Isostructural M(RL)2(hfac)2 complexes with RL = 5-(4-[N-tert-butyl-N-aminoxyl]phenyl)pyrimidine

5-(4-(N-tert-Butyl-N-aminoxylphenyl))pyrimidine (RL, 4PPN) forms crystallographically isostructural and isomorphic pseudo-octahedral M(RL)₂(hfac)₂ complexes with M(hfac)₂, M = Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, and Mn. Multiple close contacts occur between sites of significant spin density of the organic radical units. Magnetic behavior of the Zn, Cu, Ni, Co complexes appears to involve multiple exchange pathways, with multiple close crystallographic contacts between sites that EPR (of 4PPN) indicates to have observable spin density. Powder EPR spectra at room temperature and low temperature are reported for each complex. Near room temperature, the magnetic moments of the complexes are roughly equal to those expected by a sum of non-interacting moments (two radicals plus ion). As temperature decreases, AFM exchange interactions become evident in all of the complexes. The closest fits to the magnetic data were found for a 1-D Heisenberg AFM chain model in the Zn(II) complex (J/k = (?)7 K), and for three-spin RL—M—RL exchange in the other complexes (J/k = (?)26 K, (?)3 K, (?)6 K, for Cu(II), Ni(II), and Co(II) complexes, respectively).     

Copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes with Schiff-base ligands derived from salicylaldehyde and 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde: Synthesis,crystal structures,magnetic and luminescence properties

The following Schiff bases were employed as ligands in synthesizing copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes: N-[(2-pyridyl)-methyl]-salicylimine (Hsalampy), N-[2-(N,N-dimethyl-amino)-ethyl]-salicylimine (Hsaldmen), and N-[(2-pyridyl)-methyl]-3-methoxy-salicylimine (Hvalampy). The first two ligands were obtained by reacting salicylaldehyde with 2-aminomethyl-pyridyne and N,N-dimethylethylene diamine, respectively, while the third one results from the condensation of 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde with 2-aminomethyl-pyridine. Four new coordination compounds were synthesized and structurally characterized: [Cu(salampy)(H₂O)(ClO₄)] 1, [Cu₂(salampy)₂(H₂trim)₂] 2 (H₂trim^? = the monoanion of the trimescic acid), [Cu₄(valampy)₄](ClO₄)₄ · 2CH₃CN 3, and [Zn₃(saldmen)₃(OH)](ClO₄)₂ · 0.25H₂O 4. The crystal structure of 1 consists of supramolecular dimers resulted from hydrogen bond interactions established between mononuclear [Cu(salampy)(H₂O)(ClO₄)] complexes. Compound 2 is a binuclear complex with the copper ions connected by two monoatomic carboxylato bridges arising from two molecules of monodeprotonated trimesic acid. The crystal structure of 3 consists of tetranuclear cations with a heterocubane {Cu₄O₄} core, and perchlorate ions. Compound 4 is a trinuclear complex with a defective heterocubane structure. The magnetic properties of complexes 1–3 have been investigated. Compound 4 exhibits solid-state photoluminescence at room temperature.     

One- and two-dimensional copper benzenedicarboxylate coordination polymers incorporating the flexible tethering diimine N,N′-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)piperazine: Synthesis,structure, and thermal properties

A family of three copper benzenedicarboxylate coordination polymers has been constructed using the conformationally flexible and hydrogen-bonding capable tethering ligand N,N′-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)piperazine (3-bpmp). These three coordination polymers have been characterized via single crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and elemental and thermogravimetric analysis. {[Cu(ph)(Hph)(H3-bpmp)(H₂O)] · 3H₂O} (1, ph = phthalate) manifests a 1-D chain motif held into a pseudo 3-D supramolecular structure through hydrogen bonding. While both {[Cu(ip)(3-bpmp)(H₂O)] · 2H₂O} (2, ip = isophthalate) and [Cu(tp)(3-bpmp)] (3, tp = terephthalate) exhibit 2-D (4,4) rhomboid grid-like layers, they possess different layer stacking patterns and supramolecular interactions due to coordination geometry variances.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,and DNA-binding properties of a new copper (II) complex containing mixed-ligands of 2,2′-bipyridine and p-methylbenzoate

A novel copper complex of [Cu(bpy)(pba)₂ · H₂O] · 0.5H₂O (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, pba = p-methylbenzoate) was synthesized. The interaction of the complex to native fish sperm DNA was investigated through electrochemistry, electronic absorption spectroscopy and viscosity experiments. In the X-ray crystallography structure, the copper (II) ion is coordinated by two oxygen atoms of two p-methylbenzoate groups, two nitrogen atoms of 2,2′-bipyridine and one water molecule. The observed changes in the physicochemical features of the copper (II) complex on binding to DNA suggested that the complex bind to DNA with intercalation mode via 2,2′-bipyridine ring into DNA base pairs. Electrochemical studies revealed that the complex prefer to bind to DNA in Cu(I) form rather than Cu(II) oxidation state form. Additionally, the nuclease activity of the title complex was assessed by gel electrophoresis assay and the results shown that the copper complex can cleave pBR322 DNA effectively in the presence of ascorbic acid.     

Synthesis,structures and characterization of the dinuclear nickel(II) complexes containing N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis[(1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolyl)methyl]-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane and an azide ion

Two dinuclear nickel(II) complexes, [Ni₂(L-Et)(N₃)(H₂O)₃](NO₃)₂ · 2H₂O (1) and [Ni₂(L-Et)(μ-1,3-N₃)(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ · 4H₂O (2) containing (HL-Et = N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis[(1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolyl)methyl]-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane), have been synthesized and characterized by their IR and UV–Vis spectra and magnetic susceptibilities. The crystal structures of [Ni₂(L-Et)(N₃)(H₂O)₃](NO₃)₂ · CH₃OH (1′) and [Ni₂(L-Et)(μ-1,3-N₃)(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ · 2C₂H₅OH (2′) similar to 1 and 2 were determined by X-ray crystallography. In 1′, the two nickel(II) ions are bridged by only an alkoxo group of L-Et⁻, while an azido and an alkoxo connect two nickel(II) ions in 2′. Magnetic susceptibility measurements (2–300 K) showed a weak ferromagnetic exchange coupling between the two nickel(II) ions (2J = 10.1 cm⁻¹) for 1. On the other hand, antiferromagnetic interactions were observed for 2 (2J = −15.8 cm⁻¹).     

Synthesis,structures and magnetic properties of pentanuclear and trinuclear heterometallic complexes with bended and linear cyano-bridges (tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine)

The reaction of [Cu(tren)(OH₂)](ClO₄)₂ with KCN gave a mononuclear complex [Cu(tren)(CN)](ClO₄) (1) (tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine). Using 1 as a building block, one pentanuclear compound, [{Cu(tren)(NC)}₄Ni](ClO₄)₆ (2) and two trinuclear complexes, [{Cu(tren)NC}₂Co(tren)](ClO₄)₅ · 2H₂O (3), [{Cu(tren)CN}₂NiL](ClO₄)₄ (4) (L = 3,10-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexaazacyclotetradecane) were prepared and characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. In 1, Cu(II) atom adopts a distorted trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) geometry. In 2, the Ni(II) atom occupies the center of the pentanuclear compound with a square-planar coordination geometry. In 3, the six-coordinated Co(III) atom presents a distorted octahedral geometry with four nitrogen atoms from tren and two carbon atoms of bridged cyano groups in cis-positions. In 4, the nickel atom is located in an inversion center and coordinated with two [(tren)CuCN]⁺ moieties through cyano-bridging ligands. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of 2–4 show that the magnetic interactions between the heterometallic ions are antiferromagnetical coupling through the cyano bridges with g = 2.25, J = −0.142 cm⁻¹ and J′ = −0.167 cm⁻¹ for 2, g = 2.06, J = −0.094 cm⁻¹ for 3, and g = 2.20, J = −33.133 cm⁻¹ for 4. The correlations between the structures and the J values are discussed.     

Structure and magnetic properties of a trinuclear nickel(II) complex with benzenetricarboxylate bridge

Novel trinuclear Ni(II) complex [Ni₃(pmdien)₃(btc)(H₂O)₃](ClO₄)₃ · 4H₂O, 1 where pmdien = N,N,N′,N′,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine, H₃btc = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic (trimesic) acid, has been prepared and structurally characterized. Three nickel atoms are bridged by btc trianion and their coordination sphere is completed by three N atoms of pmdien and O atom of the water molecule. The three nickel(II) magnetic centers are equivalent and their coordination spheres are completed to deformed octahedrons. Magnetic susceptibility was measured over the temperature range 1.8–300 K and zJ′ = ?0.19 cm^?1, D = 3.79 cm^?1, g = 2.18 parameters were calculated.     

Synthesis,structures and urease inhibitory activity of cobalt(III) complexes with Schiff bases

A series of new cobalt(III) complexes were prepared. They are [CoL¹(py)₃]·NO₃ (1), [CoL²(bipy)(N₃)]·CH₃OH (2), [CoL³(HL³)(N₃)]·NO₃ (3), and [CoL⁴(MeOH)(N₃)] (4), where L¹, L², L³ and L⁴ are the deprotonated form of N′-(2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzylidene)-3-methylbenzohydrazide, N′-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-3-hydroxylbenzohydrazide, 2-[(2-dimethylaminoethylimino)methyl]-4-methylphenol, and N,N′-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-o-phenylenediamine, respectively, py is pyridine, and bipy is 2,2′-bipyridine. The complexes were characterized by infrared and UV–Vis spectra, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The Co atoms in the complexes are in octahedral coordination. Complexes 1 and 4 show effective urease inhibitory activities, with IC₅₀ values of 4.27 and 0.35 μmol L⁻¹, respectively. Complex 2 has medium activity against urease, with IC₅₀ value of 68.7 μmol L⁻¹. While complex 3 has no activity against urease. Molecular docking study of the complexes with Helicobacter pylori urease was performed.     

l-Histidyl-glycyl-glycyl-l-histidine. Amino-acid structuring of the bleomycin-type pentadentate metal-binding environment capable of efficient double-strand cleavage of plasmid DNA

A tetrapeptide, l-histidyl-glycyl-glycyl-l-histidine (HGGH), was synthesized and the pUC19 plasmid DNA cleaving activity by copper(II) complex of HGGH (Cu(II)−HGGH) was investigated. Cu(II)−HGGH showed bleomycin-like DNA cleaving activity and, at 50 nM, converted a supercoiled DNA efficiently to a linear DNA in the presence of 500 μM H₂O₂/sodium ascorbate through an oxidative pathway.     

Structural changes that occur upon photolysis of the Fe(II)a3–CO complex in the cytochrome ba3-oxidase of Thermus thermophilus: A combined X-ray crystallographic and infrared spectral study demonstrates CO binding to CuB

The purpose of the work was to provide a crystallographic demonstration of the venerable idea that CO photolyzed from ferrous heme-a₃ moves to the nearby cuprous ion in the cytochrome c oxidases. Crystal structures of CO-bound cytochrome ba₃-oxidase from Thermus thermophilus, determined at ~ 2.8–3.2 Å resolution, reveal a Fe–C distance of ~ 2.0 Å, a Cu–O distance of 2.4 Å and a Fe–C–O angle of ~ 126°. Upon photodissociation at 100 K, X-ray structures indicate loss of Fe_a3–CO and appearance of Cu_B–CO having a Cu–C distance of ~ 1.9 Å and an O–Fe distance of ~ 2.3 Å. Absolute FTIR spectra recorded from single crystals of reduced ba₃–CO that had not been exposed to X-ray radiation, showed several peaks around 1975 cm^? 1; after photolysis at 100 K, the absolute FTIR spectra also showed a significant peak at 2050 cm^? 1. Analysis of the ‘light’ minus ‘dark’ difference spectra showed four very sharp CO stretching bands at 1970 cm^? 1, 1977 cm^? 1, 1981 cm^? 1, and 1985 cm^? 1, previously assigned to the Fe_a3–CO complex, and a significantly broader CO stretching band centered at ~ 2050 cm^? 1, previously assigned to the CO stretching frequency of Cu_B bound CO. As expected for light propagating along the tetragonal axis of the P4₃2₁2 space group, the single crystal spectra exhibit negligible dichroism. Absolute FTIR spectrometry of a CO-laden ba₃ crystal, exposed to an amount of X-ray radiation required to obtain structural data sets before FTIR characterization, showed a significant signal due to photogenerated CO₂ at 2337 cm^? 1 and one from traces of CO at 2133 cm^? 1; while bands associated with CO bound to either Fe_a3 or to Cu_B in “light” minus “dark” FTIR difference spectra shifted and broadened in response to X-ray exposure. In spite of considerable radiation damage to the crystals, both X-ray analysis at 2.8 and 3.2 Å and FTIR spectra support the long-held position that photolysis of Fe_a3–CO in cytochrome c oxidases leads to significant trapping of the CO on the Cu_B atom; Fe_a3 and Cu_B ligation, at the resolutions reported here, are otherwise unaltered. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Respiratory Oxidases.     

Superoxidedismutase-mimetic copper(II) complexes containing saccharinate and 4-aminopyridine/4-cyanopyridine

Two copper(II) complexes, [Cu(sac)₂(4-cypy)₂(H₂O)], 1 and [Cu(sac)₂(4-Ampy)₂(H₂O)], 2 (4-cypy: 4-cyanopyridine; 4-Ampy: 4-aminopyridine) were prepared. Physicochemical properties of the complexes were studied by spectroscopic (solution UV–vis, diffuse reflectance and IR) techniques. Structural X-ray diffraction data could be obtained only for [Cu(sac)₂(4-cypy)₂(H₂O)] that it crystallized in the tetragonal space group P4cc with a=b=15.313(1), c=13.240(1) Å, and Z=4 molecules per unit cell. The complex was cited on a crystallographic C₂-axis with the Cu(II) ion in a square–pyramidal environment, coordinated at the pyramid basis to the nitrogen atom of two saccharine anions [d(Cu–N)=2.011(3) Å] and the pyridine N-atom of two 4-cyanopyridine ligands [d(Cu–N)=2.038(4) Å]. The coordination was completed by a water molecule at the pyramid apex [d(Cu–Ow)=2.189(5) Å]. Elemental and spectroscopic analyses revealed an O-saccharinate coordination mode for complex 2 and a square–pyramidal structure. Only complex 2 retained its structure in methanolic solution. However, both complexes were able to catalyze the dismutation of superoxide anion (O₂^?) (pH 7.5) at micromolar concentrations. Therefore, these complexes behaved as useful SOD-mimetic compounds.     

Syntheses,structures, and magnetic properties of heterobimetallic complexes based on tetracyanometallic building blocks

Two tetracyanometalate building blocks, [Fe(5,5′-dmbipy)(CN)₄]^? (2) and [Fe(4,4′-dmbipy)(CN)₄]^? (3) (5,5′-dmbipy = 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine; 4,4′-dmbipy = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine), and two cyano-bridged heterobimetallic complexes, [Cu₂(bpca)₂(H₂O)₂Fe₂(5,5′-dmbipy)₂(CN)₈] · 2[Cu(bpca)Fe(5,5′-dmbipy)(CN)₄] · 4H₂O (4) and [Cu(bpca)Fe(4,4′-dmbipy)(CN)₄]_n (5) (bpca = bis(2-pyridylcarbonyl)amidate), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Complex 4 contains two dinuclear and one tetranuclear heterobimetallic clusters in an asymmetric unit whereas the structure of complex 5 features a one-dimensional heterobimetallic zigzag chain. The Cu(II) ion is penta-coordinated in the form of a distorted square-based pyramid. Magnetic studies show ferromagnetic coupling between Cu(II) and Fe(III) ions with g = 2.28, J₁ = 2.64 cm^?1, J₂ = 5.40 cm^?1 and TIP = ?2.36 × 10^?3 for complex 4, and g = 2.17, J = 4.82 cm^?1 and zJ′ = 0.029 cm^?1 for complex 5.     

Cyanoguanidine-based lactam derivatives as a novel class of orally bioavailable factor Xa inhibitors

The N,N′-disubstituted cyanoguanidine is an excellent bioisostere of the thiourea and ketene aminal functional groups. We report the design and synthesis of a novel class of cyanoguanidine-based lactam derivatives as potent and orally active FXa inhibitors. The SAR studies led to the discovery of compound 4 (BMS-269223, K_i = 6.5 nM, EC_2xPT = 32 μM) as a selective, orally bioavailable FXa inhibitor with an excellent in vitro liability profile, favorable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in animal models. The X-ray crystal structure of 4 bound in FXa is presented and key ligand–protein interactions are discussed.     

Isolation,spectroscopic characterization,X-ray,theoretical studies as well as in vitro cytotoxicity of Samarcandin

Samarcandin 1, a natural sesquiterpene-coumarin, was isolated as well as elucidated from F. assa-foetida which has significant effect in Iranian traditional medicine because of its medicinal attitudes. The crystal structure of samarcandin was determined by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. It is orthorhombic, with unit cell parameters a = 10.8204 (5) Å, b = 12.9894 (7) Å, c = 15.2467 (9) Å, V = 2142.9 (2) Å³, space group P2₁2₁2₁ and four symmetry equivalent molecules in the unit cell. Samarcandin was isolated in order to study for its theoretical studies as well as its cellular toxicity as anti-cancer drug against two cancerous cells. In comparison with controls, our microscopic and MTT assay data showed that samarcandin suppresses cancer cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner with IC₅₀ = 11 μM and 13 for AGS and WEHI-164 cell lines, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) of the structure was computed by three functional methods and 6-311++G⁷ standard basis set. The optimized molecular geometry and theoretical analysis agree closely to that obtained from the single crystal X-ray crystallography. To sum up, the good correlations between experimental and theoretical studies by UV, NMR, and IR spectra were found.     

Synthesis,X-ray structures,and magnetic properties of heterometal dinuclear Cr(III)–M(II) complexes

New 3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazolato (bpypz) bridged heterometal dinuclear complexes [(nta)Cr(μ-bpypz)M^II(picen)]⁺ (M = Mn(II), Ni(II)) and [(acac)₂Cr(μ-bpypz)Ni^II(picen)]²⁺ (nta = nitrilotriacetate, picen = N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine, acac = acetylacetate) were synthesized and characterized by the X-ray analysis, ESI-MS and the magnetic measurements, and/or ²H NMR spectra. The molecular structures were compared from a viewpoint of the conformation of the picen depending on M^II ionic radii or different modes of hydrogen bonds. The picen in [(nta)Cr(μ-bpypz)Mn^II(picen)]BF₄ takes an abnormal conformation with intramolecular bifurcated three-center hydrogen bonds between two carboxylate oxygens of nta and an amine proton of the picen as found for the previously reported corresponding Fe(II) complex [K. Ni-iya, A. Fuyuhiro, T. Yagi, S. Nasu, K. Kuzushita, S. Morimoto, S. Kaizaki, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 74 (2001) 1891]. On the other hand, for both Ni(II)-nta and Ni(II)-acac complexes, the picen takes a normal conformation with only a two-center hydrogen bond between non-bridging ligands. The magneto-structural relation is discussed for the Cr(III)–Ni(II) complexes in connection with the orthogonality or orbital overlap arising from the difference in distortion around Cr(III) moiety.     

Magnetostructural correlations and catecholase-like activities of μ-alkoxo-μ-carboxylato double bridged dinuclear and tetranuclear copper(II) complexes

Two μ-alkoxo-μ-carboxylato bridged dinuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu₂(L¹)(μ-HCO₂)] (1) ((H₃L¹ = 1,3-bis(5-bromosalicylideneamino)-2-propanol)), [Cu₂(L²)(μ-HCO₂)] · dmf (2) (H₃L² = 1,3-bis(3,5-chlorosalicylideneamino-2-propanol)), and two μ-alkoxo-μ-dicarboxylato doubly bridged tetranuclear copper(II) complexes, [{Cu₂(L³)}₂(μ-O₂C–C(CH₃)₂–CO₂)] · 5H₂O · 3CH₃OH (3) ((H₃L³ = 1,3-bis(salicylid-deneamino)-2-propanol)) and [{Cu₂(L³)}₂(μ- O₂CCH₂–C₆H₄–CH₂CO₂)] · 2H₂O (4) have been prepared and characterized. The single crystal X-ray analysis shows that the structures of complexes 1 and 2 are dimeric with two adjacent copper(II) atoms bridged by μ-alkoxo-μ-carboxylato ligands with the Cu⋯Cu distances and Cu–O(alkoxo)–Cu angles are 3.511 Å and 132.85° for 1, 3.517 Å and 131.7° for 2, respectively. Complexes 3 and 4 consist of μ-alkoxo-μ-dicarboxylato doubly bridged tetranuclear Cu(II) complexes with mean Cu–Cu distances and Cu–O–Cu angles of 3.158 Å and 108.05° for 3 and 3.081 Å and 104.76° for 4, respectively. Magnetic measurements reveal that 1 and 2 are strong antiferromagnetically coupled with 2J = −156 and −152 cm⁻¹, respectively, while 3 and 4 exhibit ferromagnetic coupling with 2J = 86 and 155.2 cm⁻¹, respectively. The 2J values of 1–4 are linearly correlated to the Cu–O–Cu angles. Dependence of the pH at 25 °C on the reaction rate of oxidation of 3,4-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-dtbc) to the corresponding quinone catalyzed by 1–4 was studied. Complexes 1–4 exhibit high catecholase-like activity at pH 9.0 and 25 °C for oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol.     

N,O-Diacyl-4-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamines as photoinduced DNA cleaving agents

Photoinduced homolytic fission of nitrogen–oxygen bond in N,O-diacyl-4-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamines using ?310 nm UV light for 10 min produced acylaminyl and acyloxy radicals, which resulted in single strand cleavage of DNA at pH 7.0. Further the DNA cleaving ability of N,O-diacyl-4-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamines found to depend both on its concentration and acyl substituents.     

Synthesis,characterization and magnetic properties of six new copper(II) complexes with aminoacids as bridging ligand,exhibiting ferromagnetic coupling

The synthesis, crystallographic analysis and magnetic studies of six new copper(II) complexes of formulae [Cu(μ-ala)(im)(H₂O)]_n(ClO₄)_n (1), [Cu(μ-ala)(pz)(μ-ClO₄)] (2), [Cu(μ-phe)(im)(H₂O)]_n(ClO₄)_n (3), [Cu(μ-gly)(H₂O)(ClO₄)]_n (4), [Cu(μ-gly)(pz)(ClO₄)]_n(5) and [Cu(μ-pro)(pz)(ClO₄)]_n (6) have been carried out (ala = alanine; phe = phenylalanine; gly = glycine; pro = proline; im = imidazole; pz = pyrazole). In all cases, the deprotonated aminoacid ligand acts as chelate through the N(amine) and one O(carboxylato), whereas the second O atom of the same carboxylato acts as a bridge to the neighbouring copper(II) ion. The coordination of copper(II) ions is square-pyramidal in all complexes but 2 (elongated O_h). All complexes (1–6) are uniform chains with syn–anti (equatorial–equatorial) coordination mode of the carboxylato bridging ligand, exhibiting intrachain ferromagnetic interactions.     

Comparative nuclease and anti-cancer properties of the naturally occurring malabaricones

The nuclease activities of the malabaricones have been studied so as to establish a structure–activity correlation and deduce the mechanistic pathway of the process. The inactivity of malabaricone A and malabaricone D revealed that the resorcinol moiety, present in the malabaricones did not contribute to the nuclease activity. Amongst the test compounds, malabaricone C (mal C) containing a B-ring catechol moiety showed significantly better Cu(II)-dependent nuclease activity than the partially methylated catechol derivative, mal B and curcumin. Mal C was found to bind efficiently with Cu(II) and DNA to facilitate the DNA nicking via a site-specifically generated Cu(I)-peroxo complex. Consistent with its Cu(II)-dependent nuclease property, mal C showed better cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ = 5.26 ± 1.20 μM) than curcumin (IC₅₀ = 24.46 ± 3.32 μM) against the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. The mal C-induced killing of the MCF-7 cells followed an apoptotic pathway involving oxidative damage to the cellular DNA.     

DNA damage induction and antiproliferative activity of vanadium(V) oxido monoperoxido complex containing two bidentate heteroligands

Several peroxidovanadium(V) complexes have been shown as a potent anticancer agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of monoperoxidovanadium(V) complex Pr₄N[VO(O₂)(ox)(phen)], (Vphen), [phen = 1,10-phenantroline, ox = oxalate(2?) and Pr₄N = tetra(n-propyl)ammonium(1+)] with DNA. UV–Vis spectrophotometry and the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE, the comet assay) were used to examine the possibility of the vanadium(V) complex to induce changes in DNA. The interaction of Vphen with calf thymus DNA resulted in absorption hyperchromicity in DNA spectrum and shift of the absorption band of DNA to longer wavelengths for the [complex]/[DNA] concentration ratio equals to 4 and after 60 min of incubation. The rise in DNA absorption (by 34%) and bathochromic shift (Δλ_max = 6 nm) are indicative of the interaction between DNA and the complex molecules. DNA strand breaks in cellular DNA were investigated using the comet assay. The human lymphocytes were exposed to various concentrations of Vphen for 30 min. The results revealed that Vphen contributed to the DNA damage expressed as DNA strand breaks in concentration dependent manner. The used concentrations of Vphen (ranging from 0.1 to 100 μmol/L) caused higher DNA damage in lymphocytes compared to untreated cells (from 1.2 times for 0.1 μmol/L to 1.8 times for 100 μmol/L). Vphen was screened for its potential antitumor activity towards murine leukemia cell line L1210. Vphen exhibited significant antiproliferative activity depending on its concentration and time of exposure. The IC₅₀ values were 0.247 μg/mL (0.45 μmol/L) for 24 h, 0.671 μg/mL (1.21 μmol/L) for 48 h and 0.627 μg/mL (1.13 μmol/L) for 72 h.