Neutral and cationic mononuclear complexes containing both group 15 and polypyridyl ligands [Ru(kappa(3)-tptz)(PPh3)-Cl-2] [1; tptz = 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine], [Ru(kappa(3)-tptz) (kappa(2)-dppm)Cl]BF4 [2; dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)-methane], [Ru(kappa(3)-tptZ)(PPh3)(pa)]Cl (3; pa = phenylalanine), [Ru(kappa(3)-tptZ)(PPh3)(dtc)]Cl (4; dtc = diethyldithiocarbamate), [RU(kappa(3)-tptZ)(PPh3)(SCN)(2)] (5) and [Ru(kappa(3)-tptZ)(PPh3)(N-3)(2)] (6) have been synthesized. Complex 1 has been used as a metalloligand in the synthesis of homo- and heterodinuclear complexes [Cl-2(PPh3)Ru(mu-tptz)Ru-(eta(6)-C6H6)Cl]BF4 (7), [Cl-2(PPh3)Ru(mu-tptz)Ru(eta(6)-C10H14)Cl]PF6 (8), and [Cl-2(PPh3)Ru(mu-tptz)Rh (eta(5)-C5Me5)Cl]BF4 (9). Complexes 7-9 present examples of homo- and heterodinuclear complexes in which a typical organometallic moiety [(eta(6)-C6H6)RuCl](+), [(eta(6)_C10H14)RuCl](+), or [(eta(5)-C5Me5)RhCl](+) is bonded to a ruthenium(II) polypyridine moiety. The complexes have been fully characterized by elemental analyses, fast-atom-bombardment mass spectroscopy, NMR (H-1 and P-31), and electronic spectral studies. Molecular structures of 1-3, 8, and 9 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Complex 1 functions as a good precursor in the synthesis of other ruthenium(11) complexes and as a metalloligand. All of the complexes under study exhibit inhibitory effects on the Topoisomerase II-DNA activity of filarial parasite Setaria cervi and beta-hematin/hemozoin formation in the presence of Plasmodium yoelii lysate.