controlled by the symmetry of each of the building blocks. The highly ordered and thermodynamically stable scaffolds are formed via non-covalent interactions including hydrophobic interaction, π-stacking, dipole-dipole interaction, ion-dipole interaction, hydrogen bonding, Van der Waals forces, solvophobic interaction and reversible metal-ligand coordination. These non-covalent interactions are termed as supramolecular interactions. Among several of these self-assembly protocols, the directional metal-ligand coordination strategy has evolved to be a well-established process for the preparation of supramolecular ensembles with pre-defined shapes, cavities and functionalities in a “one-pot” synthesis. Coordination-driven self-assembly strategy is governed by the combination of electron-deficient metal centres and electron-rich organic ligands. The outcome of the final supramolecular architecture is determined by the choice of the pre-designed metal acceptor building blocks as well as the flexibility and steric demands of the ancillary organic ligands. Accurate stoichiometry of each of the building blocks is also a very important factor in coordination-driven self-assembly; although serendipity sometimes happen which is quite unexpected. A large number of these self-assembled supramolecular networks have found useful applications in optoelectronics, material chemistry, adsorption, drug delivery, catalysis, host-guest chemistry, photo- and electro-chemical sensing as well as prospective chemotherapeutics. Transition metals are widely desired as electron-deficient building blocks in supramolecular chemistry. They readily accept lone pair of electrons from electron-rich building blocks. The functional properties of these metals have also been considered during the pre-design of these electron acceptors such that the functional property of each metal can be induced in the final architecture. Pd(II) and Pt(II) metals are highly desirable electron acceptors in supramolecular self-assembly because of their rigid square-planar nature. Nonetheless, Ru(II) and Fe(II) have also been explored as electron acceptors based on their octahedral geometry. Electron-rich building blocks have lone pairs of electrons on their donor sites (nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur) which effortlessly donate electrons to electron-deficient building blocks. The pyridyl appended ligands have been mostly used as the electron-rich building blocks in the construction of supramolecular architectures because of their predictable coordination modes and the symmetrical nature. However, imidazole appended ligands holds a distinctive spot in supramolecular chemistry because of its rotational flexibility and unpredictable binding modes which may lead to uncommon architectures not obtainable with pyridyl appended ligands. Thus, imidazole-based supramolecular architectures are less explored because the outcome of the final architecture cannot be pre-determined during the design. Ruthenium p-cymene complexes have spurred much interest in the last two decades because they possess extremely stable octahedral geometry and has been extensively used in the construction of 2D and 3D supramolecular architectures. The recent search for viable alternatives to platinum drugs in cancer chemotherapy discovered ruthenium as an excellent alternative to platinum because of its low toxicity when compared to platinum. The robustness of the arene head on interaction with biomolecules and the accumulation of large molecular weight compounds specifically in cancer cells rather than in healthy cells also improved the activity of ruthenium supramolecular architectures in cancer therapy. This recent outcome has propelled significant research channelled towards synthesizing better ruthenium-based chemotherapeutics. Additionally, the presence of two different metals in a single self-assembled architecture may also impart an increased activity when compared to the individual activity of each metal. Thus, the heterometallic supramolecular architectures can open a new kind of chemotherapeutics which may give a distinct mechanistic pathway different from those reported in literature. Chapter 1 of this thesis describes the coordination-driven self-assembly strategy with specific emphasis on ruthenium p-cymene self-assembled architectures and their applications. A brief introduction on cancer and cancer therapy is discussed. The use of mononuclear and dinuclear metal-based chemotherapeutics is included while the use of heterometallic complexes as anticancer agents was also highlighted. Chapter 2 showcases the self-assembly of a series of 2D and 3D ruthenium(II) p-cymene architectures constructed from bidentate and tridentate rigid imidazole-based ligands and dinuclear ruthenium(II) building units. The influence of the rotational flexibility of the imidazole ligands on the final architecture was probed. In spite of the likelihood of the formation of different conformational isomeric architectures (syn and anti) and/or polymeric products due to free rotation on the donor sites of the imidazole ligands, the exclusive formation of a single conformational isomer (anti) as the only product turned out to be a noteworthy observation. This indicates that the coordination mode and flexibility of imidazole ligand can control and determine the geometry, topology and conformations of the final molecular architectures. Scheme 1: Self-assembly of 2D macrocycles [2 - 7](OTf)4 employing dinuclear ruthenium(II) building units [1a - 1c](OTf)2 and bidentate rigid imidazole ligands L1 - L2 in methanol at room temperature. Furthermore, the unexpected formation of a tetranuclear cationic macrocycle [8](OTf)4 was reported in the 2 + 3 self-assembly reaction of triazine-based tridentate imidazole ligand L3 and dinuclear ruthenium(II) building unit [1a](OTf)4 over the expected hexanuclear prismatic cage [8a](OTf)6 which is quite surprising. Scheme 2: Schematic representation of the formation of an unexpected tetranuclear macrocycle [8](OTf)4 over the expected hexanuclear prismatic cage [8a](OTf)6. Chapter 3 reports the synthesis of eight octanuclear cages via the coordination-driven self-assembly of two tetradentate pyridyl-based organic ligands and four dinuclear p-cymene Ru(II) acceptor clips. These octanuclear cages were explored in vitro as potential anticancer agents against human lung adenocarcinoma A549 and human cervical cancer HeLa cell lines. Four of the cages with polyaromatic spacers in their Ru(II) acceptor clip unit showed very low micromolar IC50 values and also possess higher anticancer activity than cisplatin against the tested cancer cell lines. The four dinuclear p-cymene Ru(II) acceptor clips A3 in OC-3 and OC-7 revealed some kind of synergy which is evident in their IC50 values against the tested cancer cell lines. In addition, OC-3 and OC-7 trigger both early and late apoptotic phases while OC-4 and OC-8 trigger majorly late apoptotic phase in the cancer cell lines tested. The mechanistic pathway by which cell death is progressing is through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which is of significant amount in OC-4 and OC-8. Scheme 3: Self-assembly of the discrete octanuclear cages (OC-1 - OC-8) in methanol at room temperature and the schematic illustration of the apoptosis mechanistic pathway. Chapter 4 describes the use of “metalloligands” as electron-rich building blocks and the subsequent use of the metalloligand for “one-pot” self-assembly reactions in the presence of electron-deficient metal acceptor building blocks. The pyridyl donors are the most preferred in metalloligands because of their predictable directionality in self-assembly. The introduction of a second metal into the ligand component of the self-assembled architecture is to bestow additional functionality as well as to construct elegantly designed discrete heterobimetallic supramolecular architectures. Four discrete Ru(II)-Pt(II) hexanuclear trigonal prismatic cages were synthesized employing a tritopic platinum(II) metalloligand and four p-cymene ruthenium(II) clips via coordination-driven self-assembly. The formation of these cages were confirmed by well-known spectroscopic techniques and their structural features was elucidated by geometry optimization. In vitro anticancer studies of these heterometallic cages failed because of solubility challenges in the culture media presumably due to their high molecular weights and many alkyl groups. Scheme 4: Energy minimized structures of the heterometallic trigonal prismatic cages 3a (left) and 3b (right). Hydrogen atoms have been removed for the sake of clarity [Ru: green, Pt: pink, O: red, N: blue, P: orange, C: grey]. Chapter 5 discusses the synthesis of two bidentate platinum(II) metalloligands as well as the self-assembly of six new heterometallic rectangles obtained from four Ru2(OOꓵOO)2(p-cymene)2Cl2 pillars and two bidentate pyridyl-based platinum(II) metalloligands. The Ru4Pt2 and Ru4Pt4 rectangles were structurally characterized and supported by geometry optimisation. Additionally, two Ru4Pt2 and two Ru4Pt4 rectangles were examined for their anticancer properties in eight human cancer cell lines with the aim of checking if the platinum metal centres in the metalloligands can enhance the anticancer activity of the rectangles. The results showed that these heterometallic rectangles are cytotoxic against the cancer cell lines tested but the incorporation of platinum(II) metal(s) into the metalloligand did not further enhance the cytotoxicity in the rectangles tested as hypothesized. The mechanism of cell death is via the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and two Ru4Pt4 rectangles activates both early and late apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis showed that one of the Ru4Pt4 rectangles is a moderate inhibitor of cell cycle progression at the sub G1 phase similar to cisplatin while nuclear condensation and cell blebbing in the cells was also observed in the presence of the two Ru4Pt4 rectangles tested. The overall activity of the heterometallarectangles against the cancer cell lines tested was increased when they exist as a single entity thus reiterating the importance of heterobimetallic supramolecular architectures in cancer therapy. Scheme 5: Schematic diagram of the discrete Ru4Pt4 heterometallic rectangles and illustration of the cell death pathway. The results of the investigation reported in this thesis contribute to the rapidly developing field of organometallic ruthenium(II) self-assembled anticancer chemotherapeutics with specific evidences of the mechanistic pathway of cell death. This results can further guide the design and development of better chemotherapeutics for future use.