1. A ruthenium (II) compound of formula (I):
or a solvate or prodrug thereof, wherein:
R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from H, C1-7 alkyl, C5-20 aryl, C3-20 heterocyclyl, halo, ester, amido, acyl, sulfo, sulfonamido, ether, thioether, azo, amino, or R1 and R2 together with the ring to which they are attached form a saturated or unsaturated carbocyclic or heterocyclic group containing up to three 3- to 8-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic rings, wherein each carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring may be fused to one or more other carbocyclic or heterocyclic rings;
X is a neutral or negatively charged N- or S-donor ligand;
Y is a counterion;
m is 0 or 1;
q is 1, 2 or 3;
C\u2032 is C1-12 alkylene bound to two A groups;
p is 0 or 1 and r is 1 when p is 0 and r is 2 when p is 1; and
A and B are each independently O-donor, N-donor or S-donor ligands, and may be connected to one another.
2. A compound according to claim 1, wherein X is selected from azide, isothiocyanate, and optionally substituted pyridine ligands.
3. A compound according to claim 1, wherein X is a thiolate ligand.
4. A compound according to claim 1 wherein A and B together represent NRN4RN5\u2014(CRC1RC2)n-NRN6RN7, wherein RC1 and RC2 are independently selected from 1-1 and C1-4 alkyl, RN4, RN5, RN6 and RN7 are independently selected from 1-1 and C1-4 alkyl, and n is an integer from 1 to 4.
5. A compound according to claim 4, wherein R14 and R15 are both hydrogen.
6. A compound according to claim 4, wherein n is 2.
7. A compound according to claim 4, wherein RN4, RN5, RN6 and RN7 are H.
8. A compound according to claim 1, wherein R1 and R2 together with the ring, to which they are attached form a saturated or unsaturated carbocyclic or heterocyclic group containing up to 3- to 8-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic rings, wherein each carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring may be fused to one or more other carbocyclic or heterocyclic rings.
9. A compound according to claim 8, wherein R3, R4, R5 and R6 are H.
10. A compound according to claim 1, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from C1-7 alkyl, C5-20 aryl, C3-20 heterocyclyl, halo, ester, amido, acyl, sulfo, sulfonamido, ether, thioether, azo and amino.
11. A compound according to claim 10, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from 1-1 and C1-7 alkyl.
12. A compound according to claim 10, wherein at least four of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are hydrogen.
13. A composition comprising a compound according to claim 1, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. A method of treatment of a subject suffering from cancer, comprising administering to such a subject a therapeutically-effective amount of a compound according to claim 1.
17. A compound according to claim 2, wherein A and B together represent NRN4RN5-(CRC1RC2)n-NRN6RN7, wherein RC1 and RC2 are independently selected from H and C1-4 alkyl, RN4, RN5, RN6 and RN7 are independently selected from H and C1-4 alkyl, and n is an integer from 1 to 4.
18. A compound according to claim 2, wherein A and B together represent NRN4RN5\u2014(CRC1RC2)n-NRN6RN7, wherein RC1 and RC2 are independently, selected from H and C1-4 alkyl, RN4, RN5, RN6 and RN7 are independently selected from H and C1-4 alkyl, and n is an integer from 1 to 4.
19. A compound according to claim 5, wherein RN4, RN5, RN6 and RN7 are H.
20. A compound according to claim 6, wherein RN4, RN5, RN6 and RN7 are H.
21. A compound according to claim 1 wherein at least four of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are hydrogen.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of forming a hydrophilic polymer, comprising:
reacting a monomer comprising an acid group with a Bronsted base to form an ionic liquid;
polymerising the ionic liquid with at least one other monomer; and
converting the ionic liquid back to the acid group after polymerisation.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Bronsted base is methylimidazole, triethylamine, Tris2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethylamine, 1-ethylimidazole or 1-butylimidazole.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the Bronsted base is methylimidazole.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the Bronsted base is 1-methylimidazole.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the acid group is a sulphonic acid group.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monomer including the acid group is 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulphonic acid (AMPSA), vinylsulphonic acid (VSA), styrenesulphonic acid (SSA), 2-sulphoethyl methacrylate (SOMA) or 3-sulphopropyl methacrylate, Na salt (SPM).
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one other monomer includes a hydrophobic monomer.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the hydrophobic monomer is selected from methyl methacrylate (MMA), acrylonitrile (AN), methacryloxypropyltris (trimethylsiloxy) silane (TRIS), 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TRIF) and styrene (STY).
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one other monomer includes a hydrophilic monomer.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the hydrophilic monomer is selected from methacrylic acid (MA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), ethyl acrylate (EA), 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone (VP), propenoic acid 2-methyl ester (PAM), monomethacryloyloxyethyl phthalate (EMP) and ammonium sulphatoethyl methacrylate (SEM).
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the components to be polymerised are dissolved in water.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the polymerisation is non-aqueous.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the components to be polymerised comprise a cross-linker, such that a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer is formed.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the cross-linker is divinylbenzene (DVB).
15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one other monomer comprises vinylphosphonic acid.
16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ionic liquid is converted back to the acid group by ion-exchange.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the ionic liquid is converted back to the acid group by ion-exchange using sulphuric acid.
18. A hydrophilic polymer formed from the method according to claim 1.
19. A membrane electrode assembly comprising the polymer according to claim 18.
20. A fuel cell or an electrolyser comprising the membrane electrode assembly according to claim 19.