Cyclometallated iridium(III)-5-bromo-8-quinolinol complexes as mitochondria-targeted anticancer agents

Here, two new cyclometallated iridium(III) complexes, [Ir(BrQ)(L1)2] (Ir-1) and [Ir(BrQ)(L2)2] (Ir-2) containing 5-bromo-8-quinolinol (H-BrQ), 2-phenylpyridine (H-L1) and 1-phenylpyrazole (H-L2) ligands have been explored as an anticancer agents targeting mitochondria. The cyclometallated iridium(III) complexes Ir-1 and Ir-2 exhibits excellent antineoplastic activity and promising selectivity towards cervical carcinoma HeLa, with IC50 values...