Synthesis of carbon-11-labeled CK1 inhibitors as new potential PET radiotracers for imaging of Alzheimer’s disease

The reference standards methyl 3-((2,2-difluoro-5H-[1,3]dioxolo[4′,5′:4,5]benzo[1,2-d]imidazol-6-yl)carbamoyl)benzoate (5a) and N-(2,2-difluoro-5H-[1,3]dioxolo[4′,5′:4,5]benzo[1,2-d]imidazol-6-yl)-3-methoxybenzamide (5c), and their corresponding desmethylated precursors 3-((2,2-difluoro-5H-[1,3]dioxolo[4′,5′:4,5]benzo[1,2-d]imidazol-6-yl)carbamoyl)benzoic acid (6a) and N-(2,2-difluoro-5H-[1,3]dioxolo[4′,5′:4,5]benzo[1,2-d]imidazol-6-yl)-3-hydroxybenzamide (6b), were synthesized from 5-amino-2,2-difluoro-1,3-benzodioxole and 3-substituted benzoic acids in 5 and 6 steps with 33% and 11%, 30% and 7% overall chemical yield, respectively. Carbon-11-labeled casein kinase 1 (CK1) inhibitors, [¹¹C]methyl 3-((2,2-difluoro-5H-[1,3]dioxolo[4′,5′:4,5]benzo[1,2-d]imidazol-6-yl)carbamoyl)benzoate ([¹¹C]5a) and N-(2,2-difluoro-5H-[1,3]dioxolo[4′,5′:4,5]benzo[1,2-d]imidazol-6-yl)-3-[¹¹C]methoxybenzamide ([¹¹C]5c), were prepared from their O-desmethylated precursor 6a or 6b with [¹¹C]CH₃OTf through O-[¹¹C]methylation and isolated by HPLC combined with SPE in 40–45% radiochemical yield, based on [¹¹C]CO₂ and decay corrected to end of bombardment (EOB). The radiochemical purity was >99%, and the molar activity (MA) at EOB was 370–740?GBq/μmol with a total synthesis time of ～40-min from EOB.     

The first radiosynthesis of [11C]AZD8931 as a new potential PET agent for imaging of EGFR,HER2 and HER3 signaling

The reference standard AZD8931{2-(4-((4-((3-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)amino)-7-methoxyquinazolin-6-yl)oxy)piperidin-1-yl)-N-methylacetamide} (11a) was synthesized from methyl 4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzoate or ethyl 4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzoate and 2-chloro-N-methylacetamide in 11 steps with 2–5% overall chemical yield. The precursor N-desmethyl-AZD8931{2-(4-((4-((3-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)amino)-7-methoxyquinazolin-6-yl)oxy)piperidin-1-yl)acetamide} (11b) was synthesized from methyl 4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzoate or ethyl 4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzoate and 2-bromoacetamide in 11 steps with 2–4% overall chemical yield. The target tracer [¹¹C]AZD8931 {2-(4-((4-((3-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)amino)-7-methoxyquinazolin-6-yl)oxy)piperidin-1-yl)-N-[¹¹C]methylacetamide} ([¹¹C]11a) was prepared from N-desmethyl-AZD8931 (11b) with [¹¹C]CH₃OTf under basic condition (NaH) through N-[¹¹C]methylation and isolated by HPLC combined with solid-phase extraction (SPE) in 40–50% radiochemical yield based on [¹¹C]CO₂ and decay corrected to end of bombardment (EOB) with 370–1110 GBq/μmol specific activity at EOB.     

Design and synthesis of 3,5-diaryl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazoles as new tyrosinase inhibitors

In this study, twenty 3,5-diaryl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole derivatives with hydroxyl(s) (1a–1p, 2a–2d) were synthesized and their inhibitory activity on mushroom tyrosinase was examined. The results showed that among these compounds, 1-(5-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone 1d was found to be the most potent tyrosinase inhibitor with IC₅₀ value of 0.301 μM. Kinetic study revealed that these compounds were competitive inhibitors of tyrosinase and their structure–activity relationships were investigated in this article.     

Synthesis and complexation of tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)calix[4]arene adopting the 1,3-alternate conformation

Novel upper-rim modified tetraphosphinocalix[4]arenes (5a-b) adopting 1,3-alternate conformation have been synthesized. Reaction of 5,11,17,23-tetrachloromethyl-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (1) with Ph₂POEt gave 5,11,17,23-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (2). Tetra-O-substitution of 2 with n-propyl iodide or benzyl bromide in the presence of K₂CO₃ carried out to afford 5,11,17,23-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)-25,26,27,28-tetrapropoxy-(3a) or -benzyloxycalix[4]arene (3b), whereas di-O-substituted calix[4]arene, 5,11,17,23-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)-25,27-dipropoxy-26,28-dihydroxycalix[4]arene (4), was obtained exclusively when Na₂CO₃ was used as base. Reduction of 3a-b with PhSiHCl₂ afforded 5,11,17,23-tetrakis(diphosphinomethyl)-25,26,27,28-tetrapropoxy-(5a) and -tetrabenzyloxycalix[4]arene (5b). ¹H and ¹³C NMR analysis reveals that the phosphines (5a-b) and the tetra-O-substituted phosphine oxides (3a-b) adopt 1,3-alternate conformation, while the parent tetrahydroxy-(2) and the di-O-propylated phosphine oxide (4) adopt cone-conformation. The X-ray structure indicates that the calix[4]arene moieties in 4 a pinched-cone conformation in solid state. Complexation of the phosphine ligand (5a) with [RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ affords the tetranuclear complexes, [{RuCl₂(p-cymene)}₂ · 5a] (6), as 1,3-alternate conformer.     

The effects of structural variations of thiophene-containing Ru(II) complexes on the acid–base and DNA binding properties

A phenylthiophenyl-bearing Ru(II) complex of [Ru(bpy)₂(Hbptip)](PF₆)₂ {bpy?=?2,2′-bipyridine, Hbptip?=?2-(4-phenylthiophen-2-yl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline} was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The ground- and excited-state acid–base properties of the complex were studied by UV–visible absorption and photoluminescence spectrophotometric pH titrations and the negative logarithm values of the ground-state acid ionization constants were derived to be pK _a1?=?1.31?±?0.09 and pK _a2?=?5.71?±?0.11 with the pK _a2 associated deprotonation/protonation process occurring over 3 pK _a units more acidic than thiophenyl-free parent complex of [Ru(bpy)₂(Hpip)]²⁺ {Hpip?=?2-phenyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline}. The calf thymus DNA-binding properties of [Ru(bpy)₂(Hbptip)]²⁺ in Tris–HCl buffer (pH 7.1 and 50?mM NaCl) were investigated by DNA viscosities and density functional theoretical calculations as well as UV–visible and emission spectroscopy techniques of UV–visible and luminescence titrations, steady-state emission quenching by [Fe(CN)₆]^4?, DNA competitive binding with ethidium bromide, DNA melting experiments, and reverse salt effects. The complex was evidenced to bind to the DNA intercalatively with binding affinity being greater than those for previously reported analogs of [Ru(bpy)₂(Hip)]²⁺, [Ru(bpy)₂(Htip)]²⁺, and [Ru(bpy)₂(Haptip)]²⁺ {Hip?=?1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline, Htip?=?2-thiophenimidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline, Haptip?=?2-(5-phenylthiophen-2-yl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline}.     

Synthesis of novel 2-amino-4-(5′-substituted 2′-phenyl-1H-indol-3′-yl)-6-aryl-4H-pyran-3-carbonitrile derivatives as antimicrobial and antioxidant agents

As a part of systematic investigation of synthesis and biological activities of indole analogues linked to various heterocyclic systems, we have synthesized new compounds viz., 2-amino-4-(5′-substituted 2′-phenyl-1H-indol-3′-yl)-6-aryl-4H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (2a–i), 4,5-diamino-6-(5′-substituted 2′-phenyl-1H-indol-3′-yl)-8-aryl-2-oxo-2,6-dihydrodipyrano [2,3-b:3,2-e]pyridine-3-carbonitriles (3a–i), 4-amino-5-(5′-substituted 2′-phenyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-7-aryl-1H-pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2(5H)-ones (4a–i), 4-amino-5-(5′-substituted 2′-phenyl-1H-indol-3′-yl)-7-aryl-1H-pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2(5H)-thiones (5a–i), 4-(5′-subtituted 2′-phenyl-1H-indol-3′-yl)-6-aryl-1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazol-3-amines (6a–i) and 5-(5′-substituted 2′-phenyl-1H-indol-3′-yl)-7-aryl-3H-pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(5H)-ones (7a–i). Antibacterial activity results revealed that, compound 6a showed promising activity versus Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Compound 6d exhibited good activity against S. aureus, K. pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antifungal activity results indicated that, compound 4d exhibited maximum zone of inhibition against Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus flavus. In case of antioxidant activity, compound 4a showed promising radical scavenging activity, ferric ions (Fe³⁺) reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and metal chelating activity.     

Synthesis and preliminary biological evaluation of [11C]methyl (2-amino-5-(benzylthio)thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-7-yl)-d-leucinate for the fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1)

The reference standard methyl (2-amino-5-(benzylthio)thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-7-yl)-d-leucinate (5) and its precursor 2-amino-5-(benzylthio)thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-7-yl)-d-leucine (6) were synthesized from 6-amino-2-mercaptopyrimidin-4-ol and BnBr with overall chemical yield 7% in five steps and 4% in six steps, respectively. The target tracer [¹¹C]methyl (2-amino-5-(benzylthio)thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-7-yl)-d-leucinate ([¹¹C]5) was prepared from the acid precursor with [¹¹C]CH₃OTf through O-[¹¹C]methylation and isolated by HPLC combined with SPE in 40–50% radiochemical yield, based on [¹¹C]CO₂ and decay corrected to end of bombardment (EOB). The radiochemical purity was >99%, and the specific activity (SA) at EOB was 370–1110 GBq/μmol with a total synthesis time of ～40-min from EOB. The radioligand depletion experiment of [¹¹C]5 did not display specific binding to CX₃CR1, and the competitive binding assay of ligand 5 found much lower CX₃CR1 binding affinity.     

Synthesis and characterization of cobalt(II)-salicylate complexes derived from N4-donor ligands: Stabilization of a hexameric water cluster in the lattice host of a cobalt(III)-salicylate complex

The syntheses and structural characterization of four cobalt(II)-salicylate complexes, [(TPA)Co^II(HSA)](ClO₄) (1), [(isoBPMEN)Co^II(HSA)](BPh₄) (2), [(TPzA)Co^II(HSA)](ClO₄) (3) and [(6Me₃TPA)Co^II(HSA)](BPh₄) (4) [TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, isoBPMEN = N¹,N¹-dimethyl-N²,N²-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine, TPzA = tris((3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl)amine and 6Me₃TPA = tris(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine] are described. While 2, 3 and 4 are unreactive towards dioxygen, 1 reacts slowly with molecular oxygen to a cobalt(III)-salicylate complex, [(TPA)Co^III(SA)](ClO₄) (1a). Two different crystalline forms, 1a and 1a·4H₂O were isolated depending upon the condition of oxidation and crystallization. The solid-state structures of cobalt(III)-salicylate unit in both 1a and 1a·4H₂O show a six-coordinate distorted octahedral coordination geometry at the cobalt(III) center ligated by the tetradentate ligand (TPA) where the dianionic salicylate (SA) binds in a bidentate fashion through one carboxylate and one phenolate oxygen. The hydrated form 1a·4H₂O reveals a hexameric water cluster formation in the inorganic lattice host. The complex cation and the perchlorate counterion are involved in stabilizing the (H₂O)₆ cluster in a rare ‘pentamer planar+1’ conformation. A one-dimensional water tape consisting of edge-shared water hexamers is observed. The water tape represents a subunit of ice structure.     

Synthesis,biological evaluation and molecular modeling of dihydro-pyrazolyl-thiazolinone derivatives as potential COX-2 inhibitors

A series of dihydro-pyrazolyl-thiazolinone derivatives (5a–5t) have been synthesized and their biological activities were also evaluated as potential cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. Among these compounds, compound 2-(3-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)thiazol-4(5H)-one (5a) displayed the most potent COX-2 inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ of 0.5 μM, but weak to COX-1. Docking simulation was performed to position compound 5a into the COX-2 active site to determine the probable binding model. Based on the preliminary results, compound 5a with potent inhibitory activity and low toxicity would be a potential and selective anti-cyclooxygenase-2 agent.     

Development of the active site model for calcium-containing quinoprotein alcohol dehydrogenases

A new PQQ model compound [dimethyl 7-(1,4,7,10-tetraoxa-13-azacyclopentadec-13-yl)carbonyl-4,5-dihydro-4,5-dioxo-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-f]quinoline-2,9-dicarboxylate, 1], in which a 1-aza-15-crown-5 group is attached through an amide linkage at the 7-position, has been synthesized in order to develop an efficient model system of calcium-containing quinoprotein alcohol dehydrogenases. It has been found that Ca²⁺ binds to the quinone most strongly among the alkaline earth metal ions examined (Ca²⁺+>Sr²⁺+≫Ba²⁺+≫Mg²⁺) and the binding constant (K_M) for Ca²⁺ is as large as 2.1×10⁵ M⁻¹. Formation of the C-5 hemiacetal derivatives with ethanol is also investigated spectrophotometrically to show that the alcohol-addition to the quinone is enhanced in the presence of the metal ions. In this case, Ca²⁺ and Sr²⁺ show a similar efficiency that is several times larger than that of Ba²⁺. Addition of a strong base such as DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene) into a MeCN solution containing the metal ion complex of 1 and ethanol leads to redox reactions to give the Ca²⁺ complex of 1H₂ (quinol form) and acetaldehyde. Kinetic studies on the redox reactions have been performed to gain insight into the mechanism of the alcohol-oxidation reaction catalyzed by the metal complexes of coenzyme PQQ.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of a “chiral-at-Ru” secondary phosphine complex

Synthesis of the half-sandwich ruthenium complex [RuCl(η⁵-indenyl){P(Bu^t)(Ph)H}(PPh₃)], 2, containing an unsymmetrically-substituted secondary phosphine, is described. A 60:40 kinetic distribution of the resulting diastereomers 2a and 2b shifts in solution at room temperature to give predominantly 2a. The relative stereochemistries at ruthenium and the secondary phosphine in each diastereomer have been assigned based on ¹H NOESY NMR and crystallographic data.     

Carboxyester hydrolysis promoted by Cu(II) complexes of pyridyl-amine carboxylate-pendant ligands

Multidentate ligands containing tripodal pyridyl-amine moieties tethered to a carboxylate group by alkyl linkers of varying lengths were synthesized to obtain a series of water-soluble ligands to elucidate the effects of the differing coordination environments on the properties of the resulting metal complexes. These new, water-soluble ligands, [bis-(2-pyridin-2-yl-ethyl)-amino]-acetic acid (L¹), 3-[bis-(2-pyridin-2-yl-ethyl)-amino]-propionic acid (L²), 4-[bis-(2-pyridin-2-yl-ethyl)-amino]-butyric acid (L³), and 6-[bis-(2-pyridin-2-yl-ethyl)-amino]-hexanoic acid (L⁴), were treated with copper(II) perchlorate hexahydrate to yield the corresponding Cu(II) complexes, which have all been characterized by X-ray crystallography. L¹ binds Cu(II) to form the tetrameric complex {[Cu(μ-¹)][ClO₄] · 4H₂O}₄ (1) in the solid state, whereas the Cu(II) complexes of ligands L²-L⁴ form long-chain one-dimensional polymeric complexes {[Cu(μ-L²)][ClO₄] · H₂O}_n (2), {[Cu(μ-L³)][ClO₄] · H₂O}_n (3), and {[Cu(μ-L²)][ClO₄]  · H₂O}_n (4), respectively, in the solid state. Complexes 1-4 dissolved in 10% (v/v) CH₃CN aqueous solution were tested for their ability to promote the hydrolysis of the activated ester compound 4-nitrophenylacetate (NA), with 3 being the most active complex and 1 being the least active, possibly due to differences in the ability of the carboxylate moiety to act as either a general base or a nucleophile in the hydrolysis of NA as dictated by the tether length. The pK_a values of the copper-bound aquo ligands in solution were measured by spectrophotometric titration.     

2-Butyl-4-chloroimidazole based substituted piperazine-thiosemicarbazone hybrids as potent inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Here a series of 2-butyl-4-chloroimidazole based substituted piperazine-thiosemicarbazone hybrids were designed by combining three different pharmacophoric fragments in single molecular architecture. 2-Butyl-4-chloro-1-(3-(4-substituted)piperazin-1-yl)propyl)-1H-imidazole-5-carbaldehydes (4a–p) prepared by reacting carboxaldehyde 2 with N-alkyl piperazines 3a–p which were condensed with thiosemicarbazine to give desired compounds 5a–p in very good yields. Among all sixteen compounds screened for in vitro antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB), two compounds (E)-2-((2-butyl-4-chloro-1-(3-(4-(o-tolyl) piperazin-1-yl)propyl)-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methylene)hydrazinecarbothioamide 5e and (E)-2-((2-butyl-4-chloro-1-(3-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl)propyl)-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methylene) hydrazine carbothioamide 5f were found to be the most potent antitubercular agents (MIC: 3.13 μg/mL) with low toxicity profile.     

Synthesis of Pyrrolo[2′,3′:4,5]Furo[3,2-c]Pyridine-2-Carboxylic Acids

1H-Pyrrolo[2′,3′:4,5]furo[3,2-c]pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (6a) and its 1-methyl (6b) and 1-benzyl (6c) derivatives were synthesized. 3-(5-Methoxycarbonyl-4H-furo[3,2-b]-pyrrole-2-yl)propenoic acid (1) was converted to the corresponding azide 2, which in turn was cyclized to give 3 by heating in diphenylether. The pyridone 3 obtained was aromatized with phosphorus oxychloride, then reduced with zinc in acetic acid to give methyl 1H-pyrrolo[2′,3′:4,5]furo[3,2-c]pyridine-2-carboxylate (5), which by hydrolysis gave the corresponding carboxylic acid 6a.     

Enzymatic characteristics of an ApaH-like phosphatase,PrpA, and a diadenosine tetraphosphate hydrolase,ApaH, from Myxococcus xanthus

We characterized the activities of the Myxococcus xanthus ApaH-like phosphatases PrpA and ApaH, which share homologies with both phosphoprotein phosphatases and diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap₄A) hydrolases. PrpA exhibited a phosphatase activity towards p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP), tyrosine phosphopeptide and tyrosine-phosphorylated protein, and a weak hydrolase activity towards Ap_nA and ATP. In the presence of Mn²⁺, PrpA hydrolyzed Ap₄A into AMP and ATP, whereas in the presence of Co²⁺ PrpA hydrolyzed Ap₄A into two molecules of ADP. ApaH exhibited high phosphatase activity towards pNPP, and hydrolase activity towards Ap_nA and ATP. Mn²⁺ was required for ApaH-mediated pNPP dephosphorylation and ATP hydrolysis, whereas Co²⁺ was required for Ap_nA hydrolysis. Thus, PrpA and ApaH may function mainly as a tyrosine protein phosphatase and an Ap_nA hydrolase, respectively.     

Alkynyl cobalt complexes. An electrochemical study

The preparation and characterisation of the complexes Co₂(CO)₅(PMe₃)(μ-η²-Me₃SiC₂CCSiMe₃) (2) and Co₂(CO)₄(PMe₃)₂(μ-η²-Me₃SiC₂CCSiMe₃) (3) are described. A comparative electrochemical study of the complexes Co₂(CO)_6−nL_n(μ-η²-Me₃SiC₂CCSiMe₃) (n=0 (1); n=1, L=PMe₃ (2); n=2, L=PMe₃ (3), PPh₂Me (4), dppa (5), dppm (6)) is presented by means of the cyclic and square-wave voltammetry techniques. Substitution of CO by phosphine ligands transforms the Co₂C₂ redox centre from a readily reducible to an easily oxidisable centre and contributes to the stabilisation of the Co–Co bond increasing the lifetime of the radical cations and anions.     

Syntheses, characterization and antitumor activities of transition metal complexes with isoflavone

Five new complexes were synthesized by the reaction of 4′-methoxy-5,7-dihydroxy-isoflavone ligand (a) with transition metal ions zinc (Zn²⁺) (complex b), manganese (Mn²⁺) (complex c), copper (Cu²⁺) (complex d), cobalt (Co²⁺) (complex e) and nickel (Ni²⁺) (complex f). The composition of the complexes has been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, mass spectrometry (MS) and ¹H NMR spectrometric techniques. Their antitumor properties were evaluated against five human cancer cell lines using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry. The results indicated that the complexes possess higher growth inhibitory effects than free isoflavone and corresponding metal ions. Complex c and f showed greater antitumor activity and selectivity than other described complexes, even more effective than the positive control cisplatin against the selected cell lines. In addition, DNA flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that complexes display a significant G₂/M phase arrest, which then progressed to early apoptosis as detected by flow cytometry after double-staining with annexin V and propidium iodide (PI).     

A non-symmetrical compartmental ligand derived from acetazolamide and its mononuclear cobalt(III) complex with an empty outer compartment

The Schiff base, non-symmetrical, compartmental ligand N-[5-(2-{[2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl-methylidene]-amino}-phenyl-sulfamoyl)-[1,3,4]thiadiazol-2-yl]-acetamide (H₃L) has been prepared by condensation of the acetazolamide derivative N-[5-(2-amino-phenylsulfamoyl)-[1,3,4]thiadiazol-2-yl]-acetamide (3) with 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzaldehyde. The complexation of H₃L with cobalt(II) chloride in pyridine under aerobic conditions yielded [Co^III(HL)(py)₂][Co^II(py)Cl₃] · CH₃CH₂OH (4). The single crystal X-ray structures of H₃L and 4 are reported. In the mononuclear cation [Co^III(HL)(py)₂]⁺ of 4 the octahedral cobalt(III) ion is bound at the inner, metal ion binding site, and the larger, empty, outer metal binding site is partly occupied by the hydrogen-bonded ethanol molecule of crystallisation.     

Novel benzyl-substituted molybdocene anticancer drugs

From the reaction of 6-(p-methoxyphenyl) fulvene (1a), 6-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) fulvene (1b) and 6-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) fulvene (1c) with LiBEt₃H, lithiated cyclopentadienide intermediates (2a-c) were synthesised. These intermediates were then transmetallated to molybdocene using MoCl₄ (synthesized in situ) to yield the benzyl-substituted molybdocenes bis-[(p-methoxybenzyl)cyclopentadienyl] molybdenum (IV) dichloride (3a), bis-[(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)cyclopentadienyl] molybdenum (IV) dichloride (3b), and bis-[(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)cyclopentadienyl] molybdenum (IV) dichloride (3c). The molybdocene 3a was characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction. All three molybdocenes had their cytotoxicity investigated through MTT based preliminary in vitro testing on the human renal cell line Caki-1 in order to determine their IC50 values and compare them with the corresponding titanocene and vanadocene dichloride derivatives. Molybdocenes 3b-c were found to have the same IC50 values of 290 μM, while 3a yielded a value of 84 μM, respectively     

Homoleptic carbene complexes: Part IX. Bis(imidazolin-2-ylidene-1-yl)borate complexes of palladium(II), platinum(II) and gold(I)

The in situ synthesis of the monoanionic chelating dicarbene ligand bis(imidazolin-2-ylidene-1-yl)borate (BIS^R, R=Me (2a), Et (3a), ⁱPr (4a)) from potassium bis(imidazol-1-yl)dihydridoborate (1) via dialkylation with alkyl iodide and deprotonation with LiⁿBu is described. Treatment of PdI₂ and PtCl₂ with THF solutions of BIS^R (1:2) leads to the first neutral homoleptic tetracarbene complexes of these metals 5–9, which are highly soluble in organic media. According to the X-ray structure analyses of 5, 6 and 9, the bischelates adopt centrosymmetric trans double-boat conformations exhibiting the usual stereochemical features. Neutral heteroleptic dicarbene–phosphine complexes of palladium and platinum of the general formula [M(BIS^R)(I)(PEt₃)] (14–19) result in good yields from the reaction of BIS^R with [M(μ-Cl)Cl(PEt₃)]₂ (2:1). From X-ray structure determinations of 15, 16 and 18 two findings should be emphasized: the heavy out-of-plane bending of the boat-shaped chelate ring (which is the cause of chirality of these complexes), and the existence of two rather different M to carbene carbon bond lengths (indicating the stronger trans influence of PEt₃ as compared to I⁻). With Au(Cl)(PPh₃), instead of forming small chelate rings, the bidentate ligands BIS^R switch to a μ₂-η¹:η¹-bridging ligand type of function giving rise to the compounds 10–12. An X-ray study of 11 reveals the structure of a 12-membered dimetallacycle in a twisted boat-like conformation with a trans-annular Au⋯Au separation of 3.3610(7) Å, i.e. only a weak interaction. In addition, two by-products — the three-coordinate iodobis(triphenylphosphine)gold(I) (13) and trans-diiodobis(triethylphosphine)palladium(II) (20) — have been structurally characterized.