Dual properties of water-soluble Ru-PTA complexes of dendrimers: Catalysis and interaction with DNA

•Dendrimers ended by PTA ruthenium complexes catalyze the hydration of phenylacetylene.•The complexes generated in situ are more efficient catalysts than preformed complexes.•The complexes generated in situ are more efficient catalysts than preformed complexes.•The bioefficiency of one of the Ru-PTA complexes is comparable to that of cisplatin.•Very few types of identical dendrimers usable both in catalysis and biology are known.