Hydrolytic protein cleavage mediated by unusual mononuclear copper(II) complexes: X-ray structures and solution studies

The crystal structures and redox and UV-vis/EPR spectroscopic properties of two new mononuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu(HL1)Cl2] (1) and [Cu(L1)Cl] (2), prepared through the reaction between copper(II) chloride and the ligand 2-[(bis(pyridylmethyl)amino)methyl]-4-methyl-6-formylphenol (HL1) under distinct base conditions, are reported along with solution studies. Also, we demonstrate that these CuII complexes are able to cleave unactivated peptide bonds from bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the thermostable enzyme Taq DNA polymerase at micromolar concentration, under mild pH and temperature conditions. The cleavage activity seems to be specific with defined proteolytic fragments appearing after protein treatment. The location of the specific cleavage sites was tentatively assigned to solvent-accessible portions of the protein. These are two of the most active Cu(II) complexes described to date, since their cleavage activity is detected in minutes and evidence is here presented for a hydrolytic mechanism mediating protein cleavage by these complexes.     

Selective flotation-spectrophotometric determination of trace copper(II) in natural waters, human blood and drug samples using phenanthraquinone monophenylthiosemicarbazone.

Copper(II) forms 1:1 and 1:2 intense red complexes with phenanthraquinone monophenylthiosemicarbazone (PPT) at pH 3-3.5 and > or =6.5, respectively. These complexes exhibit maximal absorbance at 545 and 517 nm, the molar absorptivity being 2.3 x 10(4) and 4.8 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1), respectively. However, the 1:1 complex was quantitatively floated with oleic acid (HOL) surfactant in the pH range 4.5-5.5, providing a highly selective and sensitive procedure for the spectrophotometric determination of CuII. The molar absorptivity of the floated Cu-PPT complex was 1.5 x 10(5) l mol)(-1) cm(-1). Beer's law was obeyed over the range 3-400 ppb at 545 nm. The analytical parameters affecting the flotation process and hence the determination of copper traces were reported. Also, the structure of the isolated solid complex and the mechanism of flotation were suggested. Moreover, the procedure was successfully applied to the analysis of CuII in natural waters, serum blood and some drug samples.     

DNA binding, nuclease activity and cytotoxicity studies of Cu(II) complexes of tridentate ligands

Cu(II) complexes of three tridentate ligands, L(1), L(2) and L(3), [L(1), N-((1H-imidazole-2-yl)methyl)-2-(pyridine-2-yl)ethanamine; L(2), N-((1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-yl)methyl)-2-(pyridine-2-yl)ethanamine; L(3), 2-(pyridine-2-yl)-N-((pyridine-2-yl)methyl)ethanamine] respectively, were synthesized and characterized. The single crystal X-ray structure of complex 1 reveals the pseudo octahedral coordination geometry around the copper center. Absorption and fluorescence experimental evidence show good DNA binding propensity (in the order of 10(5) M(-1)) of the complexes. Thermal denaturation and circular dichroism (CD) analyses reveal minor structural changes of calf thymus (CT) DNA in presence of complexes and groove and/or surface binding of the complexes to CT-DNA. Kinetic DNA cleavage assay shows pseudo-first-order kinetic reaction between the complex and supercoiled (SC) DNA. In addition, mechanistic SC DNA cleavage results show higher DNA cleavage activity in presence of reducing agent, due to the presence of hydroxyl radicals. In vitro cytotoxicity assay of the complexes demonstrate that the complexes have low toxicity for different cancer cell lines and IC(50) values were between 37 and 156 μM.     

Syntheses and properties of emissive iridium(III) complexes with tridentate benzimidazole derivatives

A series of novel emissive Ir(III) complexes having the coordination environments of [Ir(N--N--N)2]3+, [Ir(N--N--N)(N--N)Cl]2+, and [Ir(N--N--N)(N--C--N)]2+ with 2,6-bis(1-methyl-benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine (L1, N--N--N), 1,3-bis(1-methyl-benzimidazol-2-yl)benzene (L2H, N--C--N), 4'-(4-methylphenyl)-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine (ttpy, N--N--N), and 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy, N--N) have been synthesized and their photophysical and electrochemical properties studied. The Ir(III) complexes exhibited phosphorescent emissions in the 500-600 nm region, with lifetimes ranging from approximately 1-10 micros at 295 K. Analysis of the 0-0 energies and the redox potentials indicated that the lowest excited state of [Ir(L1)(L2)]2+ possessed the highest contribution of 3MLCT (MLCT = metal-to-ligand charge transfer) among the Ir(III) complexes, reflecting the sigma-donating ability of the tridentate ligand, ttpy < L1 < L2. The emission quantum yields (phi) of the Ir(III) complexes ranged from 0.037 to 0.19, and the highest phi value (0.19) was obtained for [Ir(L1)(bpy)Cl]2+. Radiative rate constants (k(r)) were 1.2 x 10(4) s(-1) for [Ir(ttpy)2]3+, 3.7 x 10(4) s(-1) for [Ir(L1)(bpy)Cl]2+, 3.8 x 10(4) s(-1) for [Ir(ttpy)(bpy)Cl]2+, 3.9 x 10(4) s(-1) for [Ir(L1)2]3+, and 6.6 x 10(4) s(-1) for [Ir(L1)(L2)]2+. The highest radiative rate for [Ir(L1)(L2)]2+ with the highest contribution of 3MLCT could be explained in terms of the singlet-triplet mixing induced by spin-orbit coupling of 5d electrons in the MLCT electronic configurations.     

Effect of solute-co-ordinating solvent interactions and temperature on the EPR and electronic spectra of bis(dithiophosphato)copper(II)

The self-redox reaction proceeding between two molecules of the complex bis(disubstituted-dithiophosphato)copper(II), CuII(R2-dtp)2, is studied by EPR and UV-VIS spectroscopy in DMFA, DMSO and pyridine. The effect of temperature and disulphide concentration in the solutions is also evaluated. The EPR spectra show that the g-values of CuII(R2-dtp)2 increase when it is dissolved in co-ordinating solvents, whereas the copper hyperfine splitting decreases compared to the corresponding values in non-co-ordinating solvents. Under the same conditions, a hypsochromic shift is observed in the maximal absorption at 420 nm of the electronic spectra which corresponds to the ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) transition of the complex. The results are explained with the formation of axial or equatorial adducts between CuII(R2-dtp)2 and the co-ordinating solvents used. On the other hand, the molar absorptivity of the LMCT band and the intensity of the EPR spectrum increase strongly with the nature of the used co-ordinating solvent, the time after dissolution and the quantity of added disulphide. Both also depend on the size and shape of remote ligand substituents and they increase in the order Me < Et < i-Pr. Beer's law is not obeyed immediately after dissolution of copper bis-dithiophosphate complexes. However, after standing for 24 h in the dark, DMFA solutions exhibit linear absorption/concentration dependence with approximately 70% higher molar absorptivity. An additional increase of the LMCT band and EPR intensity is found after heating the solution up to 50 degrees C for a short time, as well as after addition of the corresponding disulphide of dithiophosphate [(RO)2P(S)S-S(S)P(RO)2] to the CuII(R2-dtp)2 solution. As a result, the molar absorptivity value at the maximum of the LMCT band of Cu[(i-PrO)2-dtp]2 increases from 7.9 x 10(3) m(-1) dm3 cm(-1) immediately after dissolution to 2.9 x 10(4) m(-1) dm3 cm(-1). In DMSO and pyridine, the intensity of both the EPR signal and LMCT band of CuII(R2-dtp)2 continuously decrease after the preparation of the solutions. A small increase is only observed immediately after the addition of the corresponding disulphide of dithiophosphate. While DMFA forms stable adducts with Cu[(i-PrO)2-dtp]2, adduct formation with DMSO and pyridine destroys the initial complex.     

π-π Stacking,Hydrogen Bonding and Magnetic Coupling Mechanism on a Mono-nuclear Cu~Ⅱ Complex

A new mono-nuclear CuII complex [Cu(DPP)(DP)Br](ClO4)H2O (DPP = 2-(3,5- dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline, DP = 3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole) has been syn- thesized with 2-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline and 3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole as ligands, and its crystal structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. The crystal is of monoclinic system, space group P21/c with a = 13.765(2), b = 17.044(3), c = 10.9044(16), β= 97.112(2)°, V = 2538.5(6)3, Z = 4, C22H24BrClCuN6O5, Mr = 631.37, Dc = 1.652 g/cm3, F(000) = 1276 and μ= 2.585 mm-1. In the crystal, DPP functions as a tridentate ligand and CuII ions assume a distorted square pyramidal geometry with Br atom lying on the apex, and at the same time, there is π-π stacking between adjacent complexes, which deals with two 1,10-phenanthroline plane rings. In addition to the π-π stacking, there are C-H···Br non-classic hydrogen bonds between adjacent complexes. The theoretical calculations reveal that the π-π stacking and C-H···Br non-classic hydrogen bond result in a weak anti-ferromagnetic interaction with 2J = -5.34 cm-1 and a weak ferromagnetic 2J = 5.92 cm-1, respectively. The magnetic coupling sign from the π-π stacking could be explained with McConnell I spin-polarization mechanism.     

Cyclodextrin and modified cyclodextrin complexes of E-4-tert-butylphenyl-4'-oxyazobenzene: UV-visible, 1H NMR and ab initio studies

alpha-Cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin, N-(6(A)-deoxy-alpha-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)-N'6(A)-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)urea and N,N-bis(6(A)-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)urea (alphaCD, betaCD, 1 and 2) form inclusion complexes with E-4-tert-butylphenyl-4'-oxyazobenzene, E-3(-). In aqueous solution at pH 10.0, 298.2 K and I = 0.10 mol dm(-3)(NaClO(4)) spectrophotometric UV-visible studies yield the sequential formation constants: K(11) = (2.83 +/- 0.28) x 10(5) dm(3) mol(-1) for alphaCD.E-(-), K(21) = (6.93 +/- 0.06) x 10(3) dm(3) mol(-1) for (alphaCD)(2).E-3(-), K(11) = (1.24 +/- 0.12) x 10(5) dm(3) mol(-1) for betaCD.E-(-), K(21) = (1.22 +/- 0.06) x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1) for (betaCD)(2).E-(-), K(11) = (3.08 +/- 0.03) x 10(5) dm(3) mol(-1) for .E-3(-), K(11) = (8.05 +/- 0.63) x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1) for .E-3(-) and K(12) = (2.42 +/- 0.53) x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1) for .(E-3(-))(2). (1)H ROESY NMR studies show that complexation of E-3(-) in the annuli of alphaCD, betaCD, 1 and 2 occurs. A variable-temperature (1)H NMR study yields k(298 K)= 6.7 +/- 0.5 and 5.7 +/- 0.5 s(-1), DeltaH = 61.7 +/- 2.7 and 88.1 +/- 4.2 kJ mol(-1) and DeltaS = -22.2 +/- 8.7 and 65 +/- 13 J K(-1) mol(-1) for the interconversion of the dominant includomers (complexes with different orientations of alphaCD) of alphaCD.E-3(-) and (alphaCD)(2).E-3(-), respectively. The existence of E-3(-) as the sole isomer was investigated through an ab initio study.     

DNA cleavage by new oxovanadium(IV) complexes of N-salicylidene alpha-amino acids and phenanthroline bases in the photodynamic therapy window

Oxovanadium(IV) complexes [VO(salmet)(B)] (1-3) and [VO(saltrp)(B)] (4-6), where salmet and saltrp are N-salicylidene-l-methionate and N-salicylidene-l-tryptophanate, respectively, and B is a N,N-donor heterocyclic base (viz. 1,10-phenanthroline (phen, 1, 4), dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq, 2, 5), and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz, 3, 6)) are prepared and characterized and their DNA binding and photoinduced DNA cleavage activity studied. Complexes 1, 2, and 4 are structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The molecular structure shows the presence of a vanadyl group in the VO3N3 coordination geometry. The dianionic alpha-amino acid Schiff base acts as a tridentate O,N,O-donor ligand in a meridional binding mode. The N,N-donor heterocyclic base displays a chelating mode of bonding with a N-donor site trans to the oxo group. The complexes show a d-d band in the range of 680-710 nm in DMF with a shoulder near 840 nm. They exhibit an irreversible oxidative cyclic voltammetric response near 0.8 V assignable to the V(V)/V(IV) couple and a quasi-reversible V(IV)/V(III) redox couple near -1.1 V vs SCE in DMF-0.1 M TBAP. The complexes show good binding propensity to calf thymus DNA giving binding constant values in the range from 5.2 x 10(4) to 7.2 x 10(5) M(-1). The binding site size, thermal melting, and viscosity data suggest DNA surface and/or groove binding nature of the complexes. The complexes show poor "chemical nuclease" activity in the dark in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid or hydrogen peroxide. The dpq and dppz complexes show efficient DNA cleavage activity on irradiation with UV-A light of 365 nm via a mechanistic pathway involving formation of singlet oxygen as the reactive species. They also show significant DNA cleavage activity on photoexcitation in red light (>750 nm) by (1)O2 species. Observation of red-light-induced cleavage of DNA is unprecedented in the vanadium chemistry. The DNA cleavage activity is metal promoted as the ligands or vanadyl sulfate alone are cleavage inactive on photoirradiation at these wavelengths.     

Determination of dissociation constants of cyclodextrin-ligand inclusion complexes by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The inclusion complexes of four ligands binding to cyclodextrins (CDs) were studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and the dissociation constants of the complexes were obtained. The 1:1 stoichiometric inclusion complex was found in the system of CD and fenbufen or aspirin. The obtained KD values of the inclusion complexes of fenbufen binding to alpha-CD and to beta-CD are 4.38x10(-4) mol L(-1) and 2.12x10(-4) mol L(-1), respectively. The KD values of the inclusion complexes of alpha-CD-aspirin and beta-CD-aspirin are 3.33x10(-4) mol L(-1) and 1.83x10(-4) mol L(-1), respectively. A non-linear least squares regression method was applied to validate the results which were consistent with each other. For the system of tetracycline hydrochloride and CD, the 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometric inclusion complexes were found in the mass spectra. The KD,1 and KD,2 values of the 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometric inclusion complexes of alpha-CD and tetracycline hydrochloride are 4.47x10(-4) mol L(-1) and 6.51x10(-4) mol L(-1), respectively, and those of beta-CD and tetracycline hydrochloride are 2.26x10(-4) mol L(-1) and 8.57x10(-4) mol L(-1), respectively. For the system of norfloxacin and CD, besides the 1:1 and 1:2 inclusion complexes, the 1:3 stoichiometric inclusion complex was also found. The KD,1, KD,2 and KD,3 of alpha-CD and norfloxacin inclusion complexes are 4.61x10(-4) mol L(-1), 6.05x10(-4) mol L(-1) and 1.45x10(-3) mol L(-1), respectively. The three KD values of beta-CD and norfloxacin are 1.96x10(-4) mol L(-1), 4.93x10(-4) mol L(-1) and 1.15x10(-3) mol L(-1), respectively.     

Oxidative double dehalogenation of tetrachlorocatechol by a bio-inspired CuII complex: formation of chloranilic acid

Copper(II) complexes of the potentially tripodal N,N,O ligand 3,3-bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)propionate (L1) and its conjugate acid HL1 have been synthesised and structurally and spectroscopically characterised. The reaction of equimolar amounts of ligand and CuII resulted in the complexes [Cu(L1)]n(X)n (X=OTf-, PF6(-); n=1,2), for which a new bridging coordination mode of L1 is inferred. Although these complexes showed moderate catecholase activity in the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol, surprising reactivity with the pseudo-substrate tetrachlorocatechol was observed. A chloranilato-bridged dinuclear CuII complex was isolated from the reaction of [Cu(L1)]n(PF6)n with tetrachlorocatechol. This stoichiometric oxidative double dehalogenation of tetrachlorocatechol to chloranilic acid by a biomimetic copper(II) complex is unprecedented. The crystal structure of the product, [Cu2(ca)Cl2(HL1)2], shows a bridging bis-bidentate chloranilato (ca) ligand and ligand L1 coordinated as its conjugate acid (HL1) in a tridentate fashion. Magnetic susceptibility studies revealed weak antiferromagnetic coupling (J= -35 cm(-1)) between the two copper centres in the dinuclear complex. Dissolution of the green complex [Cu2(ca)Cl2(HL1)2] resulted in the formation of new pink-purple mononuclear compound [Cu(ca)(HL1)(H2O)], the crystal structure of which was determined. It showed a terminal bidentate chloranilato ligand and N,N-bidentate coordination of ligand HL1, which illustrates the flexible coordination chemistry of ligand L1.     

Double-strand DNA cleavage by copper complexes of 2,2'-dipyridyl with guanidinium/ammonium pendants

Two ligands with guanidinium/ammonium groups were synthesized and their copper complexes, [Cu(L1)Cl2](ClO4)2.H2O (1) and [Cu(L2)Cl2](ClO4)2 (2) (L1 = 5,5'-di[1-(guanidyl)methyl]-2,2'-bipyridyl cation and L2 = 5,5'-di[1-(amino)methyl]-2,2'-bipyridyl cation), were prepared to serve as nuclease mimics. X-Ray analysis revealed that Cu(II) ion in 1 has a planar square CuN2Cl2-configuration. The shortest distance between the nitrogen of guanidinium and copper atoms is 6.5408(5) A, which is coincident with that of adjacent phosphodiesters in DNA (ca. 6 A). In the absence of reducing agent, supercoiled plasmid DNA cleavage by the complexes were performed and their hydrolytic mechanisms were demonstrated with radical scavengers and T4 ligase. The pseudo-Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters (kcat, KM) were calculated to be 4.42 h(-1), 7.46 x 10(-5) M for 1, and 4.21 h(-1), 1.07 x 10(-4) M for 2, respectively. The result shows that their cleavage efficiency is about 10-fold higher than the simple analogue [Cu(bipy)Cl2] (3) (0.50 h(-1), 3.5 x 10(-4) M). The pH dependence of DNA cleavage by 1 and its hydroxide species in solution indicates that mononuclear [Cu(L1)(OH)(H2O)]3+ ion is the active species. Highly effective DNA cleavage ability of is attributed to the effective cooperation of the metal moiety and two guanidinium pendants with the phosphodiester backbone of nucleic acid.     

New insights into the visible-light-induced DNA cleavage activity of dipyridoquinoxaline complexes of bivalent 3d-metal ions

Dipyridoquinoxaline (dpq) complexes of bivalent 3d-metal ions, viz., [FeII(dpq)3](PF6)2 (1), [CoII(dpq)3](ClO4)2 (2), [NiII(dpq)3](ClO4)2 (3), [CuII(dpq)2(H2O)](ClO4)2 (4), [ZnII(dpq)3](ClO4)2 (5), and [ZnII(dpq)2(DMF)2](ClO4)2 (5a) (DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide), are prepared and their photoinduced DNA cleavage activity studied. Structural characterization for the complexes 1 and 5a is done by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. All the complexes show efficient binding propensity to calf thymus DNA with a binding constant (K) value of approximately 10(5) M(-1). Complexes 1, 2, and 4 show metal-based cyclic voltammetric responses at 1.2, 0.4, and 0.09 V (vs SCE) in DMF 0.1 M [Bun4N](ClO4) assignable to the respective FeIII/FeII, CoIII/CoII, and CuII/CuI couples. The NiII and ZnII complexes do not show any metal-based redox process. The dpq-based reductions are observed in the potential range of -1.0 to -1.7 V vs SCE. DNA melting and viscosity data indicate the groove-binding nature of the complexes. Control experiments using distamycin-A suggest a minor groove-binding propensity of the complexes. The complexes exhibit photoinduced cleavage of supercoiled pUC19 DNA in UV light of 365 nm. The diamagnetic d6-FeII and d10-ZnII complexes are cleavage-inactive on irradiation with visible light. The paramagnetic d7-CoII and d9-CuII complexes exhibit efficient DNA cleavage activity on photoirradiation at their respective d-d band. The paramagnetic d8-NiII complex displays only minor DNA cleavage activity on irradiation at its d-d band. The DNA cleavage reactions at visible light under aerobic conditions involve the formation of hydroxyl radical. The CoII complex shows photocleavage of DNA under an argon atmosphere. Theoretical calculations on the complexes suggest a photoredox pathway in preference to a type-2 process forming singlet oxygen for the visible-light-induced DNA cleavage activity of the 3d-metal complexes. The theoretical data also predict that the photoredox pathway is favorable for the 3d7-CoII and 3d9-CuII complexes to exhibit DNA cleavage activity, while the analogous 3d6-FeII and 3d8-NiII complexes are energetically unfavorable for the exhibition of such activity under visible light. The CoII and CuII complexes are better suited for designing and developing new metal-based PDT agents than their cleavage-inactive FeII, NiII, and ZnII analogues.     

The first dinuclear copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes containing novel Bis-TACN: syntheses, structures, and DNA cleavage activities

Two novel binuclear complexes [Cu(2)(L)].(ClO(4))(2) (1) and [Zn(2)(L)].(ClO(4))(2) (2) were synthesized and crystallographically characterized {L = 1(4),5(4)-dimethyl-1(2),5(2)-dihydroxy-1(1,3),5(1,3)-dibenzene-3(1,4),7(1,4)-di-1,4,7-triazacyclononane}. The cation [Cu(2)(L)](2+) structure of 1 is similar to that of [Zn(2)(L)](2+) of 2. The central ion is bridged by the di-phenoxo of L and lies in a close to perfect square pyramidal geometry. 1 and 2 crystallize in the triclinic space group P1. The two complexes effectively promote the cleavage of plasmid DNA in the presence of activating agents at physiological pH and temperature. The pseudo-Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters k(cat) = 1.61 h(-1), K(m) = 1.35 x 10(-5) M for complex 1 in the presence of mercaptoethanol; k(cat) = 2.48 h(-1), K(m) = 5.5 x 10(-5)M for complex 2 in the presence of hydrogen peroxide were obtained. The mechanism of plasmid DNA cleavage was studied by adding standard radical scavengers. DNA cleavage reaction by the binuclear Zn(II)/H(2)O(2) system is a hydrolytic mechanism.     

Iron(III)-catecholato complexes as structural and functional models of the intradiol-cleaving catechol dioxygenases

The structural and spectroscopic characterization of mononuclear iron(III)-catecholato complexes of ligand L4 (methyl bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)(2-hydroxyphenyl)methyl ether, HL4) are described, which closely mimic the enzyme-substrate complex of the intradiol-cleaving catechol dioxygenases. The tridentate, tripodal monoanionic ligand framework of L4 incorporates one phenolato and two imidazole donor groups and thus well reproduces the His2Tyr endogenous donor set. In fact, regarding the structural features of [FeIII(L4)(tcc)(H2O)] (5.H2O, tcc = tetrachlorocatechol) in the solid state, the complex constitutes the closest structural model reported to date. The iron(III)-catecholato complexes mimic both the structural features of the active site and its spectroscopic characteristics. As part of its spectroscopic characterization, the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra were successfully simulated using a simple model that accounts for D strain. The simulation procedure showed that the observed g = 4.3 line is an intrinsic part of the EPR envelope of the studied complexes and should not necessarily be attributed to a highly rhombic impurity. [FeIII(L4)(dtbc)(H2O)] (dtbc = 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol) was studied with respect to its dioxygen reactivity, and oxidative cleavage of the substrate was observed. Intradiol- and extradiol-type cleavage products were found in roughly equal amounts. This shows that an accurate structural model of the first-coordination sphere of the active site is not sufficient for obtaining regioselectivity.     

Optically active 4- and 5-coordinate transition metal complexes of bifurcated dipeptide Schiff bases

Symmetrical and unsymmetrical benzophenone Schiff bases of bifurcated dipeptides [e.g., Ar2C=N-CHR1- CONH-HNCO-CHR2-N=CAr2] have been synthesized using Boc methodology. These ligands may be regarded as chiral porphyrin mimics because of the alpha-carbons of the amino acids. The Schiff bases function as effective ligands for transition metals, particularly the late transition metals Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn. Upon metal insertion, there is loss of the amide protons, resulting in N4 chelating ligands that retain the amino acid based chirality as well as newly generated metal-centered chirality, which for the Ni(II) complexes have been shown by X-ray analysis to be lambda (left-handed helix) if the amino acids are S. For Ni(II) and Cu(II), metal insertion results in highly colored complexes and is easily followed by UV-vis spectrophotometry. Several Ni(II) complexes were also characterized by 1H NMR. Co(II) and Mn(II) complexes were characterized by CW EPR. Two Cu(II) complexes, 7f.CuII and 7k.CuII, were characterized by EPR (ENDOR and ESEEM), which clearly showed the pentacoordinate nature of 7k.CuII.     

Design and structure analysis of artificial metalloproteins: selective coordination of His64 to copper complexes with square-planar structure in the apo-myoglobin scaffold

apo-Myoglobin (apo-Mb) was reconstituted with three copper complexes: CuII(Sal-Phe) (1; Sal-Phe = N-salicylidene-L-phenylalanato), CuII(Sal-Leu) (2; Sal-Leu = N-salicylidene-L-leucinato), and CuII(Sal-Ala) (3; Sal-Ala = N-salicylidene-L-alanato). The crystal structures of 1.apo-Mb (1.65 Angstrom resolution) and 2.apo-Mb (1.8 Angstrom resolution) show that the coordination geometry around the CuII atom in apo-Mb is distorted square-planar with tridentate Sal-X and a Nepsilon atom of His64 in the apo-Mb cavity and the plane of these copper complexes is perpendicular to that of heme. These results suggest that the apo-Mb cavity can hold metal complexes with various coordination geometries.     

Mechanistic insights into stereoselective catalysis-the effects of counterions in a CuII-bissulfoximine-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction

The initial steps of an enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction catalyzed by a CuII-bissulfoximine complex were followed by EXAFS (EXAFS=extended X-ray absorption fine structure), EPR (EPR=electron paramagnetic resonance) spectroscopy (CW-EPR, FID-detected EPR, pulse ENDOR, HYSCORE; CW=continuous wave; ENDOR=electron nuclear double resonance; HYSCORE=hyperfine sublevel correlation; FID=free induction decay), and UV-visible spectroscopy. The complexes formed between the parent CuX2 (X=Cl-, Br-, TfO-, SbF6-) salts, the chiral bissulfoximine ligand (S,S)-1, and N-(1-oxoprop-2-en-1-yl)oxazolidin-2-one (2) as the substrate in CH2Cl2 were investigated in frozen and fluid solution. In all cases, penta- or hexacoordinated CuII centers were established. The complexes with counterions indicating high stereoselectivity (TfO- and SbF6-) reveal one unique species in which substrate 2 binds to pseudoequatorial positions (via O atoms), shifting the counterions to axial locations. On the other hand, those lacking stereoselectivity (X=Cl- and Br-) form two species in which the parent halogen anions remain at equatorial positions preventing the formation of geometries compatible with those found for X=TfO- and SbF6-.     

Oxygen Atom Transfer, Coupled Electron-Proton Transfer, and Correlated Electron-Nucleophile Transfer Reactions of Oxomolybdenum(IV) and Dioxomolybdenum(VI) Complexes

The oxo-Mo(IV) complexes LMoO(S(2)PR(2)-S,S') [L = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate; R = Me, Et, Pr(i)(), Ph] were prepared by reacting MoO(S(2)PR(2))(2) and KL in refluxing toluene. The dioxo-Mo(VI) complexes cis-LMoO(2)(S(2)PR(2)-S) (R = Pr(i)(), Ph) were prepared by oxidation of the oxo-Mo(IV) complexes or by reaction of LMoO(2)Cl with NaS(2)PR(2). Oxygen atom transfers from Me(2)SO to LMoO(S(2)PR(2)) were first-order with respect to Me(2)SO and complex; the overall second-order rate constants at 40 degrees C range from 9.0(1) x 10(-)(5) M(-)(1).s(-)(1) for LMoO(S(2)PMe(2)) to 2.08(5) x 10(-)(4) M(-)(1).s(-)(1) for LMoO(S(2)PPr(2)); activation parameters were in the ranges DeltaH() = 63(1) to 73(1) kJ.mol(-)(1), DeltaS() = -88(1) to -111(1) J.K(-)(1).mol(-)(1), and DeltaG() = 100(2) kJ.mol(-)(1) for LMoO(S(2)PMe(2)) to 98(2) kJ.mol(-)(1) for LMoO(S(2)PPr(2)). Oxygen atom transfer from pyridine N-oxide to LMoO(S(2)PPr(2)) was also second-order with a rate constant of 1.54(5) x 10(-)(3) M(-)(1).s(-)(1) at 40 degrees C, DeltaH() = 62(1) kJ.mol(-)(1), DeltaS() = -90(1) J.K(-)(1).mol(-)(1), and DeltaG() = 90(1) kJ.mol(-)(1). The second-order rate laws and large negative entropies of activation are consistent with associative mechanisms for the above reactions. Oxygen atom transfer from LMoO(2)(S(2)PPr(2)) to PPh(3) was first-order with respect to reactants, with an overall second-order rate constant of 2.5(3) x 10(-)(4) M(-)(1).s(-)(1) at 30 degrees C. In toluene at 40 degrees C, all the above complexes catalyzed the oxidation of PPh(3) by Me(2)SO, with turnover rates of ca. 0.9 mol of PPh(3)/(mol of catalyst/h). Reduction of LMoO(2)(S(2)PR(2)) by SH(-) led to the generation of the dioxo-Mo(V) anions [LMoO(2)(S(2)PR(2)-S)](-), which were slowly converted to the analogous oxothio-Mo(V) complexes [LMoOS(S(2)PR(2)-S)](-). Dioxygen reacted with [LMoOS(S(2)PPr(2))](-) to produce the oxothio-Mo(VI) complex LMoOS(S(2)PPr(2)-S). The (hydroxo)oxo-Mo(V) complexes LMoO(OH)(S(2)PR(2)-S) were formed upon reduction of LMoO(2)(S(2)PR(2)) with PPh(3) in wet (3-5 M H(2)O) tetrahydrofuran or upon ferrocenium oxidation of LMoO(S(2)PR(2)) in wet tetrahydrofuran. In dry solvents, LMoO(S(2)PR(2)) were oxidized to the corresponding cations, [LMoO(S(2)PR(2)-S,S')](+), which reacted with water to form LMoO(OH)(S(2)PR(2)). The Mo(V) complexes have been characterized by EPR spectroscopy.     

Substrate specificity of an active dinuclear Zn(II) catalyst for cleavage of RNA analogues and a dinucleoside

The cleavage of the diribonucleoside UpU (uridylyl-3'-5'-uridine) to form uridine and uridine (2',3')-cyclic phosphate catalyzed by the dinuclear Zn(II) complex of 1,3-bis(1,4,7-triazacyclonon-1-yl)-2-hydroxypropane (Zn(2)(1)(H(2)O)) has been studied at pH 7-10 and 25 degrees C. The kinetic data are consistent with the accumulation of a complex between catalyst and substrate and were analyzed to give values of k(c) (s(-)(1)), K(d) (M), and k(c)/K(d) (M(-)(1) s(-)(1)) for the Zn(2)(1)(H(2)O)-catalyzed reaction. The pH rate profile of values for log k(c)/K(d) for Zn(2)(1)(H(2)O)-catalyzed cleavage of UpU shows the same downward break centered at pH 7.8 as was observed in studies of catalysis of cleavage of 2-hydroxypropyl-4-nitrophenyl phosphate (HpPNP) and uridine-3'-4-nitrophenyl phosphate (UpPNP). At low pH, where the rate acceleration for the catalyzed reaction is largest, the stabilizing interaction between Zn(2)(1)(H(2)O) and the bound transition states is 9.3, 7.2, and 9.6 kcal/mol for the catalyzed reactions of UpU, UpPNP, and HpPNP, respectively. The larger transition-state stabilization for Zn(2)(1)(H(2)O)-catalyzed cleavage of UpU (9.3 kcal/mol) compared with UpPNP (7.2 kcal/mol) provides evidence that the transition state for the former reaction is stabilized by interactions between the catalyst and the C-5'-oxyanion of the basic alkoxy leaving group.     

两种新稀土双核配合物的合成、表征及其对磷酸二酯键模型物（BDNPP）和DNA的作用研究

合成和表征了两种新的双核配合物[Eu_2 (bbimp) (CH_3COO) (CH_3CH_2O)_2 (CH_3CH_2OH)] (ClO_4)_2 (A)和[Nd_2 (bbimp)-(CH_3COO) (CH_3CH_2O)_2 (CH_3CH_2OH)] (ClO_4)_2 (B)。用紫外光谱法分别研究了磷酸二酯键模型物双-（ 2，4-二硝基苯基）磷酸盐（BDNPP）与配合物（A，B）的水解动力学反应。当 BDNPP与A，B的浓度均为2.5 * 10~(-5) mol/L时，反应为二级反应；在25 ℃，pH 7.26时，二级水解速率常数分别为2479 (mol/L)~(-1)·min~(-1)，1678 (mol/L) ~(-1)·min~(-1)，半衰期分别为16.1 min和23.8 min，比单独的Eu~(3+)，Nd~ (3+)水解BDNPP的速率均快得多，37 ℃时反应更快；在25 ℃，pH 6.50～8.50时， 两个反应的水解速率常数的lgK与pH值均呈正的线性关系。两种配合物与小牛胸腺 （CT）DNA作用，使CT DNA最大吸收峰发生减色和红移，使溴化乙锭（EB）-DNA复 合物体系荧光强度减弱。两种配合物对超螺旋质粒pBR322 DNA的断裂在50 ℃，pH 8.0时，效果最好。