Synthesis, spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization of water soluble [(η-C5H5)2Mo(thionucleobase/thionucleoside)]Cl2 complexes

A series of water soluble molybdenocene complexes of general formula [(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Mo(L)]Cl₂ (L=6-mercaptopurine (2), 6-mercaptopurine ribose (3), 2-amino-6-mercaptopurine (4), 2-amino-6-mercaptopurine ribose (5)) have been prepared by reacting Cp₂MoCl₂ (1) with the corresponding thionucleobase/thionucleoside in a (2:1) THF/MeOH solvent mixture. The complexes have been characterized by spectroscopic methods (NMR, UV-Vis, IR and MS). ¹H NMR spectroscopic data (DMSO-d₆) on the complexes suggest a S-Mo-N(7) coordination by the thionucleobase/thionucleoside. In buffer solution NMR data suggest that the thionucleobase/thionucleoside remains coordinated to molybdenum probably through S(6) and assisted by either N(7) or N(1) atoms. Intermediate species such as [Cp₂Mo(η¹-L)(H₂O)]^2+/1+ where the L is acting as monodentate ligand are possible in solution. Electrochemical characterization has also been pursued by cyclic voltammetry in DMSO and buffer solution. In DMSO, the complexes including the molybdenocene dichloride exhibit reversible redox behavior. On the other hand, in buffer solution, the oxidation process is irreversible for all the species.     

Structure–activity studies of Ti(IV) complexes: aqueous stability and cytotoxic properties in colon cancer HT-29 cells

As part of our research efforts in the area of titanium-based antitumor agents, we have investigated the cytotoxic activity of [Ti(4)(maltolato)(8)(mu-O)(4)], (Cp-R)(2)TiCl(2) and (Cp-R)CpTiCl(2) (R = CO(2)CH(3) and CO(2)CH(2)CH(3)), and three water-soluble titanocene-amino acid complexes-[Cp(2)Ti(aa)(2)]Cl(2) (aa = L: -cysteine, L: -methionine, and D: -penicillamine)-on the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, HT-29. The capacity of [Ti(4)(maltolato)(8)(mu-O)(4)] to donate Ti(IV) to human apo-transferrin and its hydrolytic stability have been investigated and compared to the previously reported data on modified titanocenes with either hydrophilic ancillary ligands or the functionalized cyclopentadienyl ligands. Notably, the titanium-maltolato complex does not transfer Ti(VI) to human apo-transferrin at any time within the first seven days of its interaction, demonstrating the inert character of this species. Stability studies on these complexes have shown that titanocene complexes decompose at physiological pH while the [Ti(4)(maltolato)(8)(mu-O)(4)] complex is stable at this pH without any notable decomposition for a period of ten days. The antitumor activity of these complexes against colon cancer HT-29 cells was determined using an MTT cell viability assay at 72 and 96 h. The titanocene-amino acid and the (Cp-R)(2)TiCl(2)/(Cp-R)CpTiCl(2) (R = CO(2)CH(3)) complexes were not biologically active when human transferrin was absent; they also were inactive when human transferrin was present at dose-equivalent concentrations. (Cp-R)(2)TiCl(2) and (Cp-R)CpTiCl(2) (R = CO(2)CH(2)CH(3)) showed cytotoxic activity in HT-29 cells comparable to that which is displayed by titanocene dichloride. The titanium-maltolato complex had higher levels of cytotoxic activity than any other titanocene complex investigated. Transferrin may be important in protecting the titanium center from hydrolysis, but this may be achieved by selecting ligands that could result in hydrolytically stable, yet active, complexes.     

Aqueous Speciation of ansa- and non-ansa- Substituted [Cp2Mo(μ-OH)]2[OTs]2

Titration curves were measured for three molybdocene dimers, [Cp₂Mo(μ-OH)]₂[OTs]₂ (4), [Mo(μ-OH)]₂[OTs]₂ (4′; Cp′ = C₅H₄CH₃), and ansa-[C₂Me₄Cp₂Mo(μ-OH)]₂[OTs]₂ (4^a), and for two monomeric molybdocene complexes, Cp₂MoO (6) and Cp₂MoCl₂ (1). The titration curves for 4, 6, and 1 were identical and showed three equivalence points each. The titration curve for 4′ was also similar in appearance but the equivalence points were shifted higher by ∼0.3, as expected for the more electron-rich Mo center in this molecule. The titration curve for the ansa-[C₂Me₄Cp₂Mo(μ-OH)]₂[OTs]₂ complex showed only two equivalence points. Two of the equivalence points observed in the titration of 4, 6, and 1 were previously reported in potentiometric measurements of aqueous solutions of Cp₂MoCl₂ and were attributed to the Cp₂Mo(OH₂)²⁺ species (pK_a = 5.5 ± 0.1 and 8.3 ± 0.2). The third equivalence point (pK_a = 2.2 ± 0.2) is assigned to protonation/deprotonation of the [Cp₂Mo(μ-OH)]₂[OTs]₂/[Cp₂Mo(μ-OH₂)(μ-OH)MoCp₂]³⁺ dimer. A new equilibrium scheme is proposed for the aquated molybdocenes to provide a more complete picture of the aqueous speciation of the non-ansa molybdocene complexes, specifically by accounting for the third acidic proton in the titration curves and by describing the hydrolysis of Cp₂MoO. Although the titration curve of the ansa-[C₂Me₄Cp₂Mo(μ-OH)]₂[OTs]₂ complex is different from that of [Cp₂Mo(μ-OH)]₂[OTs]₂, ¹H NMR data suggest that the aqueous speciation of the ansa-[C₂Me₄Cp₂Mo(μ-OH)]₂[OTs]₂ complex is analogous to that of the non-ansa molybdocenes.     

Antitumor activity of bent metallocenes: electronic structure analysis using DFT computations

The antitumor activities of bent metallocenes [Cp–M–Cp]²⁺ (M = Ti, V, Nb, Mo) and complexes of them with guanine, adenine, thymine and cytosine nucleotides have been probed using electronic structure calculations. DFT/BP86 calculations have revealed that the bent metallocene–nucleotide interaction strongly depends on the stability of the hydrolyzed form of the bent metallocene dichloride [Cp₂M]²⁺ species, and in turn the stability of the [Cp₂M]²⁺ species strongly depends on the electronic structure of [Cp₂M]²⁺. Detailed electronic structure and Walsh energy analyses have been carried out for the hydrolyzed forms of four [Cp–M–Cp]²⁺ (M = Ti, V, Nb, Mo) species to find out why the bent structure is unusually stable. Energy changes that occur during the bending process in frontier molecular orbitals as well as the p(π)–d(π) overlap have been invoked to account for the anticipated antitumor activities of these species. The bonding situation and the interactions in bent metallocene–nucleotide adducts were elucidated by fragment analysis. Of the four nucleotides complexed with the four bent metallocenes, adenine and guanine show better binding abilities than the other two nucleotides. Metallocenes of second-row transition metals exhibit better binding with pyrimidine-base nucleotides. In particular, the Lewis acidic bent metallocenes interact strongly with nucleotides. The antitumor activity is directly related to the binding strength of the bent metallocene with nucleotide adducts, and the computed interaction energy values correlate very well with the experimentally observed antitumor activities.     

Interactions of molybdocene dichloride with histidine- and methionine-containing peptides

The reaction behavior of the antitumor active metallocene dihalide Cp₂MoCl₂ (Cp = η⁵-cyclopentadienyl) towards AcHis, AcHis(1-Me), AcHis(3-Me), His-Gly, AcHis-Gly-His, AcMet, Gly-Met-Gly and cyclo-Met-Met has been studied in solution at 2.5 ? pD ? 7.4 by using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The histidine-containing substrates were found to bind the Cp₂Mo²⁺ unit through the terminal carboxylate group or through the N1 nitrogen of the imidazole ring, depending on the pD value. At physiological pH, coordination takes place exclusively at the imidazole ring with the percentage of Cp₂Mo²⁺-His adducts in 1:1 mixtures being about 70%. By contrast, the thioether group in the side chain of methionine has a very low affinity for the Cp₂Mo²⁺ group. Monodentate S-coordination could not be detected. For AcMet, binding through the carboxylate group was observed as the only coordination mode, while in the case of Gly-Met-Gly Mo-S interaction occurs in combination with carboxylate coordination leading to a S,O-macrochelate in low yield. Coordination to methionine peptides only takes place at pD ? 6, while at physiological pH interactions with the weak donor sites are not observed due to predominating dimerization of [Cp₂Mo(H₂O)(OH)]⁺ to [Cp₂Mo(μ-OH)₂MoCp₂]²⁺. At c(Cl⁻) = 100 mM competitive Cl⁻ coordination reduces the amount of carboxylate and S,O-coordination significantly, while imidazole coordination is not affected.     

Interactions of dichloro-bis(η5-cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) with nucleosides

The interactions of dichloro-bis(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) (titanocene dichloride, Cp₂TiCl₂) with nucleosides have been studied in methanolic solutions. Complexes of the general formula [Cp₂Ti(Nucl)MeOH]Cl₂ were isolated. The nucleoside complexes with one N(1)H ionizable imino proton (i.e. inosine and guanosine) undergo ionization in alkaline solution and complexes of the formula [Cp₂Ti(NuclH⁺)] Cl were isolated. All complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses and various spectroscopic techniques. In the first series of complexes, [Cp₂Ti(Nucl)MeOH]Cl₂, the nucleosides act as monodentate ligands with an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the coordinated methanol and the C6O group, while in the second, [Cp₂Ti(NuclH⁺)] Cl, they coordinate through both their N7 and O6 atoms.     

Benzothiazole bipyridine complexes of ruthenium(II) with cytotoxic activity

A series of benzothiazole-substituted trisbipyridine ruthenium(II) analogues {[Ru(bpy)₂(4,5′-bbtb)]²⁺, [Ru(bpy)₂(5,5′-bbtb)]²⁺ and [Ru(bpy)₂(5-mbtb)]²⁺ [bpy is 2,2′-bipyridine, bbtb is bis(benzothiazol-2-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine, 5-mbtb is 5-(benzothiazol-2-yl),5′-methyl-2,2′-bipyridine]} have been prepared and compared with the complex [Ru(bpy)₂(4,4′-bbtb)]²⁺ reported previously. From the UV–vis spectral studies, substitution at the 5-position of the bpy causes the ligand-centred transitions to occur at considerably lower energy than for those with the functionality at the 4-position, while at the same time causing the emission to be effectively quenched. However, substitution at the 4-position causes the metal-to-ligand charge transfer to occur at lower energies. Fluorescent intercalator displacement studies indicate that the doubly substituted complexes displace ethidium bromide from a range of oligonucleotides, with the greater preference shown for bulge and hairpin sequences by the Λ enantiomer. Since the complexes only show small variation in the UV–vis spectra on the introduction of calf thymus DNA and a small increase in fluorescence they do not appear to be intercalators, but appear to associate within one of the grooves. All of the reported bisbenzothiazole complexes show reasonable cytotoxicity against a range of human cancer cell lines. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Hydride transfer from transition metal hydrides to dihapto acyl ligands

The dihapto acyl ligand in Cp₂Zr[C(O)R]X, (R = Me, Ph; X = Me, Cl) is subject to hydrogen transfer from Cp₂MH₂ (M = Mo, W), Cp₂ReH and CpReH₄(PMe₂Ph). The initial products are bimetallic dimers of the type Cp₂XZrOCH(R)ML_n. The fate of this bimetallic species is highly dependent upon the Group VIB metal when Cp₂MH₂ is the hydride source. For M = Mo, a second hydrogen migrates to the acyl carbon, yielding Cp₂Zr(OEt)Me and products derived from Cp₂Mo. For M = W, CO bond scission occurs with retention of the WC bond, to yield the carbene complexes Cp₂WC(C)R along with various oxyzirconium products. Filled d orbitals are not necessary on the hydride source; Cp₂NbH₃ also readily reduces the acyl in Cp₂Zr[C(O)Me]Me.     

Synthesis, Solution and Solid State Structure of Titanium-Maltol Complex

The reaction of Cp₂TiCl₂ with two equivalents of maltol (3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone) in water, at room temperature and pH of 5.4, leads to a complete replacement of Cp and chloride ligands affording, Ti(maltolato)₂(OH)₂. The complex has been characterized by IR, NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopic and cyclic voltammetry methods. In DMSO-d₆ solution, the complex shows two isomers in a ratio of 4:1, in which one OH signal can be identified per isomer. This suggests that in solution the complex is monomeric, most likely a chiral cis-Ti(maltolato)₂(OH)₂ and trans-Ti(maltolato)₂(OH)₂. The monomeric nature of the complex (in water/methanol 1:1) was verified by ESI-MS spectroscopy, showing a parent peak at 329 m/z. Electrochemical behavior of Ti(maltolato)₂(OH)₂using cyclic voltammetry experiments showed the complex undergoes irreversible reduction in aprotic solvents. In D₂O solution, at pH of 8.4, the ¹H NMR spectrum of the complex shows a mixture of monomer and tetramer Ti(IV)-maltol complexes in a ratio of 1:1. The crystallization of Ti(maltolato)₂(OH)₂ at pH of 8.4 leads to the formation of [Ti₄(maltolato)₈(μ-O₄)] · 18H₂O. A single crystal of [Ti₄(maltolato)₈(μ-O₄)] · 18H₂O was analyzed by X-ray diffraction methods. Solid state structure determination of the Ti-maltol complex showed to be tetrameric, containing two bridging oxides (in cis position) and two bidentate maltol ligands per titanium in a pseudo-octahedral coordination geometry.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of steroid-functionalized titanocenes as potential anticancer drugs: sex steroids as potential vectors for titanocenes

Six titanocenyls functionalized with steroidal esters have been synthesized and characterized by infrared, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Among those steroids, dehydroepiandrosterone, trans-androsterone, and androsterone are androgens and pregnenolone is a progesterone precursor. Clionasterol is a natural steroid compound. These steroid-functionalized titanocenyls were tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay for in vitro cytotoxicity for MCF-7 breast cancer and HT-29 colon cancer cells. All complexes exhibited more cytotoxicity than titanocene dichloride. The titanocenyls containing androgen and progesterone derivatives as pendant groups had higher antiproliferative activities than those with cholesterol steroid compounds. Of particular significance is titanocenyl–dehydroepiandrosterone complex, which is 2 orders of magnitude more cytotoxic than titanocene dichloride and also shows much more sensitivity and selectivity for the MCF-7 cell line.     

The Amide Route in Imine Metathesis with Imidomolybdenum Catalysts: A Model DFT Study

Gradient-corrected density-functional computations (BP86/ECP1 level) confirm the viability of the recently proposed reaction pathway for imine metathesis with imidomolybdenum(VI) species [Mo(NR)₂L_x] (e.g., L_x = Cl₂, DME; R = tBu). In addition to a Chauvin-type [2+2] addition-elimination mechanism, model calculations for the [MoCl₂(NH)₂] + NH₃ + CH₂NH system corroborate the suspected involvement of amido intermediates such as [MoCl₂(NH)(NH₂)₂] and . Several catalytic cycles are characterised that differ in the stereochemistry of the ligands about Mo. The lowest computed rate-determining barriers are only a few kcal mol^-1 higher than that obtained for the Chauvin-type mechanism in the [MoCl₂(NH)₂] + CH₂NH system via , provided the necessary H-atom transfers are catalysed efficiently by traces of base.Electronic Supplementary Material available.     

Crystal structure,DNA binding studies,nucleolytic property and topoisomerase I inhibition of zinc complex with 1,10-phenanthroline and 3-methyl-picolinic acid

Crystal structure analysis of the zinc complex establishes it as a distorted octahedral complex, bis(3-methylpicolinato-κ² N,O)₂(1,10-phenanthroline-κ² N,N)-zinc(II) pentahydrate, [Zn(3-Me-pic)₂(phen)]·5H₂O. The trans-configuration of carbonyl oxygen atoms of the carboxylate moieties and orientation of the two planar picolinate ligands above and before the phen ligand plane seems to confer DNA sequence recognition to the complex. It cannot cleave DNA under hydrolytic condition but can slightly be activated by hydrogen peroxide or sodium ascorbate. Circular Dichroism and Fluorescence spectroscopic analysis of its interaction with various duplex polynucleotides reveals its binding mode as mainly intercalation. It shows distinct DNA sequence binding selectivity and the order of decreasing selectivity is ATAT > AATT > CGCG. Docking studies lead to the same conclusion on this sequence selectivity. It binds strongly with G-quadruplex with human tolemeric sequence 5′-AG₃(T₂AG₃)₃-3′, can inhibit topoisomerase I efficiently and is cytotoxic against MCF-7 cell line.     

Highly cytotoxic substitutionally inert rhodium(III) tris(chelate) complexes: DNA binding modes and biological impact on human cancer cells

The antiproliferative properties and cellular impact of novel substitutionally inert rhodium(III) complexes of the types [Rh{(CH₃)₂ NCS₂}₂(pp)]Cl 3-5 (pp = 5,6-Me₂phen, dpq, dppz) and OC-6-23-[Rh(2-S-py)₂(pp)]Cl 6 and 7 (2-S-py = pyridine-2-thiolate; pp = dpq, dppz) have been investigated for the adherent human cancer cell lines MCF-7 and HT-29 and for non-adherent Jurkat cells. Whereas CD and viscosity measurements indicate that the polypyridyl ligands of 4 and 5 intercalate into CT DNA, this is not the case for the analogous pyridine-2-thiolate complexes 6 and 7. Complexes 3-7 all exhibit a high antiproliferative activity towards MCF-7 and HT-29 cells, with IC₅₀ values in the range 0.055-0.285 μM. As established by online monitoring with a cell-based sensor chip, the highly cytostatic complex 6 (IC₅₀ = 0.059 and 0.078 μM) invokes an immediate concentration-dependent reduction of MCF-7 cell respiration and a time-delayed decrease in cellular impedance, which can be ascribed to the induction of cell death. Annexin V/PI assays demonstrated that 6 also has a pronounced antiproliferative activity towards Jurkat cells and that it invokes extensive apoptosis and high concentrations of reactive oxygen species in these leukemia cells. The observation of a dose-dependent inhibition of the oxygen consumption of isolated mice mitochondria indicates the involvement of an intrinsic mitochondrial pathway in this process.     

Synthesis,antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activity of 2-phenylindoles

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide after lung cancer with the vast majority of early stage breast cancers being hormone-dependent. One of the major therapeutic advances in the clinical treatment of breast cancer has been the introduction of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). We describe the design and synthesis of novel SERM type ligands based on the 2-arylindole scaffold to selectively target the estrogen receptor in hormone dependent breast cancers. Some of these novel compounds are designed as bisindole type structures, while others are conjugated to a cytotoxic agent based on combretastatin A4 (CA4) which is a potent inhibitor of tubulin polymerisation. The indole compounds synthesised within this project such as 31 and 86 demonstrate estrogen receptor (ER) binding and strong antiproliferative activity in the ER positive MCF-7 breast cancer cell line with IC₅₀ values of 2.71 μM and 1.86 μM respectively. These active compounds induce apoptotic activity in MCF-7 cells with minimal effects on normal peripheral blood cells. Their strong anti-cancer effect is likely mediated by the presence of two ER binding ligands for 31 and an ER binding ligand combined with a cytotoxic agent for 86.     

Some new derivatives of organozirconium(IV) and organotitanium(IV) with thiophenecarboxylic acids

The complexes of the type Cp₂M(3-TC)Cl, Cp₂M(3-TC)₂, Cp₂M(3-TA)Cl, Cp₂M(3-TA)₂, Cp₂M(2-TB)Cl, Cp₂M(2-TB)₂ [where Cp = cyclopentadienyl, M = Zr or Ti] were synthesized by the reactions of dichlorobis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium(IV) and dichlorobis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) with 3-thiophenecarboxylic acid (3-TCH), 3-thiopheneacetic acid (3-TAH) and 2-thiophenebutyric acid (2-TBH) respectively in different stoichiometric ratios. The new complexes were characterized by their elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, IR, and electronic spectral data.     

A Review of the Antioxidant Mechanisms of Polyphenol Compounds Related to Iron Binding

In this review, primary attention is given to the antioxidant (and prooxidant) activity of polyphenols arising from their interactions with iron both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, an overview of oxidative stress and the Fenton reaction is provided, as well as a discussion of the chemistry of iron binding by catecholate, gallate, and semiquinone ligands along with their stability constants, UV–vis spectra, stoichiometries in solution as a function of pH, rates of iron oxidation by O₂ upon polyphenol binding, and the published crystal structures for iron–polyphenol complexes. Radical scavenging mechanisms of polyphenols unrelated to iron binding, their interactions with copper, and the prooxidant activity of iron–polyphenol complexes are briefly discussed.     

Equilibrium binding constants and facile dissociation of novel serum albumin-dicyanoaurate(I) complexes

 Dicyanoaurate(I), Au(CN)₂ ^–, an important metabolite of chrysotherapy agents (anti-arthritic gold drugs), contains two tightly bound cyanide ligands which render it relatively unreactive toward ligand exchange reactions with potential gold-binding ligands. The extent and nature of its binding to bovine serum albumin (BSA), which may modulare the in vivo activity of Au(CN)₂ ^–, were investigated to determine whether Au(CN)₂ ^– might be more bioavailable than other gold complexes. ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, radioisotope tracers, chromatography, ultrafiltration, and atomic spectroscopy, employing Au(¹³CN)₂ ^– or Au(¹⁴CN)₂ ^– as appropriate, revealed two distinct binding mechanisms. The dominant reaction is reversible association (non-specific binding) of intact Au(CN)₂ ^– ions to form BSA·[Au(CN)₂ ^–] _n adducts. Approximately one equivalent binds with an equilibrium binding constant (pH 7.4, 25  °C) of K ₁=5.5 (±1.1)×10⁴, and three additional equivalents bind with a constant of 7.0 (±0.1)×10³. Au(¹³CN)₂ ^– associated with albumin is characterized by a broad ¹³C NMR resonance at δ_C=154.7 ppm compared to the sharp resonance of the free complex at 156.4 ppm. The BSA·[Au(CN)₂ ^–] _n adducts readily dissociate during gel exclusion chromatography and are therefore underestimated, but are retained and accurately quantitated by ultrafiltration methods. The second binding mechanism is a ligand exchange reaction at Cys-34, to form AlbSAuCN, which accounts for only a small fraction (≤11%) of the bound gold. The small extent of the latter interaction differentiates Au(CN)₂ ^– from the gold drugs such as auranofin, aurothiomalate (Myochrysin) and aurothioglucose (Solganol), which undergo ligand exchange at Cys-34 of albumin to form tightly bound gold-protein complexes. The weak interaction at Cys-34 and the facile dissociation of bound, intact Au(CN)₂ ^– are consistent with its putative role as a gold metabolite that can be accumulated intracellularly. Received: 2 July 1997 / Accepted: 24 September 1997     

Tripeptides with C-Terminal Arginine as Potential Inhibitors of Urokinase

We synthesized and tested ten peptides with the molecular structure being H–d-Ser–AA–Arg–OH for their effect on the amidolytic activities against urokinase, thrombin, trypsin, plasmin, tissue plasminogen activator and kallikrein. The inserted amino acid in each peptide was either leucine, norleucine, izoleucine, valine, norvaline, α-metyloalanine, α-aminobutanoic acid, homoleucine, tert-leucine or neoglycine. H–d-Ser–NVal–Arg–OH (compound 4) was the most active inhibitor of urokinase plasminogen activator with a K_i value of 0.85 μM. Compound 4 showed cytotoxic effect against MDA-MB-231 and DLD cell lines, respectively, with IC₅₀ values of 25 and 19 μM. Synthesised compounds did not have activity against MCF-7 cancer cells. These peptides were nontoxic against pig’s erythrocytes in vitro.     

Mixed-ligand complexes of ruthenium(II) containing new photoactive or electroactive ligands: synthesis, spectral characterization and DNA interactions

Mixed-ligand ruthenium(II) complexes of three photoactive ligands, viz., (E)-1-[2-(4-methyl-2-pyridyl)-4-pyridyl]-2-(1-naphthyl)-1-ethene (mppne), (E)-1-(9-anthryl)-2-[2-(4-methyl-2-pyridyl)-4-pyridyl]-1-ethene (mppae) and (E)-1-[2-(4-methyl-2-pyridyl)-4-pyridyl]-2-(1-pyrenyl)-1-ethene (mpppe), in which a 2,2′-bipyridyl unit is linked via an ethylinic linkage to either a naphthalene, an anthracene or a pyrene chromophore and three electroactive ligands, viz., 4-(4-pyridyl)-1,2-benzenediol (catpy), 5,6-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline (catphen) and 1,2-benzenediol (cat), were synthesized in good to moderate yields. Complexes [Ru(bpy)₂(mppne)]²⁺ (bpy is 2, 2′–bipyridyl), [Ru(bpy)₂(mppae)]²⁺, [Ru(bpy)₂(mpppe)]²⁺, [Ru(bpy)₂(sq-py)]⁺, [Ru(bpy)₂(sq-phen)]⁺ and [Ru(phen)₂(bsq)]⁺ (phen is 1,10-phenanthroline) were fully characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR, fast-atom bombardment or electron-impact mass, UV–vis and cyclic voltammetric methods. In the latter three complexes, the ligands catpy, catphen and cat are actually bound to the metal center as the corresponding semiquinone species, viz., 4-(4-pyridyl)-1,2-benzenedioleto(+I) (sq-py), 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dioleto(+I) (sq-phen) and 1,2-benzenedioleto(+I) (bsq), thus making the overall charge of the complexes formally equal to + 1 in each case. These three complexes are electron paramagnetic resonance active and exhibit an intense absorption band between 941 and 958 nm owing to metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT, d _Ru→π*_sq) transitions. The other three ruthenium(II) complexes containing three photoactive ligands, mppne, mppae and mpppe, exhibit MLCT (d _Ru→π*_bpy ) bands in the 454–461-nm region and are diamagnetic. These can be characterized by the ¹H NMR method. [Ru(bpy)₂(mppne)]²⁺, [Ru(bpy)₂(mppae)]²⁺ and [Ru(bpy)₂(mpppe)]²⁺ exhibit redox waves corresponding to the Ru^III/Ru^II couple along with the expected ligand (bpy and substituted bpy) based ones in their cyclic and differential pulse voltammograms (CH₃CN, 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate)—corresponding voltammograms of [Ru(bpy)₂(sq-py)]⁺, [Ru(bpy)₂(sq-phen)]⁺ and [Ru(phen)₂(bsq)]⁺ are mainly characterized by waves corresponding to the quinone/semiquinone (q/sq) and semiquinone/1,2-diol (sq/cat) redox processes. The results of absorption and fluorescence titration as well as thermal denaturation studies reveal that [Ru(bpy)₂(mppne)]²⁺ and [Ru(bpy)₂(mppae)]²⁺ are moderate-to-strong binders of calf thymus DNA with binding constants ranging from 10⁵ to 10⁶ M⁻¹. Under the identical conditions of drug and light dose, the DNA (supercoiled pBR 322) photocleavage activities of these two complexes follow the order:[Ru(bpy)₂(mppne)]²⁺>[Ru(bpy)₂(mppae)]²⁺, although the emission quantum yields follow the reverse order. The other ruthenium(II) complexes containing the semiquinone-based ligands are found to be nonluminescent and inefficient photocleavage agents of DNA. However, experiments shows that [Ru(bpy)₂(sq)]⁺-based complexes oxidize the sugar unit and could be used as mild oxidants for the sugar moiety of DNA. Possible explanations for these observations are presented.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at .     

Antileukemic activity and cellular effects of rhodium(III) crown thiaether complexes

The cytostatic properties of novel rhodium(III) thiacrown ether complexes [RhCl(LL)([9]aneS₃)]ⁿ⁺ with either aromatic κ² N ligands (n = 2) or anionic chelate ligands (n = 1) have been investigated for the human cancer cell lines HT-29 and MCF-7 and for immortalized HEK-293 cells. Taken together with literature IC₅₀ values for analogous complexes with polypyridyl ligands or 1,4-dithiane, the in vitro assays indicate that dicationic complexes with soft κ² N (imino) or κ² S (thiaether) ligands exhibit significantly higher antiproliferative effects than those with hard κ² N (amino) ligands. Dicationic complexes are more active than monocationic complexes with similar ligands. Pronounced apoptosis-inducing properties towards Jurkat cells were established for complexes with LL = bpm, dpq, and 1,4-dithiane. The order of activity (bpm > 1,4-dithiane > dpq > bpy) contrasts to that observed for adhesive cancer cells (bpm > bpy, 1,4-dithiane > dpq). Necrosis is insignificant in all cases. The percentage of Jurkat cells exhibiting apoptosis after 24 or 48 h incubation periods is directly correlated to the percentage of cells exhibiting high levels of reactive oxygen species. As established by online monitoring with a sensor chip system, treatment of MCF-7 cells with the bpm and 1,4-dithiane complexes leads to a significant and permanent concentration-dependent decrease in oxygen consumption and cellular adhesion.