Abstract:
Use of ruthenium complexes as immunosuppressive agents to prevent or significantly reduce graft rejection in organ and bone marrow transplantation is described. The ruthenium complexes can also be used as immunosuppressant drugs for T-lymphocyte mediated autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes, and may be useful in alleviating psoriasis and contact dermatitis. The ruthenium complexes can also be used therapeutically in the treatment of hyperproliferative vascular disease.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a Continuation-in-Part application of U.S. Ser. No. 08/331,204, filed Oct. 28, 1994, now abandoned, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Replacement of defective or severely injured tissues and organs has been a medical objective as long as medicine has been practiced. Grafts from an individual to himself almost invariably succeed, and are especially important in the treatment of burn patients. Likewise, grafts between two genetically identical individuals almost invariably succeed. However, grafts between two genetically dissimilar individuals would not succeed without immunosuppressive drug therapies. The major reason for their failure is a T cell mediated immune response to cell-surface antigens that distinguish donor from host. 
     Immunosuppressive agents are also indicated in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or type I diabetes mellitus. One particular condition worth mentioning here is psoriasis. This disease is characterized by erythematous patches of skin accompanied by discomfort and itching. Hyperplasia of the epidermis involving proliferation of keratinocytes is also a hallmark feature of psoriasis. An inflammatory component is suggested by: (i) the finding of lymphocytic infiltration of epidermis, and (ii) the fact that immunosuppressive agents such as cyclosporin and corticosteroids have beneficial effect on the disease. 
     A number of drugs are currently being used or investigated for their immunosuppressive properties. Among these drugs, the most commonly used immunosuppressant is cyclosporin A. However, usage of cyclosporin has numerous side effects such as nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and other central nervous system disorders. Thus, there is presently a need to investigate new immunosuppressive agents that are less toxic but equally as effective as those currently available. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the use of ruthenium complexes as immunosuppressive agents to prevent or significantly reduce graft rejection in organ and bone marrow transplantation. The ruthenium complexes can also be used as an immunosuppressant drug for T lymphocyte mediated autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus and steroid resistant asthma. 
     In another aspect, other diseases with suspected inflammatory components, such as psoriasis, contact dermatitis and hyperplasia of the epidermis, can be treated with a ruthenium complex of this invention to alleviate symptoms associated with these disease states. 
     It has also been demonstrated that the ruthenium complexes have antiproliferative properties and in particular can inhibit cardiac smooth muscle cells. Based upon this, the ruthenium complexes can be used for the treatment of hyperproliferative vascular disorders, such as restenosis and atherosclerosis. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is based upon the discovery that ruthenium complexes can inhibit antigen specific T lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. The data suggest that ruthenium complexes have potential use as immunosuppressants to reduce undesirable immune responses in humans. Ruthenium complexes can be used to facilitate organ transplantation, and to treat human autoimmune disorders where the specific activation of T cells is responsible for, or contributes to the pathology and progression of the diseases, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus and steroid resistant asthma. 
     This invention pertains to novel ruthenium complexes that have immunosuppressive properties of the general formula: 
     
          RuM.sub.m B.sub.b T.sub.t P.sub.p !Z 
    
     wherein Ru is ruthenium having an oxidation state of 2, 3 or 4; 
     wherein M is a monodentate ligand selected from the group consisting of nitrogen containing ligands, phosphorus containing ligands, sulfur containing ligands, oxygen containing ligands and halide; 
     wherein m is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6; 
     wherein b is 0, 1, 2 or 3; 
     wherein t is 0, 1 or 2; 
     wherein p is 0 or 1; 
     wherein m+b+t+p is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6; 
     wherein B is a bidentate ligand selected from the group consisting of aliphatic amines, heterocyclic aromatic amines, sulfur containing ligands, oxygen containing ligands and phosphorus containing ligands; 
     wherein T is a tridentate ligand selected from the group consisting of nitrogen containing ligands, sulfur containing ligands, oxygen containing ligands and phosphorus containing ligands; 
     wherein P is a polydentate ligand selected from the group consisting of nitrogen containing ligands, oxygen containing ligands, sulfur containing ligands and phosphorus containing ligands; 
     wherein when the complex is charged then Z is a counterion, for example a counterion of appropriate charge to render the overall charge of the complex neutral selected from the group consisting of F - , Cl -  Br - , I - , NO 3   - , NH 4   + , NR 4   1+ , PF 6   - , BPh 4   - , SO 4   -2 , S 8   -2 , S 2  O 7   -2 , RuCl 4   -2 , K + , Na + , Li + , ClO 4   - , and R 1  ImH + , where Im is imidazole; and 
     wherein R 1  is a linear or branched alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or aryl. 
     The coordination sphere of the metal center may contain all six ligands (referred to as monodentate) to be equivalent or a mixture of different ligands. The mixture of ligands can consist of different monodentate ligands; a mixture of bidentate/monodentate in a ratio of 1:4 or three bidentate ligands; a mixture of bidentate/tridentate/monodentate in a ratio of 1:1:1; two tridentate ligands; or tridentate/monodentate in a 1:3 ratio; or a mixture of polydentate and bidentate in a ratio of 1:1; or a mixture of polydentate/monodentate in a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio depending on the nature of the polydentate ligand. 
     For the purposes of this application, the terms &#34;monodentate&#34;, &#34;bidentate&#34; and &#34;tridentate&#34; will have their generally accepted meaning in the art. That is, a monodentate ligand is defined as a chemical moiety or group which has one potential coordinating atom. More than one potential coordinating atom is termed a multidentate ligand where the number of potential coordinating atoms is indicated by the terms bidentate, tridentate, etc. 
     Ruthenium complexes of this invention can contain a ruthenium metal center of different oxidation states, e.g., Ru(II), Ru(III) or Ru(IV). The complex may also contain a counterion of appropriate charge to render the overall charge of the complex neutral. Suitable counterions for cationic complexes, include but are not limited to, halide F - , Cl - , Br -  or I - ), SO 4   -2 , S 8   -2 , S 2  O 7   -2 , PF 6   - , BPh 4   - , RuCl 4   -2 , ClO 4   -  and NO 3   - . Examples of suitable counterions for anionic complexes include but are not limited to Na + , K + , Li + , NH 4   + , NR 4   1+  and R 1  Im +  where R 1  is a linear or branched alkyl of 1 to 4 carbons or aryl group and Im is imidazole. 
     In one embodiment, the ruthenium complex can comprise six monodentate ligands which can contain nitrogen (e.g., heterocyclic aromatic amines, aliphatic amines), sulfur, phosphorus or oxygen groups. Examples of suitable ligands include but are not limited to imidazole, pyridine, ammonia, triazole, picoline, pyrazole, quinoline, pyrazine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, quinoxaline, quinazoline, isoquinazoline, piperidine, phosphine, phosphite, thiolate, sulfoxide, alkoxide, phenolate and carboxylate. Derivatives of these ligands can also be incorporated into the complex in various combinations with the non-substituted ligands. A derivative is a ligand in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms has been substituted with a moiety, such as C1-C5 alkyl, C2-C4 alkenyl, hydroxy, nitro, amino, carboxyl, ester, di-C1-C4 alkyl amine, phenyl, benzyl, imidazole and combinations of these. Preferred ligands are imidazole derivatives having the general formula: ##STR1## where R 2  and R 3  are independently selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl, linear and branched (e.g., 1 to 8 carbons) alkyl, --C(O)H, --COOR 1 , --CONR 1 , --COOH, --CH 2  NH 2 , --CH 2  OSO 2 , --CH 2  COH, --CH 2  COR 1 , --CH 2  CONR 1 , --CH 2  COOH, H, Cl, Br, I and NO 2 . 
     Preferred ligands also include pyridine derivatives having the following general formula above: ##STR2## 
     Examples of preferred ruthenium complexes having monodentate ligands are listed below. 
      Ru(Im) 6  !Cl 2  where Im=imidazole 
      Ru(1-MeIm) 6  !Cl 2  where 1-MeIm =1-methyl imidazole 
      Ru(1-MeIm) 6  !(PF 6 ) 3   
      Ru(1-MeIm) 6  !Cl 3   
      Ru(Im) 6  !Cl 3   
     trans- Ru(NH 3 ) 4  (Im)(py)!Cl 3   
     cis- Ru(NH 3 ) 4  (IM) 2  !Cl 3   
     trans- Ru(NH 3 ) 4  (IM) 2  !Cl 3   
      Ru(NH 3 ) 5  (L-his)!Cl 3   
      Ru(NH 3 ) 5  (py)!Cl(RuCl 4 ) 
     cis- Ru(NH 3 ) 4  (py) 2  !Cl 3   
      Ru (NH 3 ) 5  (4-pic)!Cl 3   
     cis- Ru(NH 3 ) 4  (1-MeIm) 2  !Cl 3   
      Ru(NH 3 ) 3  (Im) 3  !Cl 3   
     In another embodiment, a ruthenium complex can be made having multidentate ligands, in combination with other multidentate ligands and/or monodentate ligands. Suitable bidentate ligands (B) will include, but are not limited to, aliphatic amines (e.g., ethylene diamine, propylene diamine, 1,2-cyclohexane diamine and the corresponding alkylated amines thereof); heterocyclic aromatic amines (e.g., 2,2&#39;-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline); pyridine based ligands (e.g., 2-aminopicoline); pyrazole based ligands (e.g., potassium-bis-pyrazolyl borate, bis-pyrazolyl methane); carboxylates; and bis-phosphines (e.g., 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane). Preferred are imidazole based ligands having the general formula: ##STR3## where R 4  to R 9  can be the same or different and are selected from the substituents defined above for R 2  to R 3 . 
     The ligand can be tridentate ligand (T) such as aromatic heterocyclic amines (e.g., 2,2&#39;,6&#34;,2&#34;-terpyridine, bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine); imidazole based ligands (e.g., bis-(2- imidazolylmethyl)amine); pyrazole based ligands (e.g., potassium tris pyrazolyl borate); macrocyclic amines (e.g., 1,4,7-triazacyclononane); macrocyclic sulfur based ligands (e.g., 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane and 2-(arylazophenyl)thio ether); and macrocyclic oxygen containing ligands Na{(C 5  H 5 )Co P(O)R 2  ! 3  }. 
     The ligand can be a polydentate ligand (P) such as nitrogen containing ligands (e.g., 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane; 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane; 1,3,5,7-tetrakis-(2-(4-sec-butylpyridyl)imino)benzodipyrrole; 3,6,10,13,16,19-hexaazabicyclo 6.6.6!eicosane; and, 1,4,8,11-tetrakis-(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane); sulfur containing ligands (e.g., 1,4,7,10-tetrathiacyclotridecane and 1,4,8,11-tetrathiacyclotetradecane); and phosphorus containing ligands (e.g., α,α&#39;-bis-(bis-(2-biphenylphosphino)ethyl)amino)ethane and α,α&#39;-bis-(bis-(2-diphenylphosphino)m-xylene). 
     The invention also pertains to dimers and trimers of the ruthenium complexes described above. The coordination sphere of the metal center contain monodentate ligands (that are the same or different from each other) or it can contains a mixture of monodentate, bidentate and/or tridentate ligands. The oxidation state of each metal can be Ru(II)Ru(II); Ru(II)Ru(III); Ru(III)Ru(III); Ru(IV)Ru(IV); or Ru(III)Ru(IV). The counterions are the same as those described above. 
     Dimers will have the general formula: 
     
          (RuM.sub.m B.sub.b T.sub.5)--O--(RuM&#39;.sub.m&#39; B&#39;.sub.b&#39; T&#39;.sub.t&#39;)!Z 
    
     wherein the variables are described above and further wherein 
     m and m&#39; are independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 5; 
     b and b&#39; are independently 0, 1 or 2; 
     t and t&#39; are independently 0 or 1; and 
     wherein m+b+t and m&#39;+b&#39;+t&#39; are independently 2, 3, or 5. 
     Trimers will have the general formula: 
     
          (RuM.sub.m B.sub.b T.sub.t)--O--(RuM&#34;.sub.m&#34; B&#34;.sub.b&#34; T&#34;.sub.t&#34;)--O--(RuM&#39;.sub.m&#39; B&#39;.sub.b&#39; T&#39;.sub.t&#39;)!Z 
    
     wherein the variables are described above and further wherein 
     m and m&#39; are independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 5; 
     m&#34; is 0, 1, 2 or 4; 
     b, b&#39; and b&#34; are independently 0, 1 or 2; 
     t, t&#39; and t&#34; are independently 0 or 1; and 
     wherein m+b+t and m&#39;+b&#39;+t&#39; are independently 2, 3 or 5 and wherein m&#34;+b&#34;+t&#34; is 2, 3 or 4. 
     General procedures for making monomeric ruthenium complexes include: Vogt, Jr. et al., Inorg. Chem., 4:1157 (1965); Ford et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 90:1187 (1968); Marchant et al., Inorg. Chem., 16:2160 (1977); Sullivan et al., Inorg. Chem., 17:3334 (1978); Klassen et al., Inorg. Chem., 19:1977 (1980); Klassen et al., Inorg. Chem., 14:2733 (1975); Leising et al., Inorg. Chem., 29:4569, (1990); Bessel et al., J. Chem. Soc., Dalton trans., pp. 1563 (1993); Bernhard and Sargeson, J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun., pp. 1516 (1985); Poon and Che, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton trans., pp. 491 (1981); Walker and Taube, Inorg. Chem., 20:2828 (1981); Mazzetto et al., Polyhedron, 12:971 (1993); Khan et al., Inorg. Chim. Acta, 189:165 (1991); Keppler et al., Inorg. Chem., 26:844 (1987); and Kraus, Inorg. Chim. Acta., 22:209 (1977). General procedures for making dimeric and trimeric ruthenium complexes include: Dopplet and Meyer, Inorg. Chem., 26:2027 (1987); Geselowitz et al., Inorg. Chem., 25:2015 (1986); Neubold et al., Inorg. Chem., 28:459 (1989); Sasaki et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 110:6251 (1988); Smith et al., Inorg. Chem., 10:1943 (1971); Sudha et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 32:3801 (1993); Weaver et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 97:3039 (1975) and Emerson et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 115:11799 (1993). See also U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/331,388, filed Oct. 28, 1994 and U.S. patent application entitled &#34;Novel Compounds for Inhibiting Immune Response&#34;, (Attorney&#39;s Docket Number PRO94-06A) filed concurrently herewith, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     It has now been discovered that the ruthenium complexes of this invention possess immunosuppressive activity as confirmed through a drug screen. Specific T cell proliferation was measured in response to antigen exposure in the presence or absence of ruthenium complexes. It was found that ruthenium complexes inhibited T cell proliferation by 50% (IC 50 ) at a concentration of about 1 to 100 nM. This compares favorably with cyclosporin A, which has an IC 50  at 15 nM (Table). 
     Ruthenium complexes can be administered orally, parenterally (e.g. intramuscularly, intravenously, subcutaneously), topically, nasally or via slow releasing microcarriers in dosage formulations containing a physiologically acceptable vehicle and optional adjuvants and preservatives. Suitable physiologically acceptable vehicles include saline, sterile water, creams, ointments or solutions. 
     Ruthenium complexes can be applied topically as a cream or ointment to locally deliver immunosuppressive concentrations of the drug without significant systemic exposure. Topical application may be the ideal way to deliver the compound in psoriasis and perhaps other inflammatory skin diseases such as contact dermatitis and pemphigusvulgaris. 
     The specific dosage level of active ingredient will depend upon a number of factors, including biological activity of the ruthenium complexes, age, body weight, sex, general health, severity of the particular disease to be treated and the degree of immune suppression desired, as well as appropriate pharmacokinetic properties. It should be understood that ruthenium complexes can be administered to mammals other than humans for immunosuppression of mammalian autoimmune diseases. 
     Ruthenium complexes can be administered in combination with other drugs to boost the immunosuppressive effect. Compounds that can be coadministered include steroids (e.g. methyl prednisolone acetate), NSAIDS and other known immunosuppressants such as azathioprine, 15-deoxyspergualin, cyclosporin, mizoribine, mycophenolate mofetil, brequinar sodium, leflunomide, FK-506, rapamcyin and related molecules. Dosages of these drugs will also vary depending upon the condition and individual to be treated. 
     The assay used to measure T cell growth inhibition was a human peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) proliferation assay using standard procedures known in the art. PBL&#39;s were chosen due to their known ability to proliferate in the presence of antigens derived from herpes simplex virus (HSV), Rubella or tetanus toxoid (TT). PBL growth inhibition was measured in terms of ruthenium complexes&#39;s ability to interfere with antigen induced lymphocyte proliferation. 
     Ruthenium complexes can be used to produce antibodies (e.g., polyclonal and monoclonal) against the complexes. Methods for making antibodies are well known. The antibodies can be used as a diagnostic tool for monitoring the amount of ruthenium complex in patient blood levels. The ability to closely monitor the amount of ruthenium complex provides a suitable means for controlling drug delivery to patients in both preclinical and clinical settings. 
     It has also been demonstrated that the ruthenium complexes have antiproliferative properties and in particular can inhibit cardiac smooth muscle cells. Based upon this, the ruthenium complexes can be used for the treatment of hyperproliferative vascular disorders, such as restenosis and atherosclerosis. 
     The invention will be further illustrated by the following non-limiting Exemplification: 
    
    
     EXEMPLIFICATION 
     PBL Antigen Specific Proliferation Assay 
     The lymphocytes were prepared by first separating them from the blood samples of several donors by Ficoll gradient separation as described by standard procedure known in the art. The isolated lymphocytes were then grown in RPMI 1640 medium containing 5% human AB serum, glutamine (2mM), penicillin/streptomycin, 100 U/ml/100 μg/ml sodium pyruvate (1 mM) and HEPES buffer (10 mM). 
     For assay purposes, PBL&#39;s were incubated at a density of 10 5  per 200 μl of medium per well of a 96-well plate. 
     Tetanus toxoid (TT; Connaught Labs, Willow Dale, ON) was used as a stimulating antigen at a concentration of 5 LF/ml. 
     The test wells containing PBL&#39;s, were exposed to antigen, along with various dilutions of the ruthenium complexes solutions, as shown in the Table. 
     Subsequently, TT antigen/ruthenium complexes exposed PBL&#39;s were pulsed with 1 μCi/well of  3  H-thymidine on day 5 using a standard procedure known in the art. The cells were then harvested 16 hours later onto a glass fiber filter using a TOMTEC cell harvester. Thymidine incorporation was measured by liquid scintillation counting using a Beta plate counter (Pharmacia, Inc., Piscataway, N.J.). 
     The results of the assay are shown in the Table. 
     
                       TABLE______________________________________                         IC.sub.50Compound # Structure          (μg/mL)______________________________________PIC 060     Ru.sub.3 O.sub.2 (NH.sub.3).sub.14 !Cl.sub.6                         0.03PRO 1305    Ru.sub.3 O.sub.2 (en).sub.2 (NH.sub.3).sub.10 !Cl.sub.6                         0.06PIC 1097    Ru.sub.2 (μ-O)(NH.sub.3).sub.8 Cl.sub.2 !Cl.sub.3                         0.13PIC 1099    Ru.sub.2 (μ-O)(NH.sub.3).sub.8 (HCO.sub.2).sub.2 !Cl.sub.3                         0.10PIC 1101    Ru.sub.2 (μ-O)(NH.sub.3).sub.8 (H.sub.2 O).sub.2 !(ClO.sub.      4).sub.5           0.12PRO 1261    Ru.sub.2 O(OAc).sub.2 (py).sub.6 !(PF.sub.6).sub.2                         &gt;100PRO 1306    Ru.sub.2 O(OAc).sub.2 (Bipy).sub.2 (py).sub.2 !(PF.sub.6).sub.      2                  &gt;100PIC 1497    Ru.sub.2 O(Bipy).sub.4 (H.sub.2 O).sub.2 !(ClO.sub.4).sub.4                         4.5PIC 1095    RuCl(NH.sub.3).sub.5 !Cl.sub.3                         15PIC 1096    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.5 (4-MeIm)!Cl.sub.3                         0.45PIC 1098   cis- RuCl.sub.2 (NH.sub.3).sub.4 !Cl                         &gt;10PIC 1100   trans- Ru(SO.sub.4)(py)(NH.sub.3).sub.4 !Cl                         &gt;10PRO 1422   cis-Ru(DMSO).sub.4 Cl.sub.2                         &gt;100PRO 1423    Ru(1-MeIm).sub.6 !Cl.sub.2                         0.052PRO 1424    Ru(1-MeIm).sub.6 !(PF.sub.6).sub.3                         0.19PRO 1492    Ru(1-MeIm).sub.6 !Cl.sub.3                         0.12PIC 1548   trans- Ru(Im)(py)(NH.sub.3).sub.4 !Cl.sub.3                         0.001PIC 1549   cis- Ru(Im).sub.2 (NH.sub.3).sub.4 !Cl.sub.3                         0.0048PIC 1550   trans- Ru(Im).sub.2 (NH.sub.3).sub.4 !Cl.sub.3                         0.0033PIC 1551   trans- Ru(Im)Cl(NH.sub.3).sub.4 !Cl.sub.2                         &gt;50PIC 1552   ImH trans-Ru(Im).sub.2 Cl.sub.4 !                         35PIC 1553   trans- RuCl.sub.2 (cyclam)!Cl                         &gt;10PIC 1554   trans- Ru(SO.sub.4)(Im)(NH.sub.3).sub.4 !Cl                         30PIC 1555   K.sub.2  Ru(H.sub.2 O)Cl.sub.5 !                         40PRO 1556    Ru(Im).sub.6 !Cl.sub.2                         0.0067PRO 1696   trans- Ru(1-MeIm).sub.4 Cl.sub.2 !Cl                         22PIC 1746   2-MeImH trans-Ru(2-MeIm).sub.2 Cl.sub.4 !                         &gt;50PIC 1747   4-MeImH trans-Ru(2-MeIm).sub.2 Cl.sub.4 !                         35PRO 1949    Ru(4-MeIm).sub.6 !Cl.sub.2                         0.09PRO 1952    Ru(Im).sub.6 !Cl.sub.3                         0.005PRO 1986    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.5 (BzIm)!Cl.sub.3                         0.12PRO 1987    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.5 (Im)!Cl.sub.3                         0.12PRO 1988    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.5 (py)!(PF.sub.6).sub.2                         0.017PRO 2032    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.5 (py)!Cl(RuCl.sub.4)                         0.0012PIC 2447    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.6 !Cl.sub.3                         0.032PRO 2449    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.5 (L-his)!Cl.sub.3                         0.014PRO 2450    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.5 (4-MeIm-5-CHO)!Cl.sub.3                         0.35PRO 2453   trans- Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.4 (py).sub.2 !(PF.sub.6).sub.2                         0.005PRO 2503   trans- Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.4 (py).sub.2 !Cl.sub.3                         0.026PRO 2841   cis- Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.4 (L-his).sub.2 !Cl.sub.3                         0.027PRO 2842   cis- Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.4 (py).sub.2 !Cl.sub.3                         0.004PRO 2843   cis- Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.4 (PPh.sub.3).sub.2 !Cl.sub.3                         0.57PRO 2844    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.5 (4-pic)!Cl(RuCl.sub.4)                         0.0006PRO 2844B   Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.5 (4-pic)!Cl.sub.3                         0.0012PRO 2846   cis- Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.4 (1-MeIm).sub.2 !Cl.sub.3                         0.004PRO 3006    Ru(en).sub.3 !Cl.sub.3                         0.13PRO 3428    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.5 (2-NH.sub.2 -5-Me-py)!Cl.sub.3                         0.04PRO 3429    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.5 (4-NH.sub.2 -py)!Cl.sub.3                         0.0016PRO 4322   cis- Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.4 (4-pic).sub.2 !Cl.sub.3                         0.012PRO 4325    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.5 (PhCCH)!Cl.sub.2                         0.05PRO 4514    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.5 (4-CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 H-py)!Cl.sub.3                         0.0045PRO 4758    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.5 (3-β-py-ala-OH)!Cl.sub.3                         0.015PRO 5024    Ru(NH.sub.3).sub.3 (Im).sub.3 !Cl.sub.3                         0.0011______________________________________ Im = Imidazole py = pyridine bipy = 2,2bipyridine his = histidine phen = 1,10phenanthroline cyclam = 1,4,8,11tetraazacyclotetradecane MeIm = methylimidazole Ph = phenyl DMSO = dimethylsulfoxide en = ethylenediamine BzIm = benzimidazole pic = picoline ala = alanine PPh = phenyl phosphine 
    
     Equivalents 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims: