The described invention provides a compound comprising an organometallic complex comprising a core of ruthenium and sphingomyelin, with the option of added zinc, that, in a therapeutic amount, through further connections with contributing organic ligands, are effective as chemotherapeutic agents that have an anti-tumor or anti-cancer effect on a tumor comprising tumor cells including a cytotoxic effect on of the tumor cells, inhibition of the growth of the tumor comprising the tumor cells, inhibition of migration of the tumor cells, or any combination of these effects.