Syntheses, stereochemistry, reactivity, and some properties of sulfur-bridged cobalt(III)-cadmium(II) polynuclear complexes derived from mononuclear cobalt(III) complex with d-penicillaminate

A reaction of the octahedral bidentate metalloligand, trans(N)-[Co(d-pen)₂]⁻ (d-pen=d-penicillaminate) with Cd(NO₃)₂ or Cd(ClO₄)₂ gave a novel S-bridged trinuclear complex, [Cd(H₂O){Co(d-pen)₂}₂] (1). In this complex molecule, the central Cd atom is surrounded by four S atoms from two [Co(d-pen)₂]⁻ units and one O atom of a H₂O molecule to form a distorted five-coordinated geometry. Each of two terminal [Co(d-pen)₂]⁻ units takes an approximately octahedral geometry and has a similar trans(N) geometry to that of the starting material. On the other hand, the reaction of trans(N)-[Co(d-pen)₂]⁻ with CdCl₂ in the molar ratio of 1:1 gave an S-bridged dinuclear complex, [CdCl{Co(d-pen)₂}(H₂O)_m]·nH₂O (m+n=4) (2). The reactivity of trans(N)-[Co(d-pen)₂]⁻ toward CdCl₂ is significantly influenced by the ratio of two components, and the formation of a similar trinuclear species to 1 is also suggested under the condition with excess amount of trans(N)-[Co(d-pen)₂]⁻. Some spectrochemical properties of these complexes are also discussed in relation to their structures.     

Synthesis, characterization and biological activity of platinum(II) complexes with l- and d-ornithine ligands

Described herein is the synthesis of two platinum(II) complexes containing l-ornithine (1) or d-ornithine (2) as a ligand. The complexes were obtained by the direct reaction of aqueous solutions of potassium tetrachloroplatinate and l- or d-ornithine. The single crystal structures of 1 and 2 were determined and indicated that the Pt core is surrounded by an almost regular square planar coordination environment. The two complexes were thoroughly characterized by means of FT-IR, FT-Raman and NMR techniques. Furthermore, their ability to inhibit proliferation of human tumor cell lines was tested and the results indicate that 1 and 2 exert different cytotoxic effects. Particularly, the complex with the d-isomer of ornithine (2) showed a significantly greater cytotoxicity than that with the l-isomer (1). Finally, circular dichroism analysis indicated that 1 and 2 interact with DNA in a manner similar to that of cisplatin.     

Selective recognition of d-tryptophan from d/l-tryptophan mixtures in the presence of Cu(II) by electropolymerized l-lysine film

Selective recognition of d-tryptophan (d-Trp) in the presence of Cu(II) was investigated at poly-l-lysine (p-l-Lys) film using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). p-l-Lys film was immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by cyclic voltammetry between 0.0 and 1.9 V in 20 mM phosphate buffer solution (pH 8.6). After the p-l-Lys/GCE electrode was incubated with d-Trp solution containing Cu(II) ions, obvious enhancement of electron transfer resistance and decrease of voltammetric current could be observed. If d-Trp was replaced by l-tryptophan (l-Trp), there was no apparent resistance and current changes. Moreover, no resistance and current changes could be found in the absence of Cu(II). It may be due to the formation of Cu complex with l-lysine and d-tryptophan. Finally, this method was successfully applied to monitoring enantiomeric composition of the d-Trp and l-Trp mixtures.     

Iron(III), chromium(III) and cobalt(II) complexes with squarate: Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties

The preparation and variable temperature-magnetic investigation of three squarate-containing complexes of formula [Fe₂(OH)₂(C₄O₄)₂(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O (1) [Cr₂(OH)₂(C₄O₄)₂(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O (2) and [Co(C₄O₄)(H₂O)₄]_n (3) [H₂C₄O₄ = 3.4-dihydroxycyclobutene-1,2-dione (squaric acid)] together with the crystal structures of 1 and 3 are reported. Complex 1 contains discrete centrosymmetric [Fe₂(OH)₂(C₄O₄)₂(H₂O)₄] diiron(II) units where the iron pairs are joined by a di-μ-hydroxo bridge and two squarate ligands acting as bridging groups through adjacent oxygen atoms. Two coordinated water molecules in cis position complete the octahedral environment at each iron atom in 1. The iron-iron distance with the dinuclear unit is 3.0722(6) Å and the angle at the hydroxo bridge is 99.99(7)°, values which compare well with the corresponding ones in the isostructural compound 2 (2.998 Å and 99.47°) whose structure was reported previously. The crystal structure of 3 contains neutral chains of squarato-O¹,O³-bridged cobalt(II) ions where four coordinated water molecules complete the six-coordination at each cobalt atom. The cobalt-cobalt separation across the squarate bridge is 8.0595(4) Å. A relatively important intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling occurs in 1 whereas it is very weak in 2, the exchange pathway being the same [J = −14.4 (1) and −0.07 cm⁻¹ (2), the spin Hamiltonian being defined as ]. A weak intrachain antiferromagnetic interaction between the high-spin cobalt(II) ions occurs in 3 (J = −0.30 cm⁻¹). The magnitude and nature of these magnetic interactions are discussed in the light of their respective structures and they are compared with those reported for related systems.     

A high-throughput assay for screening l- or d-amino acid specific aminotransferase mutant libraries

Aminotransferases are pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzymes whose potential for the biocatalytic production of enantiopure amino acids is increasingly recognized. Because of this, there is a growing interest in engineering them to alter their substrate specificity and to increase their catalytic activity. Here, we report the development of a high-throughput assay for screening α-ketoglutarate-dependent aminotransferase mutant libraries. To achieve this, we exploited the l-glutamate dehydrogenase coupled assay that has previously been shown to allow for aminotransferase activity to be monitored in vitro. We adapted this assay to allow screening of mutant libraries of either l- or d-amino acid specific aminotransferases in a continuous fashion. This assay requiring clarified cell lysates is reproducible, rapid, and sensitive because it allowed for the identification of a catalytically active mutant of Bacillus sp. YM-1 d-amino acid aminotransferase displaying a decrease in k_cat/K_M of more than two orders of magnitude. In addition, this assay allowed us to discover a mutant of Escherichia coli branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase, F36W, which is approximately 60-fold more specific toward the natural substrate l-leucine than l-phenylalanine as compared with wild type. This result demonstrates the potential of our assay for the discovery of mutant aminotransferases displaying altered substrate specificity, an important goal of enzyme engineering.     

An approach to stereoselective preparation of 3-C-glycosylated d- and l-glucals

An approach to stereoselective synthesis of α- or β-3-C-glycosylated l- or d-1,2-glucals starting from the corresponding α- or β-glycopyranosylethanals is described. The key step of the approach is the stereoselective cycloaddition of chiral vinyl ethers derived from both enantiomers of mandelic acid. The preparation of 1,5-anhydro-4,6-di-O-benzyl-2,3-dideoxy-3-C-[(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)methyl]-l-arabino-hex-1-enitol, 1,5-anhydro-4,6-di-O-benzyl-2,3-dideoxy-3-C-[(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)methyl]-d-arabino-hex-1-enitol, and 1,5-anhydro-4,6-di-O-benzyl-2,3-dideoxy-3-C-[(2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α-l-fucopyranosyl)methyl]-d-arabino-hex-1-enitol serves as an example of this approach.     

Solvolysis of charged active esters of carboxylic acids with cyclo (l- or d-Glu-l-His)

Cyclic dipeptide cyclo(l- or d-Glu-l-His) carrying an anionic site and a nucleophilic site has been synthesized and used as a catalyst for the solvolysis of cationic esters in aqueous alcohols. In the solvolysis of 3-acyloxy-N-trimethylanilinium iodide (S⁺_n, n = 2 and 10) and Cl^?H₃N⁺(CH₂)₁₁COOPh(NO₂), no efficient nucleophilic catalysis was observed. On the other hand, in the solvolysis of Gly-OPh(NO₂)·HCl, Val-OPh(NO₂)·HCl and Leu-OPh(NO₂)·HCl a very efficient general base-type catalysis by cyclo(l-Glu-l-His) was observed. In particular, with the latter two substrates the catalysis by cyclo(l-Glul-His) was more efficient than that by imidazole, although the catalysis was not enantiomer-selective. The diastereomeric cyclic dipeptide cyclo(d-Glu-l-His) was almost inactive under the same conditions. Confomation of cyclo(l- or d-Glu-l-His) in aqueous solution was investigated and the structure/catalysis relationship is discussed.     

l-DOPA (l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) uptake by human red blood cells

The uptake of l-DOPA (l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) was studied in normal human red blood cells in vitro using l-[3-¹⁴C]DOPA. Uptake was slow, tending towards a distribution ratio close to unity with a half-time to equilibrium of one hour. Uptake was not Na⁺-dependent. Concentration dependence studies showed both saturable and non-saturable components of uptake, and inhibition studies using l-leucine and l-tryptophan suggest that the L and T systems of red cell amino acid uptake are involved. A powerful inhibitor of both systems, 3,4-dihydroxy-2-methylpropriophenone (U-0521), is described. It is concluded that uptake is by carrier-mediated facilitated diffusion via the L and T systems for which l-DOPA has low affinity.     

A comparative study of complex formation in the reactions of gold(III) with Gly-Gly, Gly-l-Ala and Gly-l-His dipeptides

Proton NMR spectroscopy was applied to study the reactions of the dipeptides glycyl-glycine (Gly-Gly) and glycyl-l-alanine (Gly-l-Ala) with hydrogen tetrachloridoaurate(III) (H[AuCl₄]). All reactions were performed at pH 2.0 and 3.0 and at 40 °C. The final products in these reactions were [Au(Gly-Gly-κ³N_G1,N_G2,O_G2)Cl] and [Au(Gly-l-Ala-κ³N_G,N_A,O_A)Cl] complexes. Tridentate coordination of the corresponding dipeptides and square-planar geometry of these Au(III) complexes was confirmed by NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopy. This study showed that at pH < 3.0 the Au(III) ion was able to deprotonate the amide nitrogen atom. However this displacement reaction was very slow and the total concentration of the corresponding Au(III)-peptide complex formed after 5 days was less than 60% for the Gly-l-Ala or 70% for the Gly-Gly dipeptide. The kinetic data of the reactions between the Gly-Gly and Gly-l-Ala dipeptides and [AuCl₄]⁻ were compared with those for the histidine-containing Gly-l-His dipeptide. The differences in the reactivity of these three dipeptides with the Au(III) ion are discussed.     

Electric field-induced orientation of l- and dl-phosphatidylcholine bilayers

Membrane orientation induced by an alternating electric field has been examined for the l-enantiomer and racemic dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers. The orientation effect was measured by bending curvature of hairpin-like deformation of the multilamellar cylindrical tubes with varying field-strength, frequency and tube size. It has been observed that both l- and dl-DPPC tubes are similar in the profiles of field-strength dependence and frequency dependence on the curvature deformation, but different in the deformed curvatures. dl-DPPC tubes deform largely as compared with l-DPPC tubes. The square of the deformed curvature of dl-DPPC tubes is larger than that of l-DPPC by about 37% on average. The result indicates that the racemic membrane is responsive to the electric field as compared with the l-enantiomer membrane. This suggests that a hybrid arrangement of head groups of the racemic lipid leads an effective response of the membrane due to the head group orientation.     

X-ray structure and spectroscopic properties of pentasodium bis(l-tartrato(4-)-O,O,O) manganate(III) dodecahydrate

X-ray crystallographic analysis of Na₅[Mn(l-tart)₂] · 12H₂O demonstrated that Mn(III) ion has two tridentate l-tartrates of which two deprotonated hydroxo groups and one carboxylate are coordinated in contrast to the previously proposed structure with two didentate tartrates and two coordinated water. The tetragonally distorted octahedron due to the Jahn-Teller effect was discussed in relation with the large splitting components for the UV-Vis and circular dichroism (CD) spectra in the d-d transition in the solid. The significant difference in the UV-Vis and CD spectra between the solid and the solution suggests that the tridentate coordination of the tartrate in the solid complex changes to the didentate one in the solution.     

Coordinative versatility of 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)-5,8-dimethoxyquinoxaline (L) to different metal ions: syntheses, crystal structures and properties of [Cu(I)L]2 and [ML] (M=Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Co(II))

The complexes of Cu(I), Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Co(II) with a new polypyridyl ligand, 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)-5,8-dimethoxyquinoxaline (L), have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures of these complexes have been elucidated by X-ray diffraction analyses and three types of coordination modes for L were found to exist in them. In the dinuclear complex [Cu(I)L(CH₃CN)]₂·(ClO₄)₂ (1), L acts as a tridentate ligand with two Cu(I) centers bridged by two L ligands to form a box-like dimeric structure, in which each Cu(I) ion is penta-coordinated with three nitrogen atoms and a methoxyl oxygen atom of two L ligands, and an acetonitrile. In [Cu(II)L(NO₃)₂]·CH₃CN 2, the Cu(II) center is coordinated to the two nitrogen atoms of the two pyridine rings of L which acts as a bidentate ligand. The structures of [Ni(II)L(NO₃)(H₂O)₂]·2CH₃CN·NO₃ (3), [Zn(II)L(NO₃)₂ (H₂O)]·2CH₃CN (4) and [Co(II)LCl₂(H₂O)] (5) are similar to each other in which L acts as a tridentate ligand by using its half side, and the metal centers are coordinated to a methoxyl oxygen atom and two bipyridine nitrogen atoms of L in the same side. The formation of infinite quasi-one-dimensional chains (1, 4 and 5) or a quasi-two-dimensional sheet (2) assisted by the intra- or intermolecular face-to-face aryl stacking interactions and hydrogen bonds may have stabilized the crystals of these complexes. Luminescence studies showed that 1 exhibits broad, structureless emissions at 420 nm in the solid state and at 450 nm in frozen alcohol frozen glasses at 77 K. Cyclic voltammetric studies of 1 show the presence of an irreversible metal-centered reduction wave at approximately −0.973 V versus Fc^+/0 and a quasi-reversible ligand-centered reduction couple at approximately −1.996 V versus Fc^+/0. The solution behaviors of these complexes have been further studied by UV-Vis and ESR techniques.     

Dinuclear nickel(II) and zinc(II) complexes of 2,6-bis[{bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino}methyl]-4-methylphenol

Reaction of the symmetrical proligand H₂L with metal(II) acetate and a counteranion to promote crystallisation has given the homodinuclear complexes [Zn₂L(OAc)₂](BF₄)]·2MeOH and [Ni₂L(OAc)₂](BF₄)]·2MeOH the crystal structures of which are reported. These show the presence of a triply bridging (μ-cresolato)bis(μ-carboxylato) dimetal core.     

Crystal structures of Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes with the free radical 4-aminoTEMPO

Pt(II) and Pd(II) compounds containing the free radical 4-aminoTEMPO (4amTEMPO) were synthesized and characterised by X-ray diffraction methods. The disubstituted complexes cis- and trans-Pt(4amTEMPO)₂I₂ were studied. The trans isomer was prepared from the isomerisation of the cis analogue. The two Pd(II) compounds trans-Pd(4amTEMPO)₂X₂ (X = Cl and I) were also characterised by crystallographic methods. A mixed-ligand complex cis-Pt(DMSO)(4amTEMPO)Cl₂ was synthesized from the isomerisation of the trans isomer in hot water. Its crystal structure was also determined. In all the complexes, the 4amTEMPO ligand is bonded to the metal through the -NH₂ group, since the nitroxide O atom is not a good donor atom for the soft Pt(II) and Pd(II) metals. The conformation of the 4-aminoTEMPO ligand was compared to those of the few reported structures in the literature.     

Synthesis, crystal structures, DNA binding and cleavage activity of l-glutamine copper(II) complexes of heterocyclic bases

Ternary l-glutamine (l-gln) copper(II) complexes [Cu(l-gln)(B)(H₂O)](X) (B = 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), , 1; B = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), , 2) and [Cu(l-gln)(dpq)(ClO₄)] (3) (dpq, dipyridoquinoxaline) are prepared and characterized by physicochemical methods. The DNA binding and cleavage activity of the complexes have been studied. Complexes 1-3 are structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The complexes show distorted square pyramidal (4+1) CuN₃O₂ coordination geometry in which the N,O-donor amino acid and the N,N-donor heterocyclic base bind at the basal plane with a H₂O or perchlorate as the axial ligand. The crystal structures of the complexes exhibit chemically significant hydrogen bonding interactions besides showing coordination polymer formation. The complexes display a d-d electronic band in the range of 610-630 nm in aqueous-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution (9:1 v/v). The quasireversible cyclic voltammetric response observed near −0.1 V versus SCE in DMF-TBAP is assignable to the Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple. The binding affinity of the complexes to calf thymus (CT) DNA follows the order: 3 (dpq) > 2 (phen) ? 1 (bpy). Complexes 2 and 3 show DNA cleavage activity in dark in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as a reducing agent via a mechanistic pathway forming hydroxyl radical as the reactive species. The dpq complex 3 shows efficient photo-induced DNA cleavage activity on irradiation with a monochromatic UV light of 365 nm in absence of any external reagent. The cleavage efficiency of the DNA minor groove binding complexes follows the order: 3 > 2 ? 1. The dpq complex exhibits photocleavage of DNA on irradiation with visible light of 647.1 nm. Mechanistic data on the photo-induced DNA cleavage reactions reveal the involvement of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) as the reactive species in a type-II pathway.     

Synthesis, structure, and properties of monomeric Fe(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) complexes of neutral N-(aryl)-2-pyridinecarboxamides

We have prepared and structurally characterized six-coordinate Fe(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) complexes of types [M^II(HL¹)₂(H₂O)₂][ClO₄]₂ (M = Fe, 1; Co, 3; and Ni, 5) and [M^II(HL²)₃][ClO₄]₂ · MeCN (M = Fe, 2 and Co, 4) of bidentate pyridine amide ligands, N-(phenyl)-2-pyridinecarboxamide (HL¹) and N-(4-methylphenyl)-2-pyridinecarboxamide (HL²). The metal centers in bis(ligand)-diaqua complexes 1, 3 and 5 are coordinated by two pyridyl N and two amide O atoms from two HL¹ ligands and six-coordination is completed by coordination of two water molecules. The complexes are isomorphous and possess trans-octahedral geometry. The metal centers in isomorphous tris(ligand) complexes 2 and 4 are coordinated by three pyridyl N and three amide O atoms from three HL² ligands. The relative dispositions of the pyridine N and amide O atoms reveal that the pseudo-octahedral geometry have the meridional stereochemistry. To the best of our knowledge, this work provides the first examples of structurally characterized six-coordinate iron(II) complexes in which the coordination is solely by neutral pyridine amide ligands providing pyridine N and amide O donor atoms, with or without water coordination. Careful analyses of structural parameters of 1-5 along with that reported in the literature [M^II(HL¹)₂(H₂O)₂][ClO₄]₂ (M = Cu and Zn) and [Co^III(L²)₃] have allowed us to arrive at a number of structural correlations/generalizations. The complexes are uniformly high-spin. Spectroscopic (IR and UV/Vis) and redox properties of the complexes have also been investigated.     

Tuning one dimensional chiral channel interior in mixed ligand Cu(II) complexes of l-histidine derivative and substituted pyridine

Four pentacoordinated square-pyramidal Cu(II) complexes with the general formula [Cu(L)(X)], where L is a l-histidine derived tetradentate ligand and X is either 3-hydroxypyridine or 2-methylpyridine, has been synthesized. Structural analysis showed that the presence of water filled one dimensional chiral channel in the lattices. The interiors of the channels were varied using aromatic ring substitution on the ligand as well as on the monodentate ligand. The dimensions of the channels range from ∼7 to 9 Å.     

New butane-1,2,3,4-tetracarboxylato bridged cobalt(II) complexes

Four butane-1,2,3,4-tetracarboxylato bridged supramolecular complexes [Co₂(H₂O)₅(BTC)]·2H₂O 1, [Co₂(H₂O)₅(BTC)]·2H₂O 2, [Co₂(H₂O)₆(bpy)₂(BTC)]·4H₂O 3 and [Co₂(H₂O)₂(bpy)₂(BTC)] 4, (H₄BTC = butane-1,2,3,4-tetracarboxylic acid, 2,2-bpy = 2,2-bipydine) are synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. IR spectroscopy, TG-DTA analyses, elemental analyses, powder X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements for 3 and 4 are carried out. The dinuclear Co unit in 2 is bridged by BTC⁴⁻ anions into 2D layers, which are assembled via interlayer hydrogen bonds into a 3D (4⁴·6²)(4⁵·6⁵)₂(4⁶·6⁸·8) topological supramolecular architecture. In 3, the [Co₂(H₂O)₆(bpy)₂(BTC)] molecules are aggregated to 2D layers via π-π stacking interactions, the resulting layers are engaged in hydrogen bonding leading to a novel 3D supramolecular architecture with the schläfli symbol of (10².12)₂(4.10²)₂(4².10².12²). The Co atoms in 4 are linked by BTC⁴⁻ anions into a 1D chain, then the hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interactions result in formation of a 3D novel (4³.6².8)₂(4⁶.6⁶.8³)(6³)₂ topological networks. The variable temperature magnetic characterizations on 3 and 4 suggest weak antiferromagnetic or ferromagnetic coupling exchange via π···π stacking interactions (J = -0.03 cm⁻¹ for 3, J = 0.11 cm⁻¹ for 4).     

Gadolinium(III) and europium(III) l-glutamates: Synthesis and characterization

Two lanthanide(III) complexes with l-glutamate ligands [{Ln₂(l-Glu)₂(H₂O)₈} · 4(ClO₄) · 2.5H₂O]_n (Ln = Gd (1), Eu (2)) have been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds are isomorphous with infinite cationic 2D layers stacked together by secondary bonds. The building blocks are slightly different non-centrosymmetric dinuclear units placed in alternating layers, the resulting structures thus containing four non-equivalent Ln metal sites. The dinuclear units contain a fourfold bridge, two in the η¹:η¹:μ₂ and two in the η²:η¹:μ₂ modes, from two α- and two γ-carboxylates of four different l-Glu residues, respectively.     

Bioanalytical method for the simultaneous determination of d- and l-serine in human plasma by LC/MS/MS

d-Serine is an endogenous modulator of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Plasma concentrations of d-serine and the ratio of d-serine to total serine may be used as clinically-translatable biomarkers in NMDA receptor-related disease. We developed a highly sensitive and specific method using high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of the d- and l-isomers of serine in human plasma. Since d- and l-serine are endogenous components, phosphate buffered saline was used as the surrogate matrix. d- and l-serine in human plasma and PBS were treated by cationic exchange solid phase extraction. d-Serine (m/z 106.1 > 60.0), l-serine (m/z 106.1 > 60.1) and dl-serine-d₃ (m/z 109.1 > 63.0) were detected using a multiple reaction monitoring. The enantiomer separation of d- and l-serine was successfully achieved without any derivatization step using tandemly-arranged and ice-cold CROWNPAK CR-I(+) columns with an isocratic mobile phase comprised of 0.3% trifluoroacetic acid in 10% acetonitrile. The standard curves were linear throughout the calibration range with 0.01–10 μg/mL (d-serine) and 0.1–100 μg/mL (l-serine), respectively. Intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy of the quality control samples were within relative standard deviations of less than 15%. The endogenous concentrations of d- and l-serine in human plasma were 0.124–0.199 and 7.97–13.1 μg/mL, respectively.