Characterization of a mononuclear copper carboxylate complex: Bis(acetylsalicylato)bis(pyridine)copper(II)

The preparation, spectral properties, and crystal structure of a mononuclear copper(II) complex of acetylsalicylate and pyridine are reported. The complex exists as bis(acetylsalicylato)bis(pyridine)copper(II) both in the solid state and in chloroform solution. The crystal is monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, with a = 17.823(5), b = 10.903(4), c = 6.598(2) Å, β = 95.74(2)°. The final refinement used 1472 observed reflections and gave an R of 0.046. The copper atom is surrounded by four atoms in a trans square planar arrangement with two short CuO distances of 1.949(3) Å and two CuN distances of 2.003(4) Å. Two longer CuO distances of 2.623(3) Å are made with the remaining oxygen atoms of the aspirin carboxylate groups.     

Amyloid-beta-peptide reduces copper(II) to copper(I) independent of its aggregation state

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the deposition of amyloid beta-peptide (A beta) and neuronal degeneration in brain regions involved in learning and memory. One of the leading etiologic hypotheses regarding AD is the involvement of free radical-mediated oxidative stress in neuronal degeneration. Recent evidence suggests that metals concentrated in amyloid deposits may contribute to the oxidative insults observed in AD-affected brains. We hypothesized that A beta peptide in the presence of copper enhances its neurotoxicity generating free radicals via copper reduction. In the present study, we have examined the effect of the aggregation state of amyloid-beta-peptide on copper reduction. In independent experiments we measured the copper-reducing ability of soluble and fibrillar A beta(1-40) forms by bathocuproine assays. As it was previously observed for the amyloid precursor protein (APP), the A beta peptide showed copper-reducing ability. The capacity of A beta to reduce copper was independent of the aggregation state. Finally, the A beta peptide derived from the human sequence has a greater effect than the A beta peptide derived from the rat sequence, suggesting that histidine 13 may play a role in copper reduction. In agreement with this possibility, the A beta peptide reduces less copper in the presence of exogenous histidine.     

Homoleptic copper(II) and copper(I) complexes of 5,6-dihydro-5,6-epoxy-1,10-phenanthroline. Six-coordinate copper(I) in solution

Reaction of 5,6-dihydro-5,6-epoxy-1,10-phenanthroline (L) with Cu(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O in methanol in 3:1 M ratio at room temperature yields light green [CuL₃](ClO₄)₂·H₂O (1). The X-ray crystal structure of the hemi acetonitrile solvate [CuL₃](ClO₄)₂·0.5CH₃CN has been determined which shows Jahn-Teller distortion in the CuN₆ core present in the cation [CuL₃]²⁺. Complex 1 gives an axial EPR spectrum in acetonitrile-toluene glass with g_|| = 2.262 (A_|| = 169 × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹) and g_⊥ = 2.069. The Cu(II/I) potential in 1 in CH₂Cl₂ at a glassy carbon electrode is 0.32 V versus NHE. This potential does not change with the addition of extra L in the medium implicating generation of a six-coordinate copper(I) species [CuL₃]⁺ in solution. B3LYP/LanL2DZ calculations show that the six Cu-N bond distances in [CuL₃]⁺ are 2.33, 2.25, 2.32, 2.25, 2.28 and 2.25 Å while the ideal Cu(I)-N bond length in a symmetric Cu(I)N₆ moiety is estimated as 2.25 Å. Reaction of L with Cu(CH₃CN)₄ClO₄ in dehydrated methanol at room temperature even in 4:1 M proportion yields [CuL₂]ClO₄ (2). Its ¹H NMR spectrum indicates that the metal in [CuL₂]⁺ is tetrahedral. The Cu(II/I) potential in 2 is found to be 0.68 V versus NHE in CH₂Cl₂ at a glassy carbon electrode. In presence of excess L, 2 yields the cyclic voltammogram of 1. From ¹H NMR titration, the free energy of binding of L to [CuL₂]⁺ to produce [CuL₃]⁺ in CD₂Cl₂ at 298 K is estimated as −11.7 (±0.2) kJ mol⁻¹.     

Genetically encoded red fluorescent copper(I) sensors for cellular copper(I) imaging

Copper ranks among the most important metal ions in living organism, owing to its key catalytic effect in a range of biochemical processes. Dysregulation of in vivo copper(I) metabolism is extremely toxic and would cause serious diseases in human, such as Wilson’s and Menkes. Thus, it would be highly valuable to have a proper approach to monitor the dynamics of copper(I) in vivo, as it is directly related to the onset of human copper(I)-related diseases. Under these circumstance, developing fluorescent protein based copper(I) sensors is highly demanded. However, these established sensors are mostly based on green or yellow FPs. Fluorescent copper(I) sensors with a spectra in the red range are more desirable due to lower phototoxicity, less auto-fluorescent noise and better penetration of red light. In the present work, we grafted a special red FP into three different location of a copper(I) binding protein, and generate a series of red fluorescent copper(I) sensors. Despite their limited in vivo sensitivity toward copper(I), these sensors are viable for cellular copper(I) imaging. Furthermore, these red fluorescent copper(I) sensors are a good starting point to develop superior copper(I) biosensors capable of imaging copper(I) fluctuations within a truly biologically relevant concentration, and further effort to realize this endeavor is under way.     

Mixed copper(II)-palladium(II) acetates

The reaction of [Cu₂(H₂O)₂(MeCO₂)₄] with [Pd₃(MeCO₂)₆] gives the new polynuclear mixed metal acetates [Cu₂Pd(MeCO₂)₆] and [Cu₂Pd_4⁻ (MeCO₂)₁₂]. Electronic, ESR and IR spectra and antiferromagnetism suggest the former has a triangular and the latter an octahedral arrangement of metal atoms. The relative magnitudes of the antiferromagnetic interactions are discussed.     

Spontaneous resolution of binary copper(II) complexes with racemic dipeptides: crystal structures of glycyl-L-alpha-amino-n-butyrato copper(II) monohydrate, glycyl-D-valinato copper(II) hemihydrate, and glycyl-L-valinato copper(II) hemihydrate

Copper(II) complexes with glycyl-DL-alpha-amino-n-butyric acid (H2gly-DL-but), glycyl-DL-valine (H2gly-DL-val), glycyl-DL-norleucine (H2gly-DL-norleu), glycyl-DL-threonine (H2gly-DL-thr), glycyl-DL-serine (H2gly-DL-ser), glycyl-DL-phenylalanine (H2gly-DL-phe), and glycyl-L-valine (H2gly-L-val), have been prepared and characterized by IR, powder diffuse reflection, CD and ORD spectra, and magnetic susceptibility measurements, and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structures of the copper complex with H2gly-DL-but, the copper complex with H2gly-DL-val, and [Cu(gly-L-val)]n.0.5nH2O have been determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. As for the structure of the copper complex with H2gly-DL-but, the configuration around the asymmetric carbon atom is similar to that of [Cu(gly-L-val)]n.0.5nH2O. Therefore it is concluded that the copper complex with H2gly-DL-but is [Cu(gly-L-but)]n.nH2O. On the contrary, as for the structure of the copper complex with H2gly-DL-val, the configuration around the asymmetric carbon atom is different from that of [Cu(gly-L-val)]n.0.5nH2O. Therefore it is concluded that the copper complex with H2gly-dl-val is [Cu(gly-D-val)]n.0.5nH2O. So during the crystallization of the copper(II) complexes with H2gly-DL-but and H2gly-DL-val, spontaneous resolution has been observed; the four complexes have separated as [Cu(gly-D-but)]n.nH2O, [Cu(gly-L-but)]n.nH2O, [Cu(gly-D-val)]n.0.5nH2O, and [Cu(gly-L-val)]n.0.5nH2O, respectively. [Cu(gly-L-but)]n.nH2O is orthorhombic with the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). [Cu(gly-D-val)]n.0.5nH2O and [Cu(gly-L-val)]n.0.5nH2O are monoclinic with the space group C2. In these complexes, the copper atom is in a square-pyramidal geometry, ligated by a peptide nitrogen atom, an amino nitrogen atom, a carboxyl oxygen atom, and a carboxyl oxygen atom and a peptide oxygen atom from neighboring molecules. So these complexes consist of a two-dimensional polymer chain bridged by a carboxyl oxygen atom and a peptide oxygen atom from neighboring molecules. The axial oxygen atom is located above the basal plane and the side chain of an amino acid is located below it. These polymer chains consist of only one or the other type of optical isomers; no racemic dipeptides are found. Therefore, spontaneous resolution has been observed in the crystallization of copper(II) complexes with H2gly-DL-but and H2gly-DL-val. The crystal structure of [Cu(gly-D-val)]n.0.5nH2O agrees almost completely with that of [Cu(gly-L-val)]n.0.5nH2O, except for the configuration around the asymmetric carbon atom.     

The antiproliferative agents trans-bis(resorcylaldoximato)copper(II) and trans-bis(2,3,4-trihydroxybenzaldoximato)copper(II) and cytopathic effects of HIV

trans-Bis(resorcylaldoximato)copper(II) and trans-bis-(2,3,4-trihydroxybenzaldoximato)copper(II) (CuRES2 and CuTRI2, respectively) have been tested for antiviral properties against HIV, using an in vitro assay that measures the ability of the test compounds to prevent the killing of susceptible human cells by HIV. In the case of CuTRI2, T4 lymphocytes (CEM-V and CEM-Z cell lines) were exposed to HIV at a virus to cell ratio approx. 0.05 in microtiter plates. In the case of CuRES2, a human leukemia cell line (MT-2) was used instead. The tetrazolium salt XTT was added to all wells, and the cultures were incubated and analyzed spectrophotometrically to quantitate formazan production and viewed microscopically for detection of viable cells. In spite of their antiproliferative properties, neither agent had any detectable ability to prevent the cytopathic effects of HIV in cultures of the target cells used. Because the test system employed was constructed in such a way as to detect antiviral agents acting at any stage of the virus reproductive cycle, the results obtained strongly suggest that neither studied agent has any value as the direct prevention of the cell destruction caused by HIV is concerned.     

Observations on copper(I) borohydride

The solution usually described as lambda; copper borohydriderho; contains chloride which continues to be associated with the copper, even through thermal decomposition or complexation.     

A dithiocarbamate-stabilized copper(I) cube

The disproportionation reaction between the copper(II) complexes, Cu(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O and [Cu(S₂CNR₂)₂] is a well-established route to copper(III) complexes [Cu(S₂CNR₂)₂][ClO₄] but to date the nature of the copper(I) species generated has remained a mystery. We now show that with [Cu(S₂CNPr₂)₂] this is the copper(I) cluster, [Cu₈(μ²,μ²-S₂CNPr₂)₆][ClO₄]₂, which contains a cubic array of copper atoms, each face cube being capped by a dithiocarbamate ligand such that the sulfur atoms define an icosahedron and the backbone carbons an octahedron around the cube centroid. A crystal structure of [Cu₄(μ²,η¹-S₂CNBu₂)₄] is also presented for comparison.     

Spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of heteroleptic cationic copper complexes bis-(diphenylphosphino)alkane-(2,2′-biquinoline)copper(I). Crystal structure of bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane-(2,2′-biquinoline)copper(I) perchlorate

A series of [Cu^(I)(2,2′-biquinoline)(L)](ClO₄) complexes (L = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (bppm), 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (bppe), 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (bppb)) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity, ESI-mass, NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray diffraction ([Cu^(I)(2,2′-biquinoline)(bppe)](ClO₄)) and DFT calculations. These compounds are monometallic species in a distorted tetrahedral arrangement, in contrast with related compounds found as dinuclear according to diffraction studies. The spectroscopic properties are not directly correlated with the length of alkyl chain bridge between the bis-diphenylphosphine groups. In this way, the chemical shift of some 2,2′-biquinoline protons and the metal to ligand charge transfer (Cu to 2,2′-biquinoline) follows the order [Cu(2,2′-biquinoline)(bppm)](ClO₄), [Cu(2,2′-biquinoline)(bppb)](ClO₄), [Cu(2,2′-biquinoline)(bppe)](ClO₄). The same dependence is followed by the potentials to Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple. These results are discussed in terms of inter-phosphorus alkane chain length and tetrahedral distortions on copper.     

Resonance Raman spectroscopic studies of adriamycin and copper(II)-adriamycin and copper(II)-adriamycin-DNA complexes

Characteristic resonance Raman spectra are observed on ionization of the phenolic groups in adriamycin. On the basis of these results, vibrational assignments for the Raman bands of adriamycin are reported. Distinct Raman spectra are observed for Cu(II)-adriamycin complexes at pH approximately 5 and pH approximately 13. The data indicate that at lower pH a bis complex of Cu(II) is formed, which transforms to a polymeric Cu(II) chelate at higher pH. Upon interaction of the metal-drug complex with calf thymus DNA at pH approximately 5, a ternary complex is formed in which the Cu(II)-complexed adriamycin is intercalated into DNA.     

Copper(II) PMDTA and copper(II) TMEDA complexes: precursors for the synthesis of dinuclear dicationic copper(II) complexes

Copper(II) cations coordinated with PMDTA (pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) and TMEDA (tetramethylethylenediamine) possess a high synthetic potential. The synthesis of these cations was carried out by metathesis reactions with silver salts. The cationic copper(II) complexes, [Cu(PMDTA)(Me₂CO)Cl]⁺, [Cu(PMDTA)(H₂O)Cl]⁺, [Cu(PMDTA)(DMF)]⁺, [Cu(PMDTA)Cl]⁺, [Cu(PMDTA)OAc]⁺, [Cu(PMDTA)(MeCN)₂]²⁺, [Cu₂(TMEDA)₂Cl₃]⁺ and [Cu(TMEDA)(MeCN)₃]²⁺ were synthesised as PF₆ salts, crystallised and characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Inhibition of phosphofructokinases by copper(II)

The biochemical inhibition by Cu2+ on eight phylogenetically and biochemically different phosphofructokinases (PFKs) was investigated. The enzymes screened included representatives from thermophilic and mesophilic bacteria, a hyperthermophilic archaeon and a eukaryote, covering all three phosphoryl donor subtypes (ATP, ADP and pyrophosphate). The sensitivities of the enzymes to Cu2+ varied greatly, with the archaeal ADP-PFK being the least and the eukaryote ATP-PFK being the most sensitive. The bacterial ATP- and pyrophosphate-dependent PFKs showed intermediate sensitivity with the exception of the Spirochaeta thermophila enzyme (pyrophosphate-dependent) which was relatively resistant.     

Inactivation of thiostrepton by copper(II)

Summary Among the various bivalent metal ions tested, only copper(II) was found to bind to thiostrepton (M _rr 1650) in a stoichiometric ratio of 4:1. The binding of four copper ions to a thiostrepton molecule resulted in (a) irreversible loss in biological activity and (b) a change in the ultraviolet absorption spectrum of the antibiotic. Potentiometric titration of thiostrepton in the presence of copper(II) revealed dissociation of the antibiotic with a loss of 11 protons/molecule. Based on the preferential ability of copper(II) to bind to thiostrepton in the presence of some copper-complexing compounds containing similar ligand groups to the antibiotic, the possible co-ordinating atoms of the thiostrepton molecule involved in binding to the metal ion are discussed.     

Structural study of copper(I)-bleomycin

Previous NMR studies on Cu(I)-bleomycin have suggested that this adduct has a geometry distinct from Fe(II)BLM. The coordination chemistry of this bleomycin derivative has been investigated through the extension of the NMR data reported previously, and the use of molecular dynamics calculations. The data collected from the NMR experiments support the coordination to the metal center of the primary and secondary amines in beta-aminoalanine and the pyrimidine ring. The detection in the NMR spectra of the signal derived from the amide hydrogen in beta-hydroxyhistidine indicates that this amide is protonated in Cu(I)-bleomycin, precluding participation of the pyrimidinyl carboxamide nitrogen in the coordination of Cu(I), as previously reported. Three-dimensional solution structures compatible with the NMR data have been assayed for Cu(I)-bleomycin for the first time by way of molecular dynamics calculations, and two models showing four and five coordination have been found to be those that better fit the experimental data. In both models the primary amine in beta-aminoalanine is coordinated such that it is located on the same side, with respect to the coordination cage, as the peptide linker fragment. This result seems important for the favored models to be compatible with either their possible oxidation to become one of the reported structures for Cu(II)BLM, or their transformation into Fe(II) adducts able to cause DNA damage.     

Nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes of mixed benzene-triazolehemiporphyrazines

The kinetics of substitution reactions of [η-CpFe(CO)₃]PF₆ with PPh₃ in the presence of R-PyOs have been studied. For all the R-PyOs (R = 4-OMe, 4-Me, 3,4-(CH)₄, 4-Ph, 3-Me, 2,3-(CH)₄, 2,6-Me₂, 2-Me), the reactions yeild the same product [η⁵-CpFe(CO)₂PPh₃]PF₆, according to a second-order rate law that is first order in concentrations of [η⁵-CpFe(CO)₃]PF₆ and of R-PyO but zero order in PPh₃ concentration. These results, along with the dependence of the reaction rate on the nature of R-PyO, are consistent with an associative mechanism. Activation parameters further support the bimmolecular nature of the reactions: ΔH^≠ = 13.4 ± 0.4 kcal mol⁻¹, ΔS^≠ = −19.1 ± 1.3 cal k⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for 4-PhPyO; ΔH^≠ = 12.3 ± 0.3 kcal mol⁻¹, ΔS^≠ = 24.7 ±1.0 cal K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for 2-MePyO. For the various substituted pyridine N-oxides studied in this paper, the rates of reaction increase with the increasing electron-donating abilities of the substituents on the pyridine ring or N-oxide basicities, but decrease with increasing ¹⁷O chemical shifts of the N-oxides. Electronic and steric factors contributing to the reactivity of pyridine N-oxides have been quantitatively assessed.     

Interaction of hexacyanoferrate(III) with some copper(II) complexes

The interaction between hexacyanoferrate(III) and some copper complexes of different geometry was studied. In solution, and in the presence of coordination unsaturation of copper, 1:1 and 2:1 Cu:Fe adducts formed and were characterized by the absence of any copper electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal. The magnetic susceptibility of the 1:1 adducts is essentially equal to the sum of those due to the parent compounds. Solid state studies confirm the solution data. In the light of the present results the absence of the EPR signal of [Fe(CN)₆]^3?-treated galactose oxidase is discussed.