The new Ru-II chloroquine complexes [Ru(eta(6)-arene)(CQ)Cl-2] (CQ = chloroquine; arene = p-cymene 1, benzene 2), [Ru(eta(6)-p-cymene)(CQ)(H2O)(2)][BF4](2) (3), [Ru(eta(6)-p-cymene)(CQ)(en)][PF6](2) (en = ethylenediamine) (4), and [Ru(eta(6)- p-cymene)(eta(6)-CQDP)][BF4](2) (5, CQDP = chloroquine diphosphate) have been synthesized and characterized by use of a combination of NMR and FTIR spectroscopy with DIFT calculations. Each complex is formed as a single coordination isomer: In 1-4, chloroquine binds to ruthenium in the eta(1)-N mode through the quinoline nitrogen atom, whereas in 5 an unprecedented eta(6) bonding through the carbocyclic ring is observed. 1, 2, 3, and 5 are active against CQ-resistant (Dd2, K1, and W2) and CQ-sensitive (FcB1, PFB, F32, and 3D7) malaria parasites (Plasmodium falciparum); importantly, the potency of these complexes against resistant parasites is consistently higher than that of the standard drug chloroquine diphosphate. 1 and 5 also inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells, independently of the p53 status and of liposarcoma tumor cell lines with the latter showing increased sensitivity, especially to 1 (IC50 8 mu M); this is significant because this type of tumor does not respond to currently employed chemotherapies.