Anti-tubercular Activity of Ruthenium (II) Complexes with Polypyridines

A series of nine polypyridyl-ruthenium (II) complexes (N-ligands = 2,2′-bipyridines; 2,2′-6′,2′-terpyridines, di-alkyloxy-2,2′-6,2-bipyridine-3,3′-di-carboxylates), were tested against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT). The complex (11) showed remarkable activity against MBT as compared to other complexes, (1–10). The aquo ligand of complex (11), as opposed to other chloro and acetonitrile derivatives, appears to play a key role in the antitubercular potency of this new class of metal-based compounds.