Compounds from Kadsura angustifolia with anti-HIV activity

Four new cycloartane triterpenoids, angustific acid A (1), angustific acid B (2), angustifodilactone A (3) and angustifodilactone B (4) were isolated from the branches of Kadsura angustifolia together with six known compounds, micranoic acid B (5), nigranoic acid (6), schisandrin (7), schisantherin D (8), interiotherin B (9), schisantherin B (10). Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analyses and comparison with spectroscopic data reported. Compound 1, characterized by the presence of a C-16/C-17, C-20/C-21 conjugated diene and a C-1/C-7 ester bridge formed in rings A and B, provided a novel structural skeleton for 3,4-secocycloartane triterpenoid derivatives. In addition, the anti-HIV activities of these compounds were determined in infected C8166 cells, and it was found that angustific acid A (1) exhibited the most potent anti-HIV activity with an EC₅₀ value of 6.1 μg/mL and a therapeutic index of more than 32.8.     

Synthesis and complexation of tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)calix[4]arene adopting the 1,3-alternate conformation

Novel upper-rim modified tetraphosphinocalix[4]arenes (5a-b) adopting 1,3-alternate conformation have been synthesized. Reaction of 5,11,17,23-tetrachloromethyl-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (1) with Ph₂POEt gave 5,11,17,23-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (2). Tetra-O-substitution of 2 with n-propyl iodide or benzyl bromide in the presence of K₂CO₃ carried out to afford 5,11,17,23-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)-25,26,27,28-tetrapropoxy-(3a) or -benzyloxycalix[4]arene (3b), whereas di-O-substituted calix[4]arene, 5,11,17,23-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)-25,27-dipropoxy-26,28-dihydroxycalix[4]arene (4), was obtained exclusively when Na₂CO₃ was used as base. Reduction of 3a-b with PhSiHCl₂ afforded 5,11,17,23-tetrakis(diphosphinomethyl)-25,26,27,28-tetrapropoxy-(5a) and -tetrabenzyloxycalix[4]arene (5b). ¹H and ¹³C NMR analysis reveals that the phosphines (5a-b) and the tetra-O-substituted phosphine oxides (3a-b) adopt 1,3-alternate conformation, while the parent tetrahydroxy-(2) and the di-O-propylated phosphine oxide (4) adopt cone-conformation. The X-ray structure indicates that the calix[4]arene moieties in 4 a pinched-cone conformation in solid state. Complexation of the phosphine ligand (5a) with [RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ affords the tetranuclear complexes, [{RuCl₂(p-cymene)}₂ · 5a] (6), as 1,3-alternate conformer.     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of the organotin(IV) compounds with the Schiff base ligands of pyruvic acid thiophene-2-carboxylic hydrazone and salicylaldehyde thiophene-2-carboxylic hydrazone

A series of organotin (IV) compounds of the type [R₃SnL]₂, R is Me (1), Bu (2), [R₂SnL]₂, R is Ph (3), Me (4), Bu (5), L is pyruvic acid thiophene-2-carboxylic hydrazone, and R₂SnL, R is Me (6), Bu (7), Ph (8), L is salicylaldehyde thiophene-2-carboxylic hydrazone have been synthesized in 1:1 molar ratio. All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectra. The crystal structure of compounds 1, 3, 4, 8 have been determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction analyses, study found that the compounds 1 and 3 are rendered one-dimensional chain structure and the tin atoms are five-coordinated in a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry. The compound 4 has a dimeric structure and the central tin atom is rendered seven-coordinate in a distorted pentagonal-bipyramid configuration. While the compound 8 is a monomer in which the tin atom adopts five-coordinated in distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry.     

The first pincer-aryl [M-(NCN)] complexes {M = Pd(II); Pt(II)} with chiral pyridine donors: Synthesis and catalytic activity in C-C bond formation

The first chiral bis(pyridine) N-C(H)-N pincer ligand, (5S,7S)-1,3-bis(6,6-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,7-methanquinolin-2-yl)benzene (HL) has been synthesized and characterized by a thorough ¹H NMR analysis. Reaction of HL with K₂[PtCl₄] in acetic acid gives [Pt(L)Cl] (1), where L acts as a tridentate N-C-N pincer ligand. The analogous palladium(II) derivatives [Pd(L)Cl] (2), and [Pd(L)(OAc)] (3), were first prepared through a transmetalation reaction between Pd(OAc)₂ and the organomercury compound [Hg(L)Cl] (4). The structures of compounds 1 (Pt) and 2 (Pd), as determined by X-ray diffraction, are reported and compared. Compound 2 can also be obtained from Na₂[PdCl₄] and HL in refluxing acetic acid, i.e., under the same conditions used for compound 1. Apparently, this is the first palladium pincer derivative of a 1,3-bis(pyridyl)benzene ligand synthesized by direct C-H activation.The neutral complexes 1-3 are catalysts of modest activity, but devoid of enantioselectivity in the Heck reaction between iodobenzene and methyl acrylate and in the aldol condensation of benzaldehyde with methyl isocyanoacetate.     

Syntheses and structures of cobalt(III) alcoholate complexes formed by addition of a water molecule across 2-pyridyl substituted imine function

Schiff bases L1-L5 {N-[1-pyridine-2-ylethylidene]pyridine-2-amine (L1), 3-methyl-N-[1-pyridine-2-ylmethylidene]pyridine-2-amine (L2), 3-methyl-N-[1-pyridine-2-ylethylidene]pyridine-2-amine (L3), 4-methyl-N-[1-pyridine-2-ylmethylidene]pyridine-2-amine (L4), 4-methyl-N-[1-pyridine-2-ylethylidene]pyridine-2-amine (L5)} were synthesized and on reaction with Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O, complexes having the molecular formulae [Co(L1O)₂]NO₃ (1), [Co(L2O)₂]NO₃·xH₂O (2a, x = 2; 2b, x = 3), [Co(L3O)₂]NO₃ (3), [Co(L4O)₂]NO₃·4H₂O (4), [Co(L5O)₂]NO₃ (5) were isolated from the respective imines. The salt [Co(L2O)₂]PF₆ (2c) was obtained by treating 2 with KPF₆. Complexes 1-5 were formed as a result of addition of a water molecule across the imine function and the resultant alcohol binds in its deprotonated form. The alcoholate ion remained bound in a facial tridentate fashion to the low-spin cobalt(III). X-ray crystal structure determination confirmed the presence of trans-trans-trans-N_AN_PO (A = aminopyridyl and P = pyridyl) disposition in 2a and cis-cis-trans-N_AN_PO in 2b, 2c and 4. Water dimers in 2a, 2b, 4 and water-nitrate ion network in 2a were other notable features.     

Coordination compounds of Cd(II) with several bidentate-NN′ and tridentate-NN′N nitrogen donor ligands. Cd NMR studies of monomeric compounds containing nitrogen donor atoms

Reaction of CdCl₂ with N-alkylaminopyrazole ligands 1-[(2-ethylamino)ethyl]-3,5-dimethylpyrazole (deae), 1-[(2-(tert-butylamino)ethyl)]-3,5-dimethylpyrazole (deat), bis-[(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methyl]ethylamine (bdmae), and bis-[(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)ethyl]ethylamine (ddae) in absolute ethanol yields [CdCl₂(NN′)] (NN′ = deae (1), deat (2)), [CdCl₂(bdmae)] (3), and [CdCl(ddae)]₂[CdCl₄] (4). The Cd(II) complexes have been characterised by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, IR, ¹H, ¹³C{¹H} and ¹¹³Cd NMR spectroscopies, and X-ray diffraction methods. ¹H and ¹¹³Cd NMR experiments at variable temperature for 3 and 4 show that dynamic processes are taking place in solution. We report the measurements of ¹¹³Cd NMR chemical shift data for complexes 1-4 in solution. X-ray crystal structures for complexes 2 and 3 have been determined. The Cd(II) is coordinated to the deat ligand, in 2, by one nitrogen atom of the pyrazolyl group and one nitrogen atom of the amine. It finishes a tetrahedral geometry with two chlorine atoms. The bdmae ligand is linked to Cd(II), in 3, by two nitrogens atoms of the pyrazolyl groups and one amine nitrogen, along with two chlorine atoms, in a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry.     

Vanadium complexes with 2-pyridineformamide thiosemicarbazones: In vitro studies of insulin-like activity

Reaction of VOCl₂ with 2-pyridineformamide thiosemicarbazone (H2Am4DH) and its N(4)-methyl (H2Am4Me), N(4)-ethyl (H2Am4Et) and N(4)-phenyl (H2Am4Ph) derivatives in ethanol gave as products [VO(H2Am4DH)Cl₂] (1), [VO(H2Am4Me)Cl₂] · 1/2HCl (2), [VO(H2Am4Et)Cl₂] · HCl (3) and [VO(2Am4Ph)Cl] (4). Upon the dissolution of 1-4 in water, oxidation immediately occurs with the formation of [VO₂(2Am4DH)] (5), [VO₂(2Am4Me)] (6), [VO₂(2Am4Et)] (7) and [VO₂(2Am4Ph)] (8). The crystal and molecular structures of 5 and 6 were determined. Complexes 5-8 inhibited glycerol release in a similar way to that observed with insulin but showed a low enhancing effect on glucose uptake by rat adipocytes.     

Syntheses and structures of vinyl and aryl derivatives of carbonyl halide iron complexes

cis,trans-Fe(CO)₂(PMe₃)₂(p-Y-C₆H₄)X [X=Br, Y=H (4a), MeO (4b), Cl (4c), F (4d), Me (4e); X=I, Y=H (5); X=Cl, Y=H (6)] and cis,trans-Fe(CO)₂(PMe₃)₂(σ-CHCH₂)X [X=Br (7); X=I (8); X=Cl (9)] are prepared by reacting dihalide complexes cis,trans,cis- Fe(CO)₂(PMe₃)₂X₂ [X=Br (1), X=I (2), X=Cl (3)] with Grignard reagents p-Y-C₆H₄-MgBr (Y=H, OMe, Cl, F, Me) or CH₂CH-MgBr and with lithium reagents PhLi, CH₂CH-Li. With both reagents, the reaction proceeds following two parallel pathways: one is the metallation reaction which yields alkyl derivatives, the other affords 17 electron complexes [Fe(CO)₂(PMe₃)₂X] via monoelectron reductive elimination. The influence of the halides and organometallic reagents on the yield of the metallation reaction is discussed. The solution structure of the complexes is assigned on the basis of IR and ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F, ³¹P NMR spectra. The solid state structure of complexes 4a, 5 and 6 is determined by single crystal X-ray diffractometric methods.     

O-Alkylthio- and O-alkylselenooxalate iron complexes: Structures of CpFe(CO)2ECOCO2Me and [CpFe(CO)2ECO]2

When the iron sulfide complexes (μ-S_x)[CpFe(CO)₂]₂ (x = 2, 3) are treated with O-alkyl oxalyl chlorides ROCOCOCl the complexes CpFe(CO)₂SCOCO₂R (1) [R = Me (a), Et (b)] are obtained. Similarly, the complexes CpFe(CO)₂SeCOCO₂R (2) are obtained from the analogous iron selenide (μ-Se)[CpFe(CO)₂]₂ reaction with the same reagents. Treatment of the iron selenide with half equivalent of oxalyl chloride produces the dimeric complex [CpFe(CO)₂SeCO]₂ (3). The new complexes, 1, 2 and 3, have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The solid state structures of 1a, 2a, 3 and [CpFe(CO)₂SCO]₂ (4) were determined by an X-ray crystal structure analysis.     

Strong 1,4 P-O intramolecular interactions as a source of conformational preferences in α-stabilised phosphorus ylides. Part 2: metallic complexes

The complexes cis-[PdCl₂{η²-[C(H)PH₃]₂CO}] (2) in two different stereochemical arrangements (cisoid-cisoid, 2cc; cisoid-transoid, 2ct) have been studied by DFT methods at the B3LYP level. The (2cc) structure is energetically more stable than the (2ct), being the main responsible of the energy difference between the two complexes the energetic gap between the cc and ct isomers of the free bis-ylide ligand [H₃PC(H)-C(O)-C(H)PH₃] (1). In (1) these differences arise from the presence of 1,4-intramolecular interactions between the phosphorus atoms and the carbonyl oxygen. That is, the conformational preferences observed in (1) due to the establishment of 1,4-P?O interactions are directly transferred to the metallic complexes (2) in such a way that the most stable structure for the free ligand gives the most stable complex. In the absence of the carbonyl group (e.g. [H₃PC(H)-C(CH₂)-C(H)PH₃] (3) or [H₃PC(H)-CH₂-C(H)PH₃] (5)) all isomers of a given bis-ylide (cc, ct and tt) become isoenergetic. The absence of discrimination in the free bis-ylides (3) and (5) gives isoenergetic cc and ct structures for the corresponding complexes cis-[PdCl₂{η²-[C(H)PH₃]₂CCH₂}] (4), cis-[PdCl₂{η²-[C(H)PH₃]₂CH₂}] (6) and [CpNi{η²-[C(H)PH₃]₂CH₂}] (7), as stated by NMR spectroscopy for (7). The influence of other factors (change of the heteroatom at C_β, change of the P substituents) in the energy of the different isomers of the bis-ylides and in the energy of the corresponding complexes has also been studied and discussed.     

Iron Se-bonded mono-selenocarbonates CpFe(CO)2SeCO2R: the first selenocarbonate complexes

The reactivity of the iron selenide complex (μ-Se)[CpFe(CO)₂]₂ toward chloroformates, ROCOCl, has been studied and the products CpFe(CO)₂SeCO₂R [R=Me (1), Et (2), iso-Bu (3), Ph (4), 2-C₆H₄Cl (5), 4-C₆H₄Cl (6), and 4-C₆H₄NO₂ (7)] have been obtained. The novel complexes, 1-7, have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The solid state structure of CpFe(CO)₂SeCO₂Et, 2, was determined by an X-ray crystal structure analysis.     

Two dimeric lignans with an unusual α,β-unsaturated ketone motif from Zanthoxylum podocarpum and their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production

Two new dimeric lignans, zanthpodocarpins A (1) and B (2), and five known lignans, eudesmin (3), (1R,2R,5R,6S)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane (4), dimethoxysamin (5), rel-(1R,5R,6S)-6-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-2-one (6), and magnone A (7), were isolated from the barks of Zanthoxylum podocarpum. Their structures were identified by using spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 and 2 are rare dilignans bearing an unusual α,β-unsaturated ketone group from a natural source. Bioassay showed that compounds 1 and 2 could inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 5.31 μM and 12.15 μM, respectively.     

Synthesis of new palladium(II) compounds with several bidentate nitrogen-donor ligands: Structural analyses by H and C{H} NMR spectroscopy and crystal structures

The reaction of [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] with N-alkylaminopyrazole (NN′) ligands, 1-[2-(ethylamino)ethyl]-3,5-dimethylpyrazole (deae), 1-[2-(ⁱpropylamino)ethyl]-3,5-dimethylpyrazole (deai), and 1-[2-(^tbutylamino)ethyl]-3,5-dimethylpyrazole (deat), affords a series of square planar Pd(II) complexes [PdCl₂(NN′)] (NN′ = deae (1), deai (2) and deat (3)). The solid-state structures of complexes 1 and 3 were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The NN′ ligands are coordinated through the N_pz and N_amine atoms to the metal atom, which completes its coordination with two chlorine atoms in a cis disposition. These palladium(II) compounds were characterised by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, IR, ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectroscopies. The NMR studies of the complexes prove the rigid conformation of the ligands when they are complexed.     

(Pyrazolylmethyl)pyridine platinum(II) and gold(III) complexes: Synthesis, structures and evaluation as anticancer agents

Reactions of 2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L1), 2-(3,5-diphenylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L2), 2-(3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L3) and 2-(3-p-tolylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L4) with K₂[PtCl₄] in a mixture of ethanol and water formed the dichloro platinum complexes [PtCl₂(L1)] (1), [PtCl₂(L2)] (2), [PtCl₂(L3)] (3) and [PtCl₂(L4)] (4). Complex 1, [PtCl₂(L1)], could also be prepared in a mixture of acetone and water. Performing the reactions of L2 and L3 in a mixture of acetone and water, however, led to C-H activation of acetone under mild conditions to form the neutral acetonyl complexes [Pt(CH₂COCH₃)Cl(L2)] (2a) and [Pt(CH₂COCH₃)Cl(L3)] (3a). The same ligands reacted with HAuCl₄ · 4H₂O in a mixture of ethanol and water to form the gold salts [AuCl₂(L1)][AuCl₄] (5) [AuCl₂(L2)][Cl] (6) [AuCl₂(L3)][Cl] (7) and [AuCl₂(L4)][AuCl₄] (8); however, with the pyrazolyl unit in the para position of the pyridinyl ring in 4-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L5), 4-(3,5-diphenylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L6) neutral gold complexes [AuCl₃(L5)] (9) and [AuCl₂(L6)] (10) were formed; signifying the role the position of the pyrazolyl group plays in product formation in the gold reactions. X-ray crystallographic structural determination of L6, 2, 33a, 8 and 10 were very important in confirming the structures of these compounds; particularly for 3a and 8 where the presence of the acetonyl group confirmed C-H activation and for 8 where the counter ion is . Cytotoxicity studies of L2, L4 and complexes 1-10 against HeLa cells showed the Au complexes were much less active than the Pt complexes.     

Unexpected formation and structure elucidation of mer-[RuCl3(TMSO)(bpy)] derived from [H(TMSO)][trans-RuCl4(TMSO)2] under mild condition

Treatment of [H(TMSO)][trans-RuCl₄(TMSO)₂] (1) with 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) in ethanol at room temperature resulted an unknown mer-[RuCl₃(TMSO)(bpy)] (3) and a known cis-[RuCl₂(TMSO)₄] (4) (TMSO =  tetramethylene sulfoxide) complexes. The 3 was obtained by the substitution with bpy in mer-[RuCl₃(TMSO)₃] (2), whereas 4 was obtained by one-electron reduction of 2, suggesting that 2 is a precursor for both 3 and 4. The structure of 3 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The reaction is a new synthetic procedure for 3 and/or 3 and 4 in mild reaction conditions from the anionic complex 1. It involves simultaneous substitution and redox reaction. This is the first known example of precisely characterized Ru(III)-chloride-TMSO-bpy-complex derived from anionic [H(TMSO)][trans-RuCl₄(TMSO)₂] at room temperature.     

Synthesis and structural analysis of calix[4]arene-supported iron(III) complexes

The paper describes the reactivity of calix[4]arene dialkyl- or -silylethers H₂R₂calix, R=Me (1), Bz (2), or SiMe₃ (3) (p-tert.butyl-calix[4]arene=H₄calix), towards the iron(III) complex [FeCl(NSiMe₃)₂(thf)] 4. Bis(silylation) of H₄calix was achieved using a mixture of NEt₃ and Me₃SiCl as silylating agent, which is probably the most convenient and cheapest way for the preparation of H₂(Me₃Si)₂calix 3. [FeCl(N{SiMe₃}₂)₂(thf)] 4 has been obtained from the reaction of [FeCl₃] and commercially available K[N(SiMe₃)₂] in THF. The reactions of 4 with H₂Me₂calix and H₂Bz₂calix afford mononuclear iron(III) chloro compounds [FeCl(R₂calix)] 5 (R=Me) and 6 (R=Bz). The usage of calix[4]arene silyl ether 3 leads to a dinuclear complex [Fe₂({Me₃Si}calix)₂] 7, presumably under Me₃SiCl cleavage of a mononuclear calixarene iron(III) chloro complex. The calix[4]arene ether stabilized iron(III) chloro complexes are susceptible to nucleophilic substitution reactions, as exemplified by the reaction of 5 with sodium azide yielding an azido complex [Fe(N₃)(Me₂calix)] 8. The molecular structures of 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 in the solid state have been determined by X-ray diffraction.     

The unexpected reactions of [RuCl3(2mqn)NO] (H2mqn=2-methyl-8-quinolinol) with 2-chloro-8-quinolinol (H2cqn) and of [RuCl(2cqn)(2mqn)NO] on photoirradiation

The reaction of [RuCl₃(2mqn)NO]⁻ (H2mqn=2-methyl-8-quinolinol) with 2-chloro-8-quinolinol (H2cqn) afforded cis-1 [RuCl(2cqn)(2mqn)NO] (the oxygen of 2cqn is trans to the NO) (complex 1), cis-1 [RuCl(2cqn)(2mqn)NO] (the oxygen of 2mqn is trans to the NO) (complex 2) and a 1:1 mixture of cis-2 [RuCl(2cqn)(2mqn)NO] (the oxygen of 2mqn is trans to the NO) and cis-2 [RuCl(2cqn)(2mqn)NO] (the oxygen of 2cqn is trans to the NO) (complex 3). The reaction was compared with that of [RuCl₃(2mqn)NO]⁻ with 8-quinolinol (Hqn) or 5-chloro-8-quinolinol (H5cqn). Photoirradiation reaction of complex 1 at room temperature in deaerated CH₂Cl₂ in the presence of NO gave trans-[RuCl(2cqn)(2mqn)NO] (the Cl is trans to the NO) and complex 2 with recovery of complex 1. The reaction was contrasted with that of cis-1 [RuCl(qn)(2mqn)NO] or cis-1 [RuCl(5cqn)(2mqn)NO]. The crystal structure of complex 1 was determined by X-ray diffraction. The reactions were examined under consideration of atomic charge of the phenolato oxygen in 8-quinolinol and its derivatives calculated at the restricted Hartree-Fock/6-311G** level.     

New ruthenium(II) precursors with the tetradentate sulfur macrocycles tetrathiacyclododecane ([12]aneS4) and tetrathiacyclohexadecane ([16]aneS4) for the construction of metal-mediated supramolecular assemblies

The preparation and structural characterization of several new Ru(II) complexes in which four coordination positions are occupied by the sulfur atoms of a macrocycle, either 1,4,7,10-tetrathiacyclododecane ([12]aneS4) or 1,5,9,13-tetrathiacyclohexadecane ([16]aneS4), and the two others by relatively labile ligands (Cl⁻, , H₂O, dmso-S), are described:cis-[Ru([12]aneS4)(dmso-S)(H₂O)](CF₃SO₃)₂ (2a), cis-[Ru([12]aneS4)(dmso-S)(ONO₂)](NO₃) (2b), cis-[Ru([16]aneS4)Cl₂] (4), and trans-[Ru([16]aneS4)(dmso-S)(H₂O)](CF₃SO₃)₂ (5).The complexes of the larger [16]aneS4 macrocycle have a flexible coordination geometry, either cis or trans, that makes them unsuited for being used as precursors in metal-driven self-assembly processes.On the contrary, the [12]aneS4 complexes cis-[Ru([12]aneS4)(dmso-S)Cl]Cl (1) and, above all, its chlorido free derivatives cis-[Ru([12]aneS4)(dmso-S)(H₂O)](CF₃SO₃)₂ (2a) and cis-[Ru([12]aneS4)(dmso-S)(ONO₂)](NO₃) (2b) are potential precursors of the geometrically stable 90° bis-acceptor fragment cis-[Ru([12]aneS4)]²⁺.Preliminary results of their reactivity towards the linear linker pyrazine (pyz) showed that the nature of the isolated product depends on that of the counter-anion.When treated with pyz 2b afforded the dinuclear complex [{Ru([12]aneS4)(ONO₂)}₂(μ-pyz)](NO₃)₂ (8), while 2a gave the molecular triangle [{cis-Ru([12]aneS4)(μ-pyz)}₃](CF₃SO₃)₆ (9), both in low yields.The X-ray structures of compounds 2a, 2b, 4, 5, [{Ru([12]aneS4)Cl}₂(μ-pyz)]Cl₂ (7), 9, and of the sandwich complex[Ru([12]aneS3-S)₂](CF₃SO₃)₂ (3), in which only three sulfur atoms of each macrocycle are bound to ruthenium, are also described.     

Phenolic compounds with NF-κB inhibitory effects from the fungus Phellinus baumii

Chemical investigation of the fungus Phellinus baumii has resulted in characterization of five previously undescribed hispidin derivatives, phellibaumins A-E (1-5), as well as two pairs of new non-equivalent epimeric benzyl dihydroflavones, methylphelligrin A (9), epi-methylphelligrin A (10), methylphelligrin B (11), and epi-methylphelligrin B (12), together with five known compounds, interfungin B (6), phelligridin H (7), phelligridimer A (8), phelligrin A (13), and epi-phelligrin A (14). Phellibaumin A (1) was a novel hispidin derivative with a unique 3,4-dihydroxybenzofuran unit. These compounds exhibited NF-κB inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 52.96 μM (1), 41.40 μM (2), 52.92 μM (5), 36.44 μM (9 and 10), and 22.46 μM (11 and 12), respectively.     

Synthesis, characterization and in vitro antitumor activity of three organotin(IV) complexes with carbazole ligand

Three novel organotin(IV) complexes with 2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl) acetic acid (HL), of the formulae {[nBu₂SnOL]₂O}₂ (1), [nBuSn(O)OL]₆ (2) and [nBu₃SnOL]₆ (3) were prepared. All compounds were characterized by X-ray crystallography, confirming that complex (1) is tetranuclear one with ladder framework, complex (2) is a hexanuclear organotin(IV) complex with drum structure and complex (3) is a macrocycle with 24-membered stannoxane ring. Furthermore, all complexes were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic activity, using human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (BEL-7402) and human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2). Complex (1) displayed the best cytotoxicity and can be pointed out as a promising substrate to be subject of further investigations.