Dinuclear half-sandwich Ir(III) complexes containing 4,4′-methylenedianiline-based ligands: Synthesis, characterization, cytotoxicity

•three dinuclear [Ir2(μ-Ln)(η5-Cp*)2Cl2](PF6)2 half-sandwich complexes are reported.•three different tetradentate 4,4`-methylenedianiline derivatives were used.•complex 2 was comparably cytotoxic with cisplatin at the A549 and HepG2 cells.•complexes were stable in water in the presence of PBS.•the studied complexes converted coenzyme NADH to its oxidized form (NAD+).