Two antitumour ruthenium(III) complexes showing selectivity in their binding towards poly(dG)·poly(dC) and poly(dA)·poly(dT)

Abstract
The antitumour-active complexes trans-Him[RuIIICl4(im)2](Him = imidazole) and trans-Hind[RuIIICl4(ind)2](Hind = indazole) bind at a higher binding rate to poly(dG)·poly(dC), compared to poly(dA)·poly(dT); the covalent binding to the nucleobases requires a preceding aquation of the compounds, similar to cisplatin.