One-electron reduction characteristics of N(3)-substituted 5-fluorodeoxyuridines synthesized as radiation-activated prodrugs

We designed and synthesized N(3)-substituted 5-fluorodeoxyuridines as radiation-activated prodrugs of the antitumor agent, 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (5-FdUrd). A series of 5-FdUrd derivatives possessing a 2-oxoalkyl group at the N(3)-position released 5-FdUrd in good yield via one-electron reduction initiated by hypoxic irradiation. Cytotoxicity of the 5-FdUrd derivative possessing the 2-oxocyclopentyl group (3d) was low, but was enhanced by hypoxic irradiation resulting in 5-FdUrd release.     

Pt(IV) complexes as prodrugs for cisplatin

The antitumor effects of platinum(IV) complexes, considered prodrugs for cisplatin, are believed to be due to biological reduction of Pt(IV) to Pt(II), with the reduction products binding to DNA and other cellular targets. In this work we used pBR322 DNA to capture the products of reduction of oxoplatin, c,t,c-[PtCl₂(OH)₂(NH₃)₂], 3, and a carboxylate-modified analog, c,t,c-[PtCl₂(OH)(O₂CCH₂CH₂CO₂H)(NH₃)₂], 4, by ascorbic acid (AsA) or glutathione (GSH). Since carbonate plays a significant role in the speciation of platinum complexes in solution, we also investigated the effects of carbonate on the reduction/DNA-binding process. In pH 7.4 buffer in the absence of carbonate, both 3 and 4 are reduced by AsA to cisplatin (confirmed using ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR), which binds to and unwinds closed circular DNA in a manner consistent with the formation of the well-known 1, 2 intrastrand DNA crosslink. However, when GSH is used as the reducing agent for 3 and 4, ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR shows that cisplatin is not produced in the reaction medium. Although the Pt(II) products bind to closed circular DNA, their effect on the mobility of Form I DNA is different from that produced by cisplatin. When physiological carbonate is present in the reduction medium, ¹³C NMR shows that Pt(II) carbonato complexes form which block or impede platinum binding to DNA. The results of the study vis-à-vis the ability of the Pt(IV) complexes to act as prodrugs for cisplatin are discussed.     

Synthesis, characterization and biological activities of mononuclear Co(III) complexes as potential bioreductively activated prodrugs

Aiming to investigate the use of tridentate ligands to develop new bireductively activated prodrugs, two N₂O-donor ligands (HL1: [(2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-(imidazol-2-yl)ethyl)]amine; and HL2: [(2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-(pyridil-2-yl)ethyl]amine) were used to synthesize new Co(III) complexes, 1 and 2. Both complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry, electrochemistry, IR, UV-visible and ¹H NMR spectroscopies. Electrochemical data in methanol revealed that the Co(III) → Co(II) reduction of 1 (−0.84 V vs. normal hydrogen electrode - NHE) is more positive than 2 (−1.13 V vs. NHE), while it was expected to be more negative due to better σ-donor ability of imidazole ring in HL1, compared to pyridine in HL2. Considering that reduction processes on Co(III) center may involve the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), it might play an important role on the electronic properties of the complexes, and could explain the observed redox potentials. Then, geometry optimizations of 1 and 2 were performed using the density functional theory (DFT), and different group participation in their LUMO is demonstrated. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells as eukaryotic model, it is shown that in situ generated reduced species, 1_red and 2_red, have high capacity to inhibit cellular growth, with IC50 (0.50 mM for both complexes) lower than cisplatin IC50 (0.6 mM) at the same time of exposure. Regarding to their ability to promote S. cerevisiae cells death, after 24 h, cells became susceptible only when exposed to 1_red and 2_red: (i) at concentrations higher than 0.5 mM in a non-dose dependence, and (ii) in anaerobic metabolism. These data reveal the potential of 1 and 2 as bioreductively activated prodrugs, since their oxidized forms do not present expressive activities when compared to their reduced forms.     

8-Quinolinolato complexes of ruthenium(II) and (III)

Reduction of RuQ₃ (1a, Q = 8-quinolinolato) with Zn/Hg in the presence of various π-acceptor ligands in ethanol affords RuQ₂L₂ (L₂ = (dimethylsulfoxide)₂ (2); (4-picoline)₂ (3); N,N′-dimethyl-1,4-diazabuta-1,3-diene, dab (4); cyclooctadiene, COD (5); norborna-2,5-diene, nbd (6)). Compound 6 is isolated as an equimolar mixture of cis,trans (6a) and trans,cis (6b) isomers, which can be separated by column chromatography. DFT calculations have been performed on 6a and 6b. Oxidation of 3 and 6b affords the corresponding ruthenium(III) species 7 and 8, respectively. The structures of 2, 3, 4 and 6 have been determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Chiral metal complexes. 25. Cobalt(III) complexes of some linear mesomeric tetramine ligands

The complexes of Λ-α-[Co(R,S-picbn)Cl₂] ClO₄ (where R,S-picbn is 3R,4S-dimethyl-1,6-di(2-pyridyl)-2,5-diazahexane) together with its Δ-Λ-α and Δ,Λ-β exo congeners,Δ-Λ-β-exo-[Co(picchmn)Cl₂] ClO₄ (where picchmn is N,N'-di(2-picolyl)-1R, 2S-diaminocyclohexane) as well as Δ,Λ-β-endo-[Co(R,S-picstien)Cl₂] ClO₄·2H₂O, [Co(R,S-picstien)(ox)] ClO₄·0.5H₂O and [Co(R,S-picstien)(mal)] ClO₄·3H₂O (where picstien is 3R,4S-diphenyl-1,6-di(2-pyridyl)-2,5-diazahexane, ox is the oxalate dianion and mal is the malonate dianion) have been synthesised. The nature of the compounds was determined using a combination of ¹H NMR and, for certain chiral species, chiroptical techniques. In the various β complexes, the tetradentate is observed to adopt either the exo or endo geometry, specifically. Factors which influence coordination geometry include steric interactions and hydrophobic bonding effects.A number of chemical transformations between dinitro and dichloro complexes of Co(III) with R,S- picbn have been examined, as has the reaction of Δ,Λ-β-exo-[Co(R,S-picbn)Cl₂]⁺ with S-alanine in aqueous solution. The resulting product mixture contains eight of the sixteen possible β diastereoisomers, of which three have been isolated and characterised. The eight are composed of four β₁ and four β₂ isomers, however, and it is noted that isomerisation at the inplane amine nitrogen atom is restricted by the overall geometry of the complexes formed. Discriminatory forces in these complexes are small in magnitude, and exo/endo isomerisation is somewhat dependent upon the choice of ligand(s) used to complete the coordination sphere.     

Synthesis and structure of chloro(ligand)bis(diphenylglyoximato)cobalt(III) complexes

The synthesis and characterization of trans-chloro- (ligand)bis(diphenylglyoximato)cobalt(III) complexes [ligand = pyridine (py), α-, β-, or γ-picoline (α-pic, β-pic, γ-pic), 3,5-lutidine (lut), p-toluidine (p-tol) and PPh₃] is presented. X-ray crystal structure determination of the pyridine (1) and p-toluidine (6) derivatives has been carried out. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n, with Z = 4 and unit cell parameters a = 23.124(4), b = 13.009(3) and c = 11.204(3) Å, and β= 93.14(2)°. Compound 6 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n, with Z = 4 and unit cell parameters a = 18.792(3), b = 12.540(2) and c = 15.346(3) Å, and β = 97.54(2)°.     

Three new red neutral and ionic iridium(III) complexes based on the same main ligand and auxiliary ligand but with different counterions for solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes

Three new neutral and ionic phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes were successfully prepared using 1-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)isoquinoline as the main ligand, while the auxiliary ligand was 2-(2-1H-imidazolyl)pyridine. Three complexes (Ir1, Ir2, Ir3) showed red emission, peaking at 610, 609, and 615 nm, respectively, and they exhibited good solubility and excellent photophysical properties in different solvents, which is suitable to prepare organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) by solution method. Among the three OLEDs prepared by iridium(III) complexes using the solution method, the device based on Ir2 possessed better electroluminescent properties, and its maximum brightness, current efficiency (CE), power efficiency (PE), and the maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) were 507.2 cd m⁻², 0.14 cd A⁻¹, 0.06 lm W⁻¹, and 0.14%. respectively, proving that the three complexes have a certain of potential for OLEDs applications and are expected to expand the applications of iridium(III) complexes for OLEDs.     

DNA photocleavage activity of cobalt(III) polypyridyl complexes containing dpq ligand

Four cobalt(III) polypyridyl complexes, [Co(phen)_3−n(dpq)_n]³⁺ (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, dpq = dipyrido[3,2-f:2′,3′-h]-quinoxaline) (n = 0, 1, 2, and 3) were synthesized and the influences of the dpq ligand on the photophysical properties, electrochemical properties, DNA binding affinities, as well as photonuclease activities of the complexes, were examined in detail. The presence of dpq ligand increases the DNA binding affinities of the corresponding complexes remarkably with respect to [Co(phen)₃]³⁺. With the sequential substitution of phen ligand by dpq ligand, the ¹O₂ quantum yields of the corresponding complexes are enhanced greatly. As a result, the photonuclease activities follow the order of [Co(dpq)₃]³⁺ > [Co(phen)(dpq)₂]³⁺ > [Co(phen)₂(dpq)]³⁺ ? [Co(phen)₃]³⁺. It was found all the examined complexes can generate OH upon UV irradiation, and OH is also involved in DNA photocleavage as reactive oxygen species.     

Towards bioreductively activated prodrugs: Fe(III) complexes of hydroxamic acids and the MMP inhibitor marimastat

Fe(III)-salen (N,N-bis(salicylidene)-ethane-1,2-diimine) complexes of simple hydroxamic acids and the MMP (matrix metalloproteinase) inhibitor marimastat have been evaluated as hypoxia activated drug carriers. The aceto- (aha), propion- (pha), benzohydroxamato (bha), and marimastat complexes were prepared and characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction and electrochemical analysis. The hydroxamato ligands form a bidentate chelate to Fe(III) with the remaining octahedral coordination sites occupied by the tetradentate salen ligand. Bonding of the hydroxamato ligands is in the typical motif of the majority of Fe(III) complexes in the literature. The reduction potentials of the complexes are of the order of -1300 mV (vs ferrocene/ferrocenium) and show partial reversibility in the re-oxidation waveforms of the cyclic voltammetry scans. This suggests that the Fe-salen carrier system would provide a suitably redox inert framework yet would release the ligands at hypoxic tumour sites upon reduction to the more labile Fe(II) oxidation state. Furthermore, biological testing of the marimastat complex established that these carriers are stable in non-reducing biological environments and would serve to deliver MMP inhibitors to tumour sites intact.     

Structural and magnetic properties of Ln(III) complexes with diimines and crotonato as a bridging ligand

Five new lanthanide complexes displaying crotonato bridges have been prepared: [Gd₂(crot)₆(H₂O)₄] · 4(bpa) (1); [Ho₂(crot)₇]_n · (Hbpa) (2); [Gd₂(crot)₆(bipy)₂] (3); [Ho₂(crot)₆(bipy)₂] (4) and [Nd₂(crot)₆(H₂O)₃]_n (5), where bipy=2,2^′-bipyridine; bpa=di(2-pyridyl)amine; crot=crotonato. The compounds were characterized by magnetic susceptibility measurements and their crystal structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. These studies showed complexes 1, 3 and 4 to be dimers while structures 2 and 5 are polymeric in nature.     

Synthesis and structural determination of new octaethylporphyrin iron(III) complexes containing cyanamide derivatives as axial ligand

The reactions of heme, [OEPFeCl] where OEP is the dianion of octaethylporphyrin, with phenylcyanamide (pcyd) ligands have been studied. Four new porphyrin complexes, [OEPFe(L)] (L = pcyd (2), 2-Clpcyd (3), 2-Mepcyd (4), 2,4-Me₂pcyd (5)), have been isolated and characterized by spectroscopic methods. ¹H NMR spectroscopy reveals that the species [OEPFe(L)] are paramagnetic and iron is five-coordinate. The structure of [OEPFe(pcyd)] (2) has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The four Fe-N, bond distances have average values of 2.062 Å. The average displacement of the iron(III) atom from the mean porphinato core is 0.45 Å. Electrochemical of [OEPFe(L)] (L = pcyd (2), 2-Clpcyd (3), 2-Mepcyd (4), 2,4-Me₂pcyd (5)) have been studied by cyclic voltammetry.     

Remarkable chiral and luminescent properties of novel Yb(III) and Eu(III) complexes containing BINAPO ligand

Lanthanide complexes are of great importance for their prospective applications in wide range of science and technology. Chiral lanthanide complexes can constitute stereo-discriminating probes in biological media, owing to the luminescent properties of the rare-earth ions. Sensitized emission with narrow bandwidth, having fast radiation rate and high emission quantum efficiency are the main perspective for synthesizing the complexes. Attention has been given on remarkable chirality with high dissymmetry factors (g = Δε_ext/ε_max) of the complexes. For this purpose, beta-diketonato ligands with chiral BINAPO (1,1′-binapthyl phosphine oxide) ligand were chosen to achieve the goal. The complexes [Ln(TFN)₃(S-BINAPO)](TFN = 4,4,4-trifluoro-1(2-napthyl)-1,3-butanedione), [Ln(HFT)₃(S-BINAPO)] (HFT = 4,4,5,5,6,6,6-heptafluoro-1-(2-thienyl)-1,3-hexanedione) and [Ln(HFA)₃(S-BINAPO)](hfa = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) (where Ln = Yb, Eu) were synthesized. The complex, [Eu(TFN)₃(S-BINAPO)] gives strong red emission at 615 nm with narrow emission band (<10 nm) when excited by 465 nm light with quantum efficiency 86%. The dissymmetry factors (g = Δε_ext/ε_max) corresponding to the ⁷F₁ → ⁵D₀ transition at 590 nm is 0.091 for [Eu(TFN)₃(S-BINAPO)] and for [Yb(hfa)₃(S-BINAPO)](hfa = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) corresponding to the ²F_7/2 → ²F_5/2 transitions is 0.12, are among the largest values for both Eu and Yb complexes to date, respectively. The Eu complexes, [Eu(HFT)₃(S-BINAPO)] and [Eu(TFN)₃(S-BINAPO)] are found to be spontaneously emissive, showing bright red emission, when placed in sunlight or even in the laboratory when light is switched on.     

Cobalt(III) complexes of some aromatic thiohydrazides - Synthesis, characterization and structure

[Co(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂ forms neutral 1:3 complex by reaction with aromatic thiohydrazides, i.e. thiobenzhydrazide, o-hydroxythiobenzhydrazide, thiophen-2-thiohydrazide and furan-2-thiohydrazide. All these complexes are diamagnetic and have been characterized by elemental analysis and combination of spectroscopic methods. Cyclic voltammometry of the complexes shows irreversible metal centered and ligand centered electron transfer reactions. One complex, tris-o-hydroxythiobenzhydrazidocobalt(III), has been crystallized from DMSO solution to produce solvated crystals and its structure has been established by X-ray crystallography. Cobalt(III) ion is linked through three hydrazinic nitrogen and three sulfur atoms of three identical deprotonated ligand molecules in a distorted octahedral environment. Involvement of -OH group in intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonding is crucial for crystal formation.     

Cobalt(III)-promoted hydrolysis of atp

The rate of phosphate hydrolysis of ATP in the substitution-inert complex Co(NH₃)₄ATP-has been examined in the presence and absence of [Co(cyclen)(H₂O)₂]³⁺. The rate of hydrolysis of Co(NH₃)₄ATP- in the absence of [Co(cyclen)(H₂O)₂]³⁺ is essentially independent of pH in the range 6.0 to 9.0, and the rate constant is 2.6 × 10^?5 sec ^?1 at pH 9.0, 40°C, and 1.0 M ionic strength Rate constants for the hydrolysis of Co(NH₃)₄ATP- in the presence of [Co(cyclen)(H₂O)₂]³⁺ are sharply dependent upon pH in the same range. The rate constants at pH 8.0, 8.6, and 9.0 are 8, 63, and 95 times larger than the rate constant at pH 7.0. At pH 9 the rate constant is 1.2 × 10^?3 sec^?1 for 16 mM Co(NH₃)₄ATP- in the presence of 10 mM [Co(cyclen)(H₂O)₂]³⁺. The proposed mechanism for hydrolysis involves the coordination of a phosphate group of Co(NH₃)₄ATP- by [Co(cyclen)(H₂O)₂]³⁺ to form a dinuclear species, followed by internal attack of coordinated hydroxide on the phosphate chain.     

Synthesis and electrochemistry of Co(III) and Co(I) complexes having C5Me5 auxiliary

The synthesis and electrochemistry of half-sandwich type of Co(III) complexes [(C(5)Me(5))Co(bidentate)(CH(3)CN)](BF(4))(2) {bidentate=dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane), dppp (1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane), bpy (2,2'-bipyridine), en (ethylenediamine)) are reported. Cyclic voltammograms of [(C(5)Me(5))Co(bidentate)(CH(3)CN)](BF(4))(2) in CH(3)CN s showed two redox couples assignable to Co(II)/Co(III) and Co(I)/Co(II). The Co(I) complex having C(5)Me(5) and dppe was also prepared. Two redox couples of this Co(I) complex, (C(5)Me(5))Co(dppe), in CH(3)CN coincided with those of [(C(5)Me(5))Co(dppe)(CH(3)CN)](BF(4))(2) in spite of the structural change around the metal center.     

Rhodium(III) and iridium(III) complexes with 1,2-naphthoquinone-1-oximate as a bidentate ligand: synthesis,structure, and biological activity

The synthesis and characterization of three novel iridium(III) complexes and one rhodium(III) complex with 1-nitroso-2-naphthol (3) chelating as a 1,2-naphthoquinone-1-oximato ligand are described. The reaction of μ₂-halogenido-bridged dimers [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrX₂]₂ [X is Cl (1a), Br (1b), I (1c)] and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl₂]₂ (2a) with 3 in CH₂Cl₂ yields the mononuclear complexes (η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrX(η²-C₁₀H₆N₂O) (4a, 4b, 4c) and (η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(η²-C₁₀H₆N₂O) (5a). All compounds were characterized by their ¹H and ¹³C NMR, IR, and mass spectra, UV/vis spectra were recorded for 4a and 5a. The X-ray structure analyses revealed a pseudo-octahedral “piano-stool” configuration for the metals with bidentate coordination through oximato-N and naphthoquinone-O, forming a nearly planar five-membered metallacycle. The metal complexes 4a and 5a were evaluated in respect to their cytotoxicity and binding affinity toward double-stranded DNA. As determined in the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, both exerted a much stronger cytotoxic effect toward HeLa and HL60 cancer cell lines than did cisplatin. The remarkable cytotoxicity of the compounds tested may be attributed to necrosis, rather than to apoptosis, as it is evidenced by the caspase-3/7 activation assay. No clear evidence was found for interaction with double-stranded DNA. The melting experiments showed no significant differences between thermodynamic parameters of intact DNA and DNA incubated with 3, 4a, or 5a, although these derivatives altered DNA recognition by the BamHI restriction enzyme. Therefore, the screened iridium and rhodium complexes 4a and 5a may still be interesting as potential anticancer drugs owing to their high cytotoxicity toward cancer cell lines, whereas they do not modify DNA in a way similar to that of cisplatin.     

Biological and cytoselective anticancer properties of copper(II)-polypyridyl complexes modulated by auxiliary methylated glycine ligand

A series of ternary copper(II)-1,10-phenanthroline complexes with glycine and methylated glycine derivatives, [Cu(phen)(aa)(H(2)O)]NO(3)·xH(2)O 1-4 (amino acid (aa): glycine (gly), 1; DL: -alanine (DL: -ala), 2; 2,2-dimethylglycine (C-dmg), 3; sarcosine (sar), 4), were synthesized and characterized by FTIR, elemental analysis, electrospray ionization-mass spectra (ESI-MS), UV-visible spectroscopy and molar conductivity measurement. The determined X-ray crystallographic structures of 2 and 3 show each to consist of distorted square pyramidal [Cu(phen)(aa)(H(2)O)](+) cation, a nitrate counter anion, and with or without lattice water, similar to previously reported structure of [Cu(phen)(gly)(H(2)O)]NO(3)·1?H(2)O. It is found that 1-4 exist as 1:1 electrolytes in aqueous solution, and the cationic copper(II) complexes are at least stable up to 24?h. Positive-ion ESI-MS spectra show existence of only undissociated [Cu(phen)(aa)](+) species. Electron paramagnetic resonance, gel electrophoresis, fluorescence quenching, and restriction enzyme inhibition assay were used to study the binding interaction, binding affinity and selectivity of these complexes for various types of B-form DNA duplexes and G-quadruplex. All complexes can bind selectively to DNA by intercalation and electrostatic forces, and inhibit topoisomerase I. The effect of the methyl substituents of the coordinated amino acid in the above complexes on these biological properties are presented and discussed. The IC(50) values (24?h) of 1-4 for nasopharyngeal cancer cell line HK1 are in the range 2.2-5.2?μM while the corresponding values for normal cell line NP69 are greater than 13.0?μM. All complexes, at 5?μM, induced 41-60?% apoptotic cell death in HK1 cells but no significant cell death in NP69 cells.     

Structure and NIR luminescence of lanthanide(III) complexes with an organic tridentate ligand

Some lanthanide (Ln) complexes (Ln = Er, Nd, Yb) with an organic ligand, 6-diphenylamine carbonyl 2-pyridine carboxylic acid (HDPAP), have been synthesized. The crystal structure and near infrared luminescence of these complexes (Er-DPAP, Nd-DPAP and Yb-DPAP) have been investigated. The results showed that the lanthanide complexes have electroneutral structures and the near infrared (NIR) emission exhibits characteristic narrow emission of the lanthanide ions. The energy transfer mechanisms in the lanthanide complexes were discussed.