Synthesis and solution studies of Cu(II) complexes with pyridine derivatives of iminobisphosphonic acids

New 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl and 4-pyridyl derivatives of iminobisphosphonic acid were prepared by addition of tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphite to the corresponding derivatives of pyridineimine-methylphosphonates 3 and subsequent methanolysis of the silylated products 4. Solution studies on the coordination abilities of the ligands have shown that these compounds bind copper(II) ion through the tridentate {N,O,O} mode, where Cu(II) is stabilized by two five-membered chelate rings. The complexes obtained are very stable, with the pCu(II) value above 12, and therefore the ligands can be used as powerful chelating agents for copper ion.     

Anticancer and antifungal activity of copper(II) complexes of quinolin-2(1H)-one-derived Schiff bases

The condensation of substituted aromatic aldehydes with 7-amino-4-methyl-quinolin-2(1H)-one (1) has lead to the isolation of quinolin-2(1H)-one derived Schiff bases (2-14). The copper(II) complexes (2a-14a) of the ligands were also prepared, and together with their corresponding free ligands were fully characterised by elemental analyses, spectral methods (IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, AAS, UV-Vis), magnetic and conductance measurements. The bidentate ligands coordinated to the copper(II) ion through the deprotonated phenolic oxygen and the azomethine nitrogen of the ligands in almost all cases. X-ray crystal structures of two of the complexes, 5a and 8a, confirmed the bidentate coordination mode. All of the compounds were investigated for their antimicrobial activities against the fungus, Candida albicans, and against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The compounds were found to have excellent anti-Candida activity but were inactive against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Selected compounds (2-8 and 2a-8a) were also screened for their in vitro anticancer potential using the human hepatic carcinoma cell line, Hep-G₂. Several derivatives were shown to be active comparable to that of cisplatin.     

N-Hydroxyguanidines oxidation by a N3S copper-complex mimicking the reactivity of Dopamine β-Hydroxylase

N-Aryl-N′-hydroxyguanidines are compounds that display interesting pharmacological properties but their chemical reactivity remains poorly investigated. Some of these compounds are substrates for the heme-containing enzymes nitric-oxide synthases (NOS) and act as reducing co-substrates for the copper-containing enzyme Dopamine β-Hydroxylase (DBH) [P. Slama, J.L. Boucher, M. Réglier, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 316 (2004) 1081-1087]. DBH catalyses the hydroxylation of the important neurotransmitter dopamine into norepinephrine in the presence of both molecular oxygen and a reducing co-substrate. Although many molecules have been used as co-substrates for DBH, their interaction at the active site of DBH and their role in mechanism are not clearly characterized. In the present paper, we have used a water-soluble copper-N₃S complex that mimics the Cu_B site of DBH, and aromatic N-hydroxyguanidines as reducers to address this question. N-Aryl-N′-hydroxyguanidines readily reduced copper(II) to Cu(I) and were oxidized into a nitrosoamidine as previously observed in reactions performed with purified DBH. These data describe for the first time the reactivity of N-aryl-N′-hydroxyguanidines with a water-soluble copper(II) complex and help to understand the interaction of co-substrates with copper at the active site of DBH.     

Square-planar copper(II) complexes with tetradentate amido-carboxylate ligands. Crystal structure of Na2[Cu(obap)]2 · 2H2O. Strain analysis and spectral assignments of complexes

Novel N-N-N-O-type of tetradentate ligands H₃obap (H₃obap = oxamido-N-aminopropyl-N′-benzoic acid) and H₃maeb (H₃maeb = malamido-N-aminoethyl-N′-benzoic acid) and the corresponding square-planar copper(II) complexes have been prepared and characterized. The obap³⁻ and maeb³⁻ ligands coordinate to the copper(II) ion via four ligating atoms (three deprotonated atoms: one carboxylate oxygen and two deprotonated amide nitrogens; one amine nitrogen) with in-plane square chelation. A four coordinate, square-planar geometry has been established crystallographically for the binuclear Na₂[Cu(obap)]₂ · 2H₂O complex. Structural data correlating the square-planar geometry of the [Cu(obap)]⁻ unit and an extensive strain analysis are discussed in relation to the information obtained for similar complexes. The infrared and electronic absorption spectra of the complexes are discussed in comparison to the related complexes of known geometries. Antibacterial activity of ligands and copper(II) complexes towards common Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria are reported as well.     

EPR and magnetic studies of copper amino carboxylates

Metal complexes of N-substituted amino acids provide simple but appropriate model compounds for the understanding of metal protein interactions. Seven complexes of copper viz. Cu(II) N-acetyl glycinate mono-hydrate, Cu(II) N-acetyl methioninate, Cu(II) N-acetyl alaninate, Cu(II) N-acetyl valinate, Cu(II) N-acetyl glutamate, Cu(II) cyanoacetate, and Cu(II) thio-dipropionate, have been investigated by EPR measurements. The spectra appear to arise from dimeric coppers (s=1) coupled by anti-ferromagnetic exchange. The exchange coupling constant ‘2J’ and the CuCu separation ‘r’ have been evaluated from the spectral data. Although the existence of bridged structure is confirmed, super-exchange via the ligands appears to be the dominant mechanism. All of these complexes exist as monomers in strongly coordinating solvents.     

Using Lewis acidity differences in chelating ligands to control molecular structure and supramolecular assembly of Cu(II) complexes

The electronic effects of the fluorine atoms in hfacac (hexafluoroacetylacetonato) compared with acac (acetylacetonato) in Cu(II) complexes are used to control the molecular and supramolecular structure of Cu(II) compounds. While bis(acac)Cu(II) (acac = acetylacetonato) is known to be able to have a fifth-position coordination, bis(hfacac)Cu(II), (hfacac = hexafluoroacetylacetonato) may have two extra ligands. This, together with the reliable “supramolecular reagent” isonicotinamide, as the additional ligand, are used to go from a zero-dimension structure, with Cu-acac, to an extended supramolecular two-dimension network, with Cu-hfacac. The molecular and crystal structure of bis(acetylacetonato-O,O′)-(isonicotinamide-N) copper(II), 1, and bis(hexafluoroacetylacetonato-O,O′)-trans-bis(isonicotinamide-N) copper(II), 2, are reported.     

Copper binding traps the folded state of the SCO protein from Bacillus subtilis

The SCO protein from the aerobic bacterium Bacillus subtilis (BsSCO) is involved in the assembly of the cytochrome c oxidase complex, and specifically with the Cu_A center. BsSCO has been proposed to play various roles in Cu_A assembly including, the direct delivery of copper ions to the Cu_A site, and/or maintaining the appropriate redox state of the cysteine ligands during formation of Cu_A. BsSCO binds copper in both Cu(II) and Cu(I) redox states, but has a million-fold higher affinity for Cu(II). As a prerequisite to kinetic studies, we measured equilibrium stability of oxidized, reduced and Cu(II)-bound BsSCO by chemical and thermal induced denaturation. Oxidized and reduced apo-BsSCO exhibit two-state behavior in both chemical- and thermal-induced unfolding. However, the Cu(II) complex of BsSCO is stable in up to nine molar urea. Thermal or guanidinium-induced unfolding of BsSCO-Cu(II) ensues only as the Cu(II) species is lost. The effect of copper (II) on the folding of BsSCO is complicated by a rapid redox reaction between copper and reduced, denatured BsSCO. When denatured apo-BsSCO is refolded in the presence of copper (II) some of the population is recovered as the BsSCO-Cu(II) complex and some is oxidized indicating that refolding and oxidation are competing processes. The proposed functional roles for BsSCO in vivo require that its cysteine residues are reduced and the presence of copper during folding may be detrimental to BsSCO attaining its functional state.     

Homogeneous oxidative coupling catalysts: stoichiometry and characterization of the first stable oxotetranuclear solids [(Pip)nCuX]4O2 (n=1 or 2, Pip=piperidine, X=Cl, Br, I)

Copper(I) halides react quantitatively with piperidine (Pip) in dioxygen-free methylene chloride or nitrobenzene to form tetranuclear copper(I) complexes [(Pip)_nCuX]₄; n=1 or 2, X=Cl, Br or I. These complexes are very soluble and completely reduce dioxygen to dioxo bridging ligand, with stoichiometry, Δ[Cu(I)]/Δ[O₂]=4.0. The stable oxo solids [(Pip)_nCuX]₄O₂ mimic tyrosinase copper protein. They act as a homogeneous oxidative coupling catalysts for phenols. Electronic transition spectra in the near infrared with high molecular absorptivity are diagnostic for tetranuclear “Cu₄X₄” core structure. The electronic transitions are more likely due to charge transfer between a minimum of three halo ligands and copper(II) center. The room temperature EPR spectra of [(Pip)_nCuX]₄O₂ in methylene chloride are isotropic with four hyperfine lines. The room temperature solid-state EPR spectra of [PipCuX]₄O₂ show an axial spectra with d_x²−y² ground state, suggesting square pyramidal arrangement of the five coordinated ligands around copper(II) centers. Cyclic voltammetry measurements show that they are more likely irreversible in character and show slight quasi-reversability when X=Br or I. Constant potential electrolysis indicate that the number of electrons consumed are equal to four electrons which will be due to the reduction of four copper(II) to copper(I).     

5-Nitroimidazole-derived Schiff bases and their copper(II) complexes exhibit potent antimicrobial activity against pathogenic anaerobic bacteria

In the present work a family of novel secnidazole-derived Schiff base compounds and their copper(II) complexes were synthesized. The antimicrobial activities of the compounds were evaluated against clinically important anaerobic bacterial strains. The compounds exhibited in vitro antibacterial activity against Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacteroides ovatus, Parabacteroides distasonis and Fusubacterium nucleatum pathogenic anaerobic bacteria. Upon coordination to copper(II) the antibacterial activity significantly increased in several cases. Some derivatives were even more active than the antimicrobial drugs secnidazole and metronidazole. Therefore, the compounds under study are suitable for in vivo evaluation and the microorganisms should be classified as susceptible to them. Electrochemical studies on the reduction of the nitro group revealed that the compounds show comparable reduction potentials, which are in the same range of the bio-reducible drugs secnidazole and benznidazole. The nitro group reduction potential is more favorable for the copper(II) complexes than for the starting ligands. Hence, the antimicrobial activities of the compounds under study might in part be related to intracellular bio-reduction activation. Considering the increasing resistance rates of anaerobic bacteria against a wide range of antimicrobial drugs, the present work constitutes an important contribution to the development of new antibacterial drug candidates.     

Ligand dependence in the copper-catalyzed oxidation of hydroquinones

Transition metal-mediated oxidation of hydroquinones is an important physiologic reaction, and copper(II) effectively catalyzes the reaction in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Studies reported herein in phosphate buffer alone demonstrate that copper(II) is an ineffective catalyst in the absence of coordinating ligands, but that 1,10-phenanthroline and histamine facilitate the copper(II)-mediated oxidation of hydroquinone and its 2,5- and 2,6-di-tert-butyl analogs to the corresponding benzoquinones. The high concentration of chloride in PBS is the key element that allows copper(II) to work in this system. Although the bis-bathocuproine disulfonate complex of Cu(II), (BC)₂Cu(II), is a strong stoichiometric oxidant, stoichiometric amounts of copper(II) in the presence of ligands other than BC oxidize hydroquinones very slowly under anaerobic conditions. Thus, the rapid copper(II)-catalyzed reaction operating aerobically does not involve a simple ping-pong reduction of copper(II) to copper(I) by hydroquinone and reoxidation of copper(I) by O₂.     

Synthesis and characterization of copper(II) complexes of 4-alkyl/aryl-1,2-naphthoquinones thiosemicarbazones derivatives as potent DNA cleaving agents

Copper (II) complexes of some alkyl/aryl-1,2 naphthoquinones thiosemicarbazone have been prepared and characterized. The crystal structure determined for one of the free ligands viz. 4-Pyrrolidine-1-yl-[1, 2] naphthaquinone thiosemicarbazone (5) indicates it to crystallize in the “E’ conformation which is supported by the NMR data. The ligands and copper complexes were evaluated for their DNA cleaving activities in case of circular double stranded plasmid DNA pBR322 under aerobic conditions. Amongst the ligands, compound 8 shows almost quantitative conversion to the linearized DNA in presence of H₂O₂ oxidant. All copper conjugates show more pronounced interaction with DNA while compounds 3 and 7 are able to yield linearized DNA in presence of the oxidant.     

Sheet and chain polymeric transition metal complexes formed by N,N-o-phenylenedimethylenebis(pyridin-4-one)

The preparations are reported of the ‘extended reach’ ligand N,N^′-o-phenylene-dimethylenebis(pyridin-4-one) (o-XBP4) and of a range of its metal complexes with Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II), two of which have been shown by X-ray studies to have polymeric structures. In the compound [Mn(o-XBP4)(H₂O)₂(NO₃)](NO₃) the o-XBP4 ligands link ‘Mn(H₂O)₂(NO₃)’ units into chains which are then cross-linked into sheets by the bridging action of the coordinated nitrate. In [Cu(o-XBP4)(NO₃)₂] chains are also formed by the bridging action of the o-XBP4 ligands but here they simply pack trough-in-trough with no nitrate cross-linking. X-band EPR spectra are reported for these and the other Mn and Cu compounds as are relevant spectroscopic results for the other complexes.     

Copper complexes of some potentially binucleating tetradentate phthalazine-hydrazone ligands. Spontaneous reduction to form copper(I) derivatives

The tetradentate phthalazine-hydrazone ligands PHT and DMPH, formed by the reaction of 1,4-dihydrazinophthalazine (DHPH) and p-tolualdehyde and 2,5-dimethylbenzaldehyde respectively form predominantly copper(I) derivatives when reacted with copper(II) salts in solvents containing small amounts of water. The derivatives Cu(I)(PHT)X (X=NO₃⁻, ClO₄⁻) were produced by reaction of copper(II) salts with PHT in methanol, while in aqueous acetonitrile ligand hydrolysis occurred with no complex formation. In aqueous acetonitrile the hydrolysis occurs at one azomethine centre, generating initially a hydrazino derivative and p-tolualdehyde, followed by copper(II) reduction and nitrogen evolution and the formation of p-toluic acid and a cyanobenzene derivative (A) resulting from phthalazine ring cleavage. The copper(I) complexes of both PHT and DMPH can also be synthesized directly by reaction of copper(I) salts with the ligands in acetonitrile and copper(II) complexes of PHT can be synthesized with electronegative and coordinating anionic groups, e.g. Cl, Br.     

Investigations into some aryl substituted bis(thiosemicarbazones) and their copper complexes

The synthesis of three bis(thiosemicarbazone) compounds formed by the reaction of benzil with either thiosemicarbazide, 4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazide or 4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazide are reported. The compounds were characterised by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and in the case of benzil bis(4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone) and benzil bis(4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone) by X-ray crystallography. Attempts to purify benzil bis(thiosemicarbazone) and benzil bis (4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone) by recrystallisation resulted in the isolation of cyclised products that were characterised by X-ray crystallography. The 3 bis(thiosemicarbazone) compounds were used to synthesise both Cu(II) and Cu(I) complexes. The copper(II) complexes were formed by the reaction of the proligands with copper(II) acetate which gave neutral copper(II) complexes in which the thiosemicarbazone is doubly deprotonated, acting as a dianionic ligand. The copper(II)-benzil bis(4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazonato) complex was characterised by X-ray crystallography to show the copper in an essentially square planar N₂S₂ environment. The copper(I) complexes were synthesised by reacting the bis (thiosemicarbazone) ligands with [Cu(CH₃CN)₄]PF₆ to give cationic complexes. The copper(I)-benzil-bis(thiosemicarbazone) complex was characterised by X-ray crystallography which revealed that the complex was a dimeric dication. Each of the benzil bis(thiosemicarbazone) ligands act as a bidentate N,S donor to each copper(I) atom, forming an overall helical structure in which each copper atom is in a strongly distorted tetrahedral N₂S₂ environment. Electrochemical measurements show that the copper(II)-benzil bis(thiosemicarbazonato) complex undergoes a reversible reduction at biologically accessible potentials.     

An FT-IR and XPS study of copper(II)–diazine polymers

Solid copper(II) complexes have been obtained following reaction of copper chloride with pyridazine (pdz) and pyrimidine (pym) ligands. Elemental analyses, diffuse reflectance Fourier-Transform and X-ray photoelectron spectral data recorded from these compounds are consistent with polymeric structures of the general formulae Cu(pdz)Cl₂ and Cu(pym)Cl₂. X-ray photoelectron data also indicates that the surface composition of each of these complexes closely resembles that of the bulk material.     

Model complexes of the active site of galactose oxidase. Effects of the metal ion binding sites

Model compounds of the active site of galactose oxidase have been developed by using new cofactor model ligands, L1H (2-methylthio-4-tert-butyl-6-[{bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino}methyl]phenol) and L2H (2-methylthio-4-tert-butyl-6-[{bis(6-methylpyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino}methyl]phenol). Treatment of the ligands with copper(II) and zinc(II) perchlorate in the presence of triethylamine followed by anion exchange reaction with NaPF₆ or NaBPh₄ provided the corresponding copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes, the crystal structures of which have been determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. All the copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes have been isolated as a dimeric form in which the phenolate oxygen of each ligand acts as the bridging ligand to form a rhombic M₂(OAr)₂ core (M=Cu or Zn). The dimeric complexes can be converted into the corresponding monomer complexes by the treatment with exogenous ligand such as acetate ion. The redox potential and the spectroscopic features of the monomer complexes have also been examined. Furthermore, the copper(II)- and zinc(II)-complexes of the phenoxyl radical species of the ligands have been generated in situ by the oxidation of the phenolate complexes with (NH₄)₂[Ce^IV(NO₃)₆] (CAN) in CH₃CN, and their spectroscopic features have been explored. The structures and physicochemical properties of the phenolate and phenoxyl radical complexes of L1 and L2 have been compared to those of the previously reported copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of L3 (2-methylthio-4-tert-butyl-6-[{bis(2-pyridin-2-ylethyl)amino}methyl]phenol) in order to get insights into the interaction between the metal ions and the organic cofactor moiety.     

Synthesis, spectroscopy and magnetism of novel metal complexes of 3-aminoflavone (3-af). X-ray crystal structure of 3-af and [Cu(3-af)2(NO3)2]

The synthesis and characterization of four new complexes with the bioactive ligand 3-aminoflavone (3-af) are reported. The complexes of general formula [M(3-af)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ · nH₂O], where M = Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II), and n = 0, 2, 0, respectively, and [Cu(3-af)₂(NO₃)₂] compound were prepared and studied. In particular, to investigate the binding in detail, the crystal structures of the free ligand (3-af) and [Cu(3-af)₂(NO₃)₂] (1) were determined. The new coordination compounds were identified and characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic measurements, and infrared and ligand-field spectra. The crystal structure of the Cu(II) complex reveals that the ligand acts as a N,O-bidentate chelate ligand forming a five-membered ring with the copper(II) ion. The copper(II) ion is octahedrally surrounded by the two amino nitrogens and two carbonyl oxygens from two chelating organic ligands in trans arrangement. Two molecules of coordinated nitrate anions occupy axial positions. The spectral and magnetic properties are in accordance with the structural data of the copper(II) compound. From X-ray powder-diffraction patterns and IR spectra, the complexes of nickel(II) (2) and cobalt(II) (3) were found to be mutually isomorphous. The results of the spectroscopic studies suggest a mononuclear structure of 2 and 3 complexes. The variable-temperature (1.8-300 K) magnetic susceptibility data of 2 indicate a weak ferromagnetic interaction. The magnetic behavior of complex 3 is characteristic of cobalt(II) systems with an important orbital contribution via spin-orbit-coupling and also suggests a weak ferromagnetic interaction.     

Electrochemical properties of copper complexes with unsubstituted and substituted 1,10-o-phenanthrolines in N,N-dimethylformamide solvent

The electrochemical reduction of a series of copper(II) complexes with 1,10-o-phenanthrolines, namely the 1:1 and 1:2 metal:ligand complexes with 2,9-dimethylphenanthroline, 4,7-dimethylphenanthroline and unsubstituted phenanthroline, respectively, has been studied in N,N-dimethylformamide using platinum electrodes. As to the 1:2 complexes, the effect of the presence of substituents with different electronic and steric effects on the phenanthroline ligands has been studied with the aim of rationalizing the different values of the standard potentials which have been measured. Furthermore, the possibility of electrogenerating neutral species, with a formally zerovalent copper centre, exhibiting different stability depending on the nature of the ligands, has been ascertained. In out solvent medium, 1:1 complexes have been found to be in equilibrium with the corresponding 1:2 complexes. A scheme for the reduction of solutions of these compounds, including the different equilibria associated to the electrode charge transfers, has been outlined.     

Reactivity of ligand-swapped mutants of the SCO protein from Bacillus subtilis. Isomers of the CCH metal binding motif

The Synthesis of Cytochrome Oxidase protein, or SCO protein, is required for the assembly of cytochrome c oxidase in many mitochondrial and bacterial respiratory chains. SCOs have been proposed to deliver copper to the Cu_A site of cytochrome c oxidase. We have reported that Bacillus subtilis SCO (i.e., BsSCO) binds Cu(II) with high-affinity via a two-step process mediated by three conserved residues (i.e., two cysteines and one histidine, or the CCH motif). A remarkable feature in the reaction of reduced (i.e., di-thiol) BsSCO with copper is that it does not generate any of the disulfide form of BsSCO. This molecular aversion is proposed to be a consequence of a binding mechanism in which the initial copper complex of BsSCO does not involve cysteine, but instead involves nitrogen ligands. We test this proposal here by constructing two isomers of BsSCO in which the conserved copper binding residues (i.e., the CCH-motif) are retained, but their positions are altered. In these variants the two cysteines are exchanged with histidine, and both react transiently with copper (II) with distinct kinetic profiles. The reaction generates Cu(I) and the protein is oxidized to its disulfide form. EPR analysis supports a copper binding model in which cysteine, which is at the “histidine position” in the mutant, is part of an initial encounter complex with copper. When cysteine is the initial ligating residue an oxidation reaction ensues. In contrast initial binding to native BsSCO uses nitrogen-based ligands, and thereby avoids the opportunity for thiol oxidation.     

In vitro and in vivo studies of the dermally absorbed Cu(II) complexes of N5O2 donor ligands - Potential anti-inflammatory drugs

Copper complexes of N,N′-di(aminoethylene)-2,6-pyridinedicarbonylamine and bis-(N,N-dimethylethyl)-2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide have been studied by glass electrode potentiometry, NMR, UV and IR spectroscopy as potential anti-inflammatory agents for the alleviation of inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The protonation and formation constants with Cu(II), Zn(II) and Ca(II), determined at 25 °C and an ionic strength of 0.15 mol dm⁻³ were used to calculate the copper plasma mobilizing index of the ligands. Spectroscopic studies suggested that metal ion complexation promotes deprotonation and coordination of the amide nitrogens resulting in overall tetragonal distorted copper complexes. Bio-distribution and dermal absorption studies showed the complexes to have relatively long biological half-lives with 50% of the injected dose remaining in the body 24 h after administration.