CuAAC "Click"-Derived Luminescent 2-(2-(4-(4-(Pyridin-2-yl)-1 H -1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)butoxy)phenyl)benzo[ d ]thiazole-Based Ru(II)/Ir(III)/Re(I) Complexes as Anticancer Agents.

To enhance the cytoselective behavior of the complexes, we intended to develop a CuAAC "click"-derived synthetic protocol for the preparation of 2-(2-(4-(4-(pyridin-2-yl)-1 H -1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)butoxy)phenyl)benzo[ d ]thiazole-based Ru(II)/Ir(III)/Re(I) complexes, and their cytotoxicity against three different cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HeLa, and U87MG) in consort with one normal cell line (HEK-293) was evaluated. In our detailed investigations, the significant cytotoxic nature of the Ru(II) complex 7a compared to Ir(III) and Re(I) complexes ( 7b and 7c , respectively) was observed. Complex 7a was capable of MCF-7 cell apoptosis via the inhibition of both S- and G2/M-phase cell cycle arrest in association with a substantial quantity of ROS production and DNA intercalation.