Potential multifunctional anti-cancer metal complexes. I. Synthesis and x-ray structural studies of some dinuclear rhodium(II) carboxylate complexes with diamine-substituted acridine ligands in terminal coordination positions

The preparations are reported of [Rh(RCO₂)₂L]₂ [where R = CH₃, C₂H₅, and CH₃OCH₂; L = 6-chloro-2-methoxy-9-[2(NR′₂)ethyl]aminoacridine (R′ = H, CH₃)]. X-ray structural studies have been carried out on two of the compounds [ R = C₂H₅, R′ = H, (1); R = CH₃, R′ = CH₃, (2)]. Compound 1 is monoclinic, space group C2/c, with a = 20.864(11), b = 15.736(4), c = 14.402(4) Å, β = 93.14(4)°, V = 4721 ų, and Z = 4; 2 is monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a = 8.861(2), b = 23.089(10), c = 12.014(2) Å, β = 105.84(2)°, V = 2365 ų, and Z = 2. Both compounds comprise the standard dinuclear rhodium(II) carboxylate unit with the substituted acridine ligands coordinated to rhodium in the axial positions, via the NH₂ group nitrogen in 1 and the N(CH₃)₂ nitrogen in 2.The dimethyl substitution on the tertiary amine group in 2, and an associated conformational change in the diamine chain, result in an increased separation of the acridine ligand from the metal centre. There is a pronounced acridine base stacking in 1 but not in 2.     

Preparation of new tetraaza macrocyclic nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes bearing N-propionic methyl ester groups

A 14-membered tetraaza macrocycle, 2,13-bis(2-carbomethoxyethyl)-5,16-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[16.4.0.^1.180^7.12]docosane (L²) bearing two N-CH₂CH₂COOMe groups, and its nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes have been prepared and characterized. The nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes of 2-(2-carbomethoxyethyl)-5,16-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[16.4.0.^1.180^7.12]docosane (L³) containing one N-CH₂CH₂COOMe group have also been prepared. The crystal structure of [NiL²](ClO₄)₂ shows that the complex has a slightly distorted trans-octahedral coordination geometry with two relatively short axial Ni-O (N-CH₂CH₂COOMe group) bonds (2.136(3) Å). In various solvents, however, a considerable proportion of [NiL²]²⁺ exists as a square-planar form, in which the functional pendant arms are not involved in coordination. The proportion of the square-planar isomer varies with solvents in the order of nitromethane ? acetonitrile < H₂O < DMF ? DMSO. In the case of [CuL²](ClO₄)₂, only one N-CH₂CH₂COOMe group is involved in coordination. The N-CH₂CH₂COOMe group of [NiL³](ClO₄)₂ is not directly involved in coordination even in the solid state, though the functional group of [CuL³](ClO₄)₂ is coordinated to the metal ion.     

Synthesis and characterization of a series of N3O-ligated mononuclear Mn(II) halide complexes

Treatment of a N₃O-donor chelate ligand (mpppa = N-methyl-N-((6-pivaloylamido-2-pyridyl)methyl)-N-(2-pyridylethyl)amine; bpppa = N-benzyl-N-((6-pivaloylamido-2-pyridyl)methyl)-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) with equimolar amounts of Mn(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O and Me₄NX (X = Cl, Br, I) in methanol resulted in the production of a series of mononuclear Mn(II) halide complexes of the formula [(L)Mn-X(CH₃OH)]ClO₄ (L = mpppa or bpppa). X-ray crystallographic studies of [(mpppa)Mn-Cl(CH₃OH)]ClO₄ · CH₃OH (2 · CH₃OH), [(mpppa)Mn-Br(CH₃OH)]ClO₄ · CH₃OH (4 · CH₃OH), [(mpppa)Mn-I(CH₃OH)]ClO₄ · CH₃OH (6 · CH₃OH), and [(bpppa)Mn-I(CH₃OH)]ClO₄ · O₂(CH₂CH₃)₂ (7 · O(CH₂CH₃)₂) revealed for each a mononuclear Mn(II) center having tetradentate coordination of the chelate ligand, one coordinated halide anion, and one molecule of coordinated methanol. An increase in the Mn-X distance through the halide series (Cl, Br, I) correlates linearly with the increase in the radius of the anion. The magnetic moment of each halide complex, measured via Evans method in methanol, is consistent with the presence of a high-spin distorted octahedral Mn(II) center. The EPR features of the halide complexes in methanol do not change as a function of the nature of the halide coordinated to the Mn(II) center.     

Comparative properties of fluorous phosphine ligand complexes: W(CO)5L. Crystal structure of W(CO)5P(C6H4-4-CH2CH2(CF2)7CF3)3

The compounds W(CO)₅P(C₆H₄-4-CH₂CH₂(CF₂)₇CF₃)₃ (1) and W(CO)₅P(CH₂CH₂(CF₂)₅CF₃)₃ (2) were synthesized in order to probe the electronic and physical effects of ligation by perfluorocarbon substituted tertiary phosphine ligands in a W(CO)₅L complex. The π-accepting ability of the fluorous phosphines was found to rank with non-fluorous comparators as P(CH₂CH₂(CF₂)₅CF₃)₃ > P(C₆H₄-4-CH₂CH₂(CF₂)₇CF₃)₃ > PPh₃ > P(p-tolyl)₃ > P(n-octyl)₃. The X-ray crystal structure of W(CO)₅P(C₆H₄-4-CH₂CH₂(CF₂)₇CF₃)₃ shows strong intermolecular association of fluorous components but confirms that the para fluorocarbon subtituents have an insignificant effect on the tungsten coordination environment. Partition coefficients (toluene/perfluoromethylcyclohexane) were measured for compounds 1 and 2.     

Complexes of the {ReOX2} (X = Cl, Br) core with single amino acid chelate derivatives

The reactions of 1 equiv. of the ligand 3-(ethoxycarbonylmethyl-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-amino)-propionic acid methyl ester (2) with the Re(V) starting materials [ReOX₃(PPh₃)₂] (X = Cl, Br) in refluxing chloroform yielded the Re(V)-oxo dihalide complexes [ReOX₂{(C₅H₄NCH₂)N(CH₂CO₂)(C₂H₄CO₂CH₃)}] (X = Cl, 3; X = Br, 4). The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR and IR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and X-ray crystallography. Complex 3 displays distorted octahedral coordination geometry with the tridentate ligand coordinating facially to the Re(V) center. The carboxylate oxygen atom occupies an axial site trans to the ReO bond. The two chlorine atoms consequently adopt a cis configuration.     

Optically active iridium complexes with cyclopentadienyl-phosphine ligands: synthesis and oxidative addition of methyl iodide

The dimer [Ir(μ-Cl)(C₈H₁₄)₂]₂ reacts with the ligands (S)-(C₅H₄CH₂CH(Ph)PPh₂)Li and (R)-(C₅H₄CH(Cy)CH₂PPh₂)Li to give (S)-[Ir(η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂CH(Ph)PPh₂-κP)(C₈H₁₄)] and (R)-[Ir(η⁵-C₅H₄CH(Cy)CH₂PPh₂-κP)(C₈H₁₄)], which upon treatment with CH₃I at room temperature afford the cationic iridium(III) compounds (S,S_Ir)-[Ir(η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂CH(Ph)PPh₂-κP)(CH₃)(C₈H₁₄)][I] as a single diastereomer, and (R)-[Ir(η⁵-C₅H₄CH(Cy)CH₂PPh₂-κP)(CH₃)(C₈H₁₄)][I] as a 9:1 mixture of two diastereomers. If the oxidative addition reaction is performed at reflux in methylene chloride, the starting complexes convert to the neutral compounds (S)-[Ir(η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂CH(Ph)PPh₂-κP)(CH₃)(I)] and (R)-[Ir(η⁵-C₅H₄CH(Cy)CH₂PPh₂-κP)(CH₃)(I)] as 1.6:1 and 3.3:1 mixtures of diastereoisomers, respectively. Carbonyl iridium complexes are synthesized by reacting [IrCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂] with the ligands to afford (S)-[Ir(η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂CH(Ph)PPh₂-κP)(CO)] and (R)-[Ir(η⁵-C₅H₄CH(Cy)CH₂PPh₂-κP)(CO)]. They give upon treatment with CH₃I the cationic species (S)-[Ir(η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂CH(Ph)PPh₂-κP)(CH₃)(CO)][I] and (R)-[Ir(η⁵-C₅H₄CH(Cy)CH₂PPh₂-κP)(CH₃)(CO)][I] as 1.6:1 and 3:1 mixture of diastereomers, respectively. No migratory-insertion of the methyl group into the carbonyl-metal bond has been observed even after prolonged heating.     

Chiroptical properties of diastereomeric five-coordinate Pt(II)–olefin complexes. Molecular structure of [PtCl2{(S,S)-(E)-CNCHCHCN}(R,R)-{C6H5CH(CH3)N(CH3)CH2}2]·C6H6

The chiroptical properties of five-coordinate diastereomeric complexes of general formula [PtCl₂(R,R)-{C₆H₅CH(CH₃)N(CH₃)CH₂}₂{olefin}], with olefin ligands having electron-withdrawing substituents, have been investigated. The sign of CD bands in the 28 000–30 000 cm⁻¹ region appears to be correlated to the absolute configuration of the prochiral coordinated alkene. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure determination has been performed on the single diastereomer [PtCl₂(E-but-2-enedinitrile)(R,R)-{C₆H₅CH(CH₃)N(CH₃)CH₂}₂]· C₆H₆. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2 with a = 17.842(2), b = 8.466(1), c = 10.464(1) Å, β = 109.34(1)°, Z = 2. The number of observed reflections was 1943 and the final R and R_w values were 0.020 and 0.028 respectively. Trigonal-bipyramidal geometry is observed around the Pt atom, with the two Cl atoms in axial positions. The unsaturated ligand lies in the equatorial plane disclosing S,S absolute configuration.     

Exploring the coordination chemistry and reactivity of hemilabile N-alkylaminopyrazole ligands towards Pd(II)

Reaction of the N-alkylaminopyrazole (NN′N) ligands bis[(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)methyl]ethylamine (bdmae) and bis[(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)methyl]isopropylamine (bdmai) with [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] in a 1:1 M/L ratio in CH₂Cl₂ produces cis-[PdCl₂(NN′N)] (NN′N = bdmae (1), bdmai (2)). The solid state structure of complex 1 was determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The bdmae ligand is coordinated through the two N_pz atoms to the metal atom, which completes its coordination with two chlorine atoms in a cis disposition.Treatment of the corresponding ligand with [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] in 1:1 M/L ratio in the presence of AgBF₄ and metathesis with NaBPh₄ in CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH (3:1) gave [PdCl(bdmae)](BPh₄) (3), and in the presence of NaBPh₄ in CH₂Cl₂/CH₃CN (3:1) gave [PdCl(bdmai)](BPh₄) (4). Complexes 1 and 2 were again obtained when complexes 3 and 4 were heated under reflux in a solution of Et₄NCl in acetonitrile. These Pd(II) compounds were characterised by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, IR, ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR, HMQC and NOESY spectroscopies. The NMR studies of the complexes prove the rigid conformation of the ligands when they are complexed.     

Novel p-tolylimido rhenium(V) complexes incorporating quinoline-2-carboxylate ion - Synthesis, X-ray studies, spectroscopic characterization and DFT calculations

Novel p-tolylimido rhenium(V) complexes trans-[Re(p-NC₆H₄CH₃)X₂(quin-2-COO)(PPh₃)] and cis-[Re(p-NC₆H₄CH₃)X₂(quin-2-COO)(PPh₃)]·MeCN have been obtained in the reactions of [Re(p-NC₆H₄CH₃)X₃(PPh₃)₂] (X = Cl, Br) with quinoline-2-carboxylic acid. The compounds were identified by elemental analysis IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The electronic structures of trans- and cis-halide isomers of [Re(p-NC₆H₄CH₃)Cl₂(quin-2-COO)(PPh₃)] have been calculated with the density functional theory (DFT) method. Additional information about binding in the compounds [Re(p-NC₆H₄CH₃)Cl₂(quin-2-COO)(PPh₃)] with cis- and trans-halide arrangement has been obtained by NBO analysis. The electronic spectra of trans and cis isomers of [Re(p-NC₆H₄CH₃)Cl₂(quin-2-COO)(PPh₃)] were investigated at the TDDFT level employing B3LYP functional in combination with LANL2DZ.     

Synthesis, structures and magnetic properties of nickel(II), manganic(II) and zinc(II) complexes containing pyridyl-substituted nitronyl nitroxide and tris(2-benzimidazolymethyl)amine

Three new magnetic compounds were synthesized by using 2-(2′-pyridyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (NIT2Py) and tris(2-benzimidazolymethyl)amine (NTB) as ligands. The structures and magnetic properties of the complexes with formula [Ni(NIT2Py)(NTB)](ClO₄)₂(CH₃OH) 1, [Mn(NIT2Py)(NTB)](ClO₄)₂2 and {[Zn(NIT2Py)₂(CH₃OH)₂](ClO₄)₂}{[Zn(NTB)(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂} 3 were characterized. Compounds 1 and 2 both have [M(NIT2Py)(NTB)] structural units, where the metal ion is in an octahedral environment bound to one NIT2Py through one pyridyl nitrogen atom and one nitroxide oxygen atom. However, compound 3, the chelating zinc ion has two crystallographically independent molecules in the asymmetric unit: one is six coordinated octahedral structure [Zn(NIT2Py)₂(CH₃OH)₂](ClO₄)₂, and the other one is five coordinated pyramidal structure [Zn(NTB)(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂. The magnetic behaviors of these compounds indicate that both the nickel ion and the manganese ion are antiferromagnetically coupled with the NIT2Py ligand with a coupling constant of −19.44 and −0.37 cm⁻¹, respectively, whereas two NIT2Py ligands in compound 3 are ferromagnetically coupled with a coupling constant of 19.1 cm⁻¹.     

A nickel(II) di-μ2-phenolato bridged dinuclear complex: Weak antiferromagnetic interactions in nickel(II) dimers

[Ni(dpmap)(H₂O)]₂(ClO₄)₂ · 3(CH₃)₂CO, a dinuclear nickel(II) complex of 2-{[[Di(2-pyridyl)methyl](methyl)amino]methyl}phenol, dpmapH has been synthesized. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that each nickel(II) center is coordinated by two dpmap⁻ ligands and two water molecules. The two nickel(II) centers are bridged by μ₂-phenolate oxygen donors. The two nickel(II) centers each have distorted octahedral symmetry, comprised of cis-coordinated pyridyl nitrogen, a tert-amino nitrogen and a bridging phenolate oxygen. Hexacoordination is completed by an oxygen atom of a water molecule. The water molecules at each nickel center are trans- to each other across the Ni₂O₂ basal plane. The two Ni atoms are separated by 3.170 Å. Variable temperature and field magnetic measurements reveal weak antiferromagnetic coupling (J = −0.85 cm⁻¹) between the nickel(II) centers. The χ_mT versus T data were fit using a model, derived from Kambe’s method and include zero-field splitting (D = −1.6 cm⁻¹). Broken-symmetry density functional theory (BS-DFT) indicates that the weak antiferromagnetism is due to electron density delocalization onto the ligand framework and the inability of the out-of plane phenolato-bridges to mediate superexchange.     

Synthesis and properties of electrochemiluminescent dinuclear Ru(II) complexes assembled with ester-bridged bis(bipyridine) ligands

New bridging ligands, such as bpy-(COOCH₂)-bpy (BL1), mbpy-(CH₂)₃COOCH₂-bpy (BL2), bpy-COO(CH₂)₆OOC-bpy (BL3), and bpy-COOCH₂PhPhCH₂OOC-bpy (BL4), have been synthesized and coordinated to [RuL₂(acetone)₂](PF₆)₂ for various [Ru(L)₂(BL)Ru(L)₂](PF₆)₄-type dinuclear ruthenium complexes (where BL = BL1, BL2, BL3, BL4, and L = bpy, o-phen, DTDP). Their electrochemical redox potentials, spectroscopic properties and relative electrochemiluminescence were investigated in detail. All dinuclear Ru complexes exhibit MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer) absorption and luminescence bands in the visible region. ECL intensities of dinuclear ruthenium(II) complexes were affected not only by the kind of the ligand, but also by the nature of the bridging ligand. Among the synthesized dinuclear Ru complexes, [(DTDP)₂Ru(mbpy)-(CH₂)₃COOCH₂-(bpy)Ru(DTDP)₂](PF₆)₄ exhibited enhanced ECL intensities as high as 2.9 times greater than that of the reference, [Ru(o-phen)₃](PF₆)₂.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of Pd(II) complexes containing 2,6-bis[(dimethylamino)methyl]-4-methylphenolate ligand

Treatment of 2,6-bis[(dimethylamino)methyl]-4-methylphenol (1) with [Pd(PhCN)₂Cl₂] in a 1:1 molar ratio gives the mononuclear Pd(II) complex [PdCl₂(OC₆H₂(CH₂NMe₂)-2-Me-4-(CH₂NHMe₂)-6)] (2) containing one ligand with an ammonium hydrogen atom, which forms a bifurcated hydrogen bonding to the phenoxy oxygen and the chlorine atoms, as shown by the single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The reaction between the lithium salt of 1 and [Pd(COD)Cl₂] gives the mononuclear Pd(II) complex [Pd(OC₆H₂(CH₂NMe₂)₂-2,6-Me-4)₂] (3). The X-ray structure of 3 showed the presence of two ligands coordinated to one palladium metal center in a trans fashion with two dangling dimethylamine groups. The yield of the complex 3 was improved by carrying out the reaction between [Pd(OAc)₂] and 1 in acetone. The solid state structures of the complexes 2 and 3 were confirmed by ¹H, ¹³C, HETCOR NMR, IR and elemental analysis methods. The ¹H NMR spectra of 2 and 3 showed two different chemical shifts corresponding to the coordinated and uncoordinated amine groups of the ligand. No decoalescence of signals for the chelate ring puckering process was observed in variable-temperature NMR spectra.     

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.     

Electrochemical synthesis and crystal structure of iron(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes of dianionic tetradentate N4 Schiff base ligand

The electrochemical oxidation of anodic metal (iron, cobalt, nickel and copper) in an acetonitrile solution of the potentially chelating Schiff base N,N(dithiodiethylenebis-(aminylydenemethylydene)-bis(1,2-phenylene)ditosylamide (H₂L) afforded stable complexes of empirical formula [ML]. The compounds obtained have been characterized by microanalysis, IR spectroscopy and ES-MS mass spectrometry. The crystal and molecular structures of [FeL]·CH₃CN (1) [CoL]·CH₃CN (2), [NiL]·CH₃CN (3) and [CuL]·CH₃CN (4) have been determined by X-ray diffraction in all complexes, the metal atom is in a distorted tetrahedral environment with the Schiff base acting as a tetradentate N4 donor.     

Five novel palladium(II) complexes of 8-hydroxyquinoline and amino acids with hydrophobic side chains: synthesis,characterization, cytotoxicity,DNA- and BSA-interaction studies

Abstract

The side effects and resistance of metal-based anticancer drugs prompted us to synthesis a novel series of five Pd(II) complexes of the type [Pd(8-QO)(AA)]; where 8-QO?=?anion of 8-hydroxyquinoline and AA?=?anions of amino acids having nonpolar aliphatic side chain such as glycine (–H), alanine (–CH₃), valine (–CH(CH₃)₂), leucine (–CH₂–CH(CH₃)₂) and isoleucine (–CH(CH₃)CH₂–CH₃). The complexes have been characterized with the help of FT-IR, UV–Vis, one and two-dimensional ¹H-NMR, elemental analysis and conductivity measurements. On the basis of these characterization data, a four coordinated square planar geometry for all of these complexes have been proposed. The compounds were screened for their in vitro activities against human cancer cell line, MOLT-4 and their 50% inhibition concentration were ascertained by means of MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Since four out of the five newly synthesized compounds were found to be more active than the standard anticancer drug, cisplatin, their detailed interaction with calf thymus DNA (as a target) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) (as a carrier) were also carried out by utilizing absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra and ethidium bromide displacement studies. In these experiments, several binding and thermodynamic parameters were also calculated. These results suggested that hydrogen binding and van der Waals forces play a major role in the interaction between metal complexes with CT-DNA and BSA.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

Complexes of the fac-{Re(CO)3} core with tridentate ligands derived from arylpiperazines

Arylpiperazines, XC₆H₄N(CH₂CH₂)₂NH, are readily alkylated to give the N-alkylpiperazines of the type XC₆H₄N(CH₂CH₂)₂N(CH₂)_nNH₂. The amine functions of these derivatives are in turn easily subjected to mono- or dialkylation to provide potentially tridentate ligands of the types XC₆H₄N(CH₂CH₂)₂N(CH₂)_nN(H)(CH₂Y) and XC₆H₄N(CH₂CH₂)₂N(CH₂)_nN(CH₂Y)(CH₂Z), respectively. The latter class of dialkylated derivatives may be symmetrically (Y=Z) or unsymmetrically (Y ≠ Z) substituted. The donor groups Y and Z of this study include pyridine, imidazole, methyl-imidazole, thiazole, carboxylate and thiolate.The reactions of these ligands with [NEt₄]₂[Re(CO)₃Br₃] yield complexes of the type [Re(CO)₃{(YCH₂)N(H)(CH₂)_n(H)_xN(CH₂CH₂)₂N(H)_yC₆H₄X}]ⁿ and [Re(CO)₃{(ZCH₂)(YCH₂)N(CH₂)_n(H)_xN(CH₂CH₂)₂N(H)_yC₆H₄X}]ⁿ where the molecular charge n (0, +1, or +2) depends on the nature of the donor groups Y and Z (whether neutral or anionic or a combination of neutral and anionic) and on the degree of protonation of the piperazine unit (x=0 or 1; y=0 or 1). This variety of tridentate chelators provides complexes with fac-{Re(CO)₃N₃}, {Re(CO)₃N₂O}, {Re(CO)₃NO₂}, {Re(CO)₃N₂S} and {Re(CO)₃NS₂} coordination geometries. The structures of the model compound [Re(CO)₃{(CH₃N₂C₃H₂CH₂)N(H)CH₂CH₂-piperidine}]Br · H₂O, [Re(CO)₃{(CH₃N₂C₃H₂CH₂)N(H)CH₂CH₂-Fphenpip}]Br, [Re(CO)₃{(NC₅H₄CH₂)N(H)CH₂CH₂-Fphenpip}]Br, [Re(CO)₃{(O₂CCH₂)₂NCH₂CH₂CH₂-CH₃OphenpipH}] · xCH₃OH (x≈0.875), [Re(CO)₃{(NC₅H₄CH₂)₂NCH₂CH₂CH₂-CH₃OphenpipH}]Br₂ · 2CH₂Cl₂ · H₂O and [Re(CO)₃{(CH₃N₂C₃H₂CH₂)(O₂CCH₂)NCH₂CH₂CH₂-CH₃OphenpipH₂}]BrCl · 1.5CH₃OH · H₂O are discussed (phenpip: phenylpiperazine, -C₆H₄N(CH₂CH₂)₂N-).     

Directing iridium-catalyzed C-C bond formation by selection of the ancillary ligands: Polymerization and cyclotrimerization of alkynes

The ability of organoiridium derivatives of catalyzing oligomerization and polymerization of terminal alkynes is markedly influenced by the nature of non-participative ligands coordinated to the metal. The dimeric species [Ir(cod)Cl]₂ and [Ir(cod)(OMe)]₂ (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) as well as the phosphine complexes HIr(cod)(PR₃)₂ (PR₃ = PPh₃, P(p-MeOC₆H₄)₃, P(o-MeOC₆H₄)Ph₂, PCyPh₂) catalyze the polymerization reaction, whereas the diphosphine derivatives HIr(cod)(P-P) (P-P = Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂ (n = 1-4), o-C₆H₄(PPh₂)₂) promote the regioselective formation of 1,2,4-trisubstituted benzenes. On the other hand, the iridium complexes with nitrogen chelating ligands Ir(cod)(N-N)X and Ir(hd)(N-N)X (hd = 1,5-hexadiene; N-N = 1,10-phenanthroline and substituted derivatives; X = halogen) catalyze alkynes polymerization. In most cases one catalytic reaction predominates over the other possible routes, so that polymerization often takes place in the absence of oligomerization side reactions, and conversely cyclotrimerization is rarely accompanied by formation of either polyene or dimers.     

Methylmercury Resistance in Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Strains in Relation to Methylmercury Degradation

Two strains of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, one known to synthesize monomethylmercury from ionic mercury, were grown to determine methylmercury toxicity and for comparison with an anaerobic strain of Clostridium pasteurianum, a H₂ producer, and with the broad-spectrum mercury-resistant Pseudomonas putida strain FB-1, capable of degrading 1 μg of methylmercury to methane and elemental mercury in 2 h. The CH₃HgCl resistance of D. desulfuricans strains was 10 times that of P. putida FB-1 and 100 times that of C. pasteurianum. The methylmercury resistance of D. desulfuricans was related to the disappearance of methylmercury from cultures by transformation to dimethylmercury, metacinnabar, methane, and traces of ionic mercury. During a 15-day experiment the kinetics of the two volatile compounds dimethylmercury [(CH₃)₂Hg] and methane were monitored in the liquid by a specific new technique with purge-and-trap gas chromatography in line with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and in the headspace by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Insoluble metacinnabar (cubic HgS) of biological origin was detected by X-ray diffractometry in the gray precipitate from the insoluble residue of the pellet of a 1-liter culture spiked with 100 mg of CH₃HgCl. This was compared with a 1-liter culture of D. desulfuricans LS spiked with 100 mg of HgCl₂. In a further experiment, it was demonstrated that insoluble, decomposable, white dimethylmercury sulfide [(CH₃Hg)₂S] formed instantly in the reaction of methylmercury with hydrogen sulfide. This organomercurial was extracted with chloroform and identified by gas chromatography in line with mass spectrometry. The D. desulfuricans strains were resistant to high concentrations of methylmercury because they produced insoluble dimethylmercury sulfide, which slowly decomposed under anaerobic conditions to metacinnabar and volatilized to dimethylmercury and methane between pHs 6.2 and 6.5 for high (4.5-g · liter^-1) or low (0.09-g · liter^-1) sulfate contents. Methane was produced from CH₃HgCl at a lower rate than by the broad-spectrum Hg-resistant P. putida strain FB-1.     

Pterocarpans and isoflavones from the root bark of Millettia micans and of Millettia dura

From the CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH (1:1) extract of the root bark of Millettia micans, a new pterocarpan, (6aR,11aR)-3-hydroxy-7,8,9-trimethoxypterocarpan (1), named micanspterocarpan, was isolated. Similar investigation of the CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH (1:1) extract of the root bark of Millettia dura gave a further new pterocarpan, (6aR,11aR)-8,9-methylenedioxy-3-prenyloxypterocarpan (2), named 3-O-prenylmaackiain, along with six known isoflavones (3-8) and a chalcone (9). All purified compounds were identified by NMR and MS, whereas the absolute configurations of the new pterocarpans were established by chriptical data analyses including quantum chemical ECD calculation. Among the isolated constituents, calopogonium isoflavone B (3) and isoerythrin A-4′-(3-methylbut-2-enyl) ether (4) showed marginal activities against the 3D7 and the Dd2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum (70–90% inhibition at 40 μM). Maximaisoflavone B (5) and 7,2′-dimethoxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyisoflavone (7) were weakly cytotoxic (IC₅₀ 153.5 and 174.1 μM, respectively) against the MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line. None of the tested compounds showed in-vitro translation inhibitory activity or toxicity against the HEK-293 human embryonic kidney cell line at 40 μM.