Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and radiosensitizing properties of acetato-bridged copper(II) complexes with 5-nitroimidazole drugs

Three novel acetato-bridged dinuclear copper(II) complexes with 5-nitroimidazoles (CuAcNtrim) and the known copper-acetato-metronidazole have been prepared by an environment-friendly route and spectroscopically characterized. The CuAcNtrim compounds of formula [Cu₂(μ-O₂CCH₃)₄Ntrim₂], where Ntrim = metronidazole (1), secnidazole (2), tinidazole (3) or nimorazole (4), exhibit dimeric copper-acetato paddle-wheel structures with Ntrim axial ligands coordinated to copper(II) ions through the N₃ atoms of the imidazole rings. EPR data indicate antiferromagnetic behavior for this novel series of copper complexes. The constant coupling has been found to decrease along with the increasing of basicity of the Ntrim axial ligand. The CuAcNtrim complexes and the correspondent Ntrim parent drugs have shown radiosensitizer properties for Hep2 (human larynx cancer) cell line in vitro. The best enhancement of radiosensitizer activity upon coordination of the Ntrim drug to copper(II) has been found for the nimorazole compound which has the strongest Cu-Ntrim bond and exhibits the highest lipophilicity within the series of CuAcNtrim complexes.     

DNA binding and nuclease activity of copper(II) complexes of tridentate ligands

Two copper(II) complexes, 1 and 2 with L₁ and L₂ [L₁ = 2-hydroxybenzyl(2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethylamine); L₂ = 2-hydroxybenzyl(2-(pyridin-2-yl)methylamine)] ligands, respectively, have been synthesized and characterized. The interaction of both the complexes with DNA has been studied to explore their potential biological activity. The DNA binding properties of the complexes with calf thymus (CT) DNA were studied by spectroscopic titration. The complexes show binding affinity to CT DNA with binding constant (K_b) values in the order of 10⁵ M⁻¹. Thermal denaturation and circular dichroism studies suggest groove binding of the complexes to CT DNA. Complexes also exhibit strong DNA cleavage activity in presence of reducing agents like 3-mercaptopropionic acid and β-mercaptoethanol. Mechanistic studies reveal the involvement of reactive hydroxyl radicals for their DNA cleavage activity.     

Magnetic and catalytic properties of a new copper(II)-Schiff base 2D coordination polymer formed by connected helical chains

A dicyanamide bridged 2D polynuclear complex of copper(II) having molecular formula [Cu₂(L)(μ_1,5-dca)₂]_n (1) has been synthesized using the Schiff base ligand N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-1,3-diaminopentane, (H₂L) and sodium dicyanamide (dca). The complex presents a 2D hexagonal structure formed by 1,5-dca singly bridged helical chains connected through double 1,5-dca bridges. The chelating characteristics of the H₂L Schiff base ligand results in the formation of copper(II) dimer with a double phenoxo bridge presenting a very strong antiferromagnetic coupling in the copper(II) derivative (1) (J = −510 cm⁻¹). The dimeric asymmetric unit of 1 is very similar to the active site of the catechol oxidase and, as expected, also presents catalytic activity for the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone in presence of O₂, as demonstrated by kinetic studies of this oxidation reaction monitored by absorption spectroscopy resulting in high turnover number (K_cat = 259 h⁻¹).     

2-Picolinic acid and benzoic acid from di-2-pyridyl ketone and acetophenone: A case of two copper catalysed Baeyer-Villiger rearrangements?

The synthesis and crystal structure elucidation of two novel polymeric copper(II) complexes has led us to propose a mechanism for the formation of 2-picolinic acid (pic) from di-2-pyridyl ketone (dpk) and benzoic acid from acetophenone. During studies into the interaction of copper ions with the dpk-acetophenone system, two complexes Na₂(NCS)₂(H₂O)[Cu(pic)₂] (1) and Na₂(H₂O)₂[Cu(pic)₂(NCS)₂] (2) which contain pic coordinated to copper were isolated. The occurrence of (1) and (2) has led us to consider the Baeyer-Villiger rearrangement as a possible mechanism for the formation of (1) and (2).     

Synthesis and crystal structures of dimeric W(Mo)/Cu/S and polymeric W/Cu/S neutral clusters with flexible 1,4-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)butane as a linker ligand

Reactions of [MES₃]²⁻ (M = W, Mo; E = S, O) with CuCl and bbd [1,4-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)butane] in DMF affords two new double nest-shape clusters, [WOS₃Cu₃Cl(μ-bbd)]₂ (1) and [MoOS₃Cu₃Cl(μ-bbd)]₂ (2) and a novel one-dimensional polymeric complex [WS₄Cu₂(μ-bbd)]_n (4). The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In the core structure of the isostructural dimeric [MOS₃Cu₃Cl(μ-bbd)]₂ clusters, the copper atoms have a distorted trigonal planar geometry, with CuS₂N and CuS₂Cl core environments. The [MOS₃Cu₃] fragments are interconnected by a pair of flexible μ-bbd ligands via their nitrogen donor atoms to form a centrosymmetric macrocyclic twin-nest-shaped cluster in which the two fragments are also linked by direct secondary Cu…Cl interactions. Complex 4 represents the first example of a polymeric heterothiometallic cluster, interconnected by bbd ligands, to be structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. In the repeat unit of 4, the skeleton of the cluster core [CuS₂WS₂Cu] has an essentially linear Cu…W…Cu arrangement. The W atom retains the tetrahedral geometry of the parent [WS₄]²⁻ anion. These cluster cores are linked by bbd bridges having alternately two different conformations to construct a zigzag structure. Complexes [MoS₄Cu₃Cl(bbd)_0.5]₂ (3) and [WS₄Cu₄(NCS)₂(bbd)₂]_n (5) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, but we have been unable to grow suitable crystals of 3 and 5 for X-ray analysis.     

Sterically crowded triazenides as novel ancillary ligands in copper chemistry

We have synthesized copper salts MN₃RR′ derived from the biphenyl- or m-terphenyl-substituted triazenes Tph₂N₃H (1a) and Dmp(Tph)N₃H (1b) (Dmp = 2,6-Mes₂C₆H₃ with Mes = 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂; Tph = 2-TripC₆H₄ with Trip = 2,4,6-i-Pr₃C₆H₂). The homoleptic copper triazenide [CuN₃Tph₂] (2a) was obtained in high yield from the metallation of 1a with mesityl copper in n-heptane, while the complex [CuN₃(Dmp)Tph] (2b) was generated by the same method in situ only. Reaction of 2a with triphenylphosphane gave the 2:1 adduct [CuN₃Tph₂(PPh₃)₂] (3a), regardless of the used complex/donor ratio, while reaction of 2a or 2b with a stochiometric amount of t-butylisonitrile afforded the 1:1 adducts [Tph₂N₃CuCNtBu] (4a) and [Dmp(Tph)N₃CuCNtBu] (4b). All new compounds (except 2b) have been characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, melting point (not 2a), and X-ray crystallography. The IR spectroscopic examination of the ν(CN) stretch in the isonitrile adducts 4a and 4b revealed the weaker donor character of the supporting triazenido ligands compared to related β-diketiminato ligands.     

Functional mimics of catechol oxidase by mononuclear copper complexes of sterically demanding [NNO] ligands

Several mononuclear copper complexes 1(a-b) and 2(a-b) supported over sterically demanding [NNO] ligands namely, N-(aryl)-2-[(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]acetamide [aryl = 2,6-diethylphenyl (1) and mesityl (2)], exhibit catecholase-like activity in performing the aerial oxidation of 3,5-di-t-butylcatehol (3,5-DTBC) to 3,5-di-t-butyl-catequinone (3,5-DTBQ) under ambient conditions. The 1(a-b) and 2(a-b) complexes were directly synthesized from the reaction of the respective ligands 1-2 with CuX₂·nH₂O (X = Cl, NO₃, n = 2, 3) in 55-85% yield. Mechanistic insights on the catalytic cycle as obtained by density functional theory studies for a representative complex 1a suggest that an intramolecular hydrogen transfer, from a catechol-OH moiety to a copper bound superoxo moiety, form the rate-determining step of the oxidation process, displaying an activation barrier of 18.3 kcal/mol (ΔG^‡) [6.9 kcal/mol in Δ(PE + ZPE)^‡ scale].     

The replacement of chlorides by cytosines in copper(II) complexes containing guanidine derivatives

Two copper(II) chloride complexes of amidino-O-methylurea (L¹), [Cu(L¹)Cl₂] (1), and (N-benzyl)-amidino-O-methylurea (L²), [Cu(L²)Cl₂] (2), were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, diffuse reflectance, electron spin resonance and electrospray ionization mass spectra. Their cytosine binding abilities has been studied and found that two cytosine molecules are able to coordinate with the copper centers by replacing the chloride ligands to yield the bifunctional binding adducts [Cu(L¹)(cyt)₂]Cl₂ (1c) and [Cu(L²)(cyt)₂]Cl₂ (2c), respectively. The shift of the CO band of cytosine in both cytosine-bound products to higher energy suggested that the N(3)-cytosine atom coordinates to the copper center. The large blue shifts of the d-d absorbance maxima and the nine superhyperfine splitting from the CuN₄ chromophore were also observed in their electronic and EPR spectra. Their thermal decompositions have also supported the interaction of cytosine with complexes 1 and 2. Density functional calculations have also been performed and revealed that square planar coordination geometry is more stable for both 1c and 2c. The binding energy of 1c is found to be ∼20% lower than that of 2c, indicative of the higher binding potential of 1c.     

2-Benzoylpyridine and copper(II) ion in basic medium: Hydroxide nucleophilic addition stabilized by metal complexation, reactivity, crystal structure, DNA binding study and magnetic behavior

On reaction of 2-benzoylpyridine (Bzpy) with copper(II) ion, different types of copper(II) complexes have been isolated in pure form depending upon the counter anion of the copper(II) salts used as reactant and the pH of the medium. Mono-nuclear copper(II) complexes of formula [Cu(Bzpy)₂(ClO₄)₂] (1) and [Cu(Bzpy)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ (2) were formed with copper(II) perchlorate and nitrate, respectively. On the other hand, following a similar reaction type in presence of alkali, we obtained the dinuclear copper(II) complex [Cu₂(Bzpy)₂{BzOpy}₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂ (3) containing the hydroxy-2-pyridylphenylmethanolato (BzOpy)⁻ anion, achieved through the nucleophilic addition of the hydroxide to the carbonyl group of Bzpy, which is stabilized by metal complexation. However, this behavior was not recorded with copper(II) nitrate. The complexes were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic tools along with structural characterization by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The interaction of dinuclear copper(II) complex 3 with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) has been investigated by using absorption and emission spectral studies and the binding constant (K_b) and the linear Stern-Volmer quenching constant (K_sv) have been determined. Complex 3 was active to oxidize the catechol to the corresponding quinone in MeCN medium via complex-catechol intermediate. Magnetic behavior for 3 is typical for uncorrelated spins down even up to 2 K.     

Synthesis and chemical characterization of Cu, Ni and Zn complexes of 3,5-bis(2′-pyridyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole and 3-(2′-pyridyl)5-(phenyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole ligands

The synthesis and structural characterization of Ni^II, Cu^II and Zn^II complexes of two chelating 1,2,4-oxadiazole ligands, namely 3,5-bis(2′-pyridyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole (bipyOXA) and 3-(2′-pyridyl)5-(phenyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole (pyOXA), is here reported. The formed hexacoordinated metal complexes are [M(bipyOXA)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ and [M(pyOXA)₂(ClO₄)₂], respectively (M = Ni, Cu, Zn). X-ray crystallography, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and C, N, H elemental analysis data concord in attributing them an octahedral coordination geometry. The two coordinated pyOXA ligands assume a trans coplanar disposition, while the two bipyOXA ligands are not. The latter result is a possible consequence of the formation of H-bonds between the coordinated water molecules and the nitrogen atom of the pyridine in position 5 of the oxadiazole ring. The expected splitting of the d metal orbitals in an octahedral ligand field explains the observed paramagnetism of the d⁸ and d⁹ electron configuration of the nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes, respectively, as determined by the broadening of their NMR spectra.