Cytotoxicity and reactivity of a redox active 1,4-quinone-pyrazole compound and its Ru(II)-p-cymene complex

A 1,4 quinone functionalized bis(3,5-dimethylpyazole) ligand complexed with RuII-p-cymene to form a stable complex. The quinone ligand is reduced during metal complexation in methanol to hydroquinone while oxidizing the methanol to formaldehyde. The quinone ligand displays quasi-reversible redox activity, activation under hypoxia and disrupts cellular redox balance by oxidizing NADH, whereas the complexation with RuIIdeactivated the redox capability and cytotoxicity due to reduction to hydroquinone.