Anticancer and DNA Binding Activities of Platinum (IV) Complexes; Importance of Leaving Group Departure Rate

The two six-coordinate Pt(IV) complexes, containing bidentate nitrogen donor/methyl ligands with general formula [Pt(X)₂Me₂(^tbu₂bpy)], where ^tbu₂bpy = 4,4′-ditert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine and X = Cl (C₁) or Br (C₂), serving as the leaving groups were synthesized for evaluation of their anticancer activities and DNA binding properties. To examine anticancer activities of the synthetic complexes, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and ethidium bromide/acridine orange (EB/AO) staining method were performed. The binding properties of these complexes to DNA and purine nucleotides were examined, using different spectroscopic techniques. These complexes demonstrated significant anticancer activities against three cancer cell lines Jurkat, K562, and MCF-7. On the basis of the results of EB/AO staining, C₁ and C₂ were also capable to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. These complexes comprise halide leaving groups, displaying different departure rates; accordingly, they demonstrated slightly dissimilar anticancer activity and significantly different DNA/purine nucleotide binding properties. The results of DNA interaction studies of these complexes suggest a mixed-binding mode, comprising partial intercalation and groove binding. Overall, the results presented herein indicate that the newly synthesized Pt(IV) complexes are promising class of the potential anticancer agents which can be considered as molecular templates in designing novel platinum anticancer drugs. This study also highlights the importance of leaving group in anticancer activity and DNA binding properties of Pt(IV) complexes.     

Synthesis and Analysis of the Structure,Diffusion and Cytotoxicity of Heterocyclic Platinum(IV) Complexes

We have developed six dihydroxidoplatinum(IV) compounds with cytotoxic potential. Each derived from active platinum(II) species, these complexes consist of a heterocyclic ligand (H_L) and ancillary ligand (A_L) in the form [Pt(H_L)(A_L)(OH)₂]²⁺, where H_L is a methyl‐functionalised variant of 1,10‐phenanthroline and A_L is the S,S or R,R isomer of 1,2‐diaminocyclohexane. NMR characterisation and X‐ray diffraction studies clearly confirmed the coordination geometry of the octahedral platinum(IV) complexes. The self‐stacking of these complexes was determined using pulsed gradient stimulated echo nuclear magnetic resonance. The self‐association behaviour of square planar platinum(II) complexes is largely dependent on concentration, whereas platinum(IV) complexes do not aggregate under the same conditions, possibly due to the presence of axial ligands. The cytotoxicity of the most active complex, exhibited in several cell lines, has been retained in the platinum(IV) form.     

Harnessing chemoselective imine ligation for tethering bioactive molecules to platinum(IV) prodrugs

Platinum(II) anticancer drugs are among the most effective and often used chemotherapeutic drugs. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in exploiting inert platinum(IV) scaffolds as a prodrug strategy to mitigate the limitations of platinum(II) anticancer complexes. In this prodrug strategy, the axial ligands are released concomitantly upon intracellular reduction to the active platinum(II) congener, offering the possibility of conjugating bioactive co-drugs which may synergistically enhance cytotoxicity on cancer cells. Existing techniques of tethering bioactive molecules to the axial positions of platinum(IV) prodrugs suffer from limited scope, poor yields and low reliability. This report explores the applications of current chemoselective ligation chemistries to platinum(IV) anticancer complexes with the aim of addressing the aforementioned limitations. Here, we describe the synthesis of a platinum(IV) complex bearing an aromatic aldehyde functionality and explored the scope of imine ligation with various hydrazide and aminooxy functionalized substrates. As a proof of concept, we tethered a six sequence long peptide mimetic (AMVSEF) of the anti-inflammatory protein, ANXA1.     

Front Cover: Synthesis,Characterization, and Cytotoxicity of a Reactive Platinum(IV) Monotrifluoromethyl Complex (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 3/2023)

Platinum-based complexes are among the most widely utilized cancer therapeutics. Current Pt(II) drugs face some challenges including toxicity and drug resistance. To solve these issues, great efforts have been devoted to developing nonclassical platinum complexes, such as Pt(IV) prodrugs, that act via mechanisms distinct from those of the approved drugs. Compared with active Pt(II) counterparts, Pt(IV) complexes are relatively inert. Although direct interactions between Pt(IV) complexes and nucleotides have been reported, the reaction is slow due to the kinetic inertness of Pt(IV) complexes. Herein, we design and synthesize a Pt(IV) monotrifluoromethyl complex, in which the chloride ligand that is trans to trifluoromethyl ligand is reactive. The Pt(IV) monotrifluoromethyl complex is very stable in water but displays high reactivity towards various substrates including buffer components and 5’-dGMP. The study of reaction mechanism reveals that this Pt(IV) complex reacts with phosphate via S_N2 nucleophilic substitution pathway, which is different from Pt(II) drugs. The Pt(IV) monotrifluoromethyl complex is cytotoxic in human ovarian cancer cells. Our work reports an example of a reactive organometallic Pt(IV) complex that can directly interact with nucleophiles and implies its potential as an anticancer agent.     

Ligational behavior of thiosemicarbazone,semicarbazone and thiocarbohydrazone ligands towards VO(IV), Ce(III), Th(IV) and UO2(VI) ions: Synthesis,structural characterization and biological studies

Mono- and binuclear VO(IV), Ce(III), Th(IV) and UO₂(VI) complexes of thiosemicarbazone, semicarbazone and thiocarbohydrazone ligands derived from 4,6-diacetylresorcinol were synthesized. The structures of these complexes were elucidated by elemental analyses, IR, UV–vis, ESR, ¹H NMR and mass spectra as well as conductivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements and thermal analyses. The thiosemicarbazone (H₄L¹) and the semicarbazone (H₄L²) ligands behave as dibasic pentadentate ligands in case of VO(IV) and UO₂(VI) complexes, tribasic pentadentate in case of Ce(III) complexes and monobasic pentadentate in case of Th(IV) complexes. However, the thiocarbohydrazone ligand (H₃L³) acts as a monobasic tridentate ligand in all complexes except the VO(IV) complex in which it acts as a dibasic tridentate ligand. The antibacterial and antifungal activities were also tested against Rhizobium bacteria and Fusarium-Oxysporium fungus. The metal complexes of H₄L¹ ligand showed a higher antibacterial effect than the free ligand while the other ligands (H₄L² and H₃L³) showed a higher effect than their metal complexes. The antifungal effect of all metal complexes is lower than the free ligands.     

Reduction of Cisplatin and Carboplatin Pt(IV) Prodrugs by Homocysteine: Kinetic and Mechanistic Investigations

Pt(IV) anticancer active complexes are commonly regarded as prodrugs, and the reduction of the prodrugs to their Pt(II) analogs is the activation process. The reduction of a cisplatin prodrug cis‐[Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₄] and a carboplatin prodrug cis,trans‐[Pt(cbdca)(NH₃)₂Cl₂] by dl ‐homocysteine (Hcy) has been investigated kinetically in a wide pH range in this work. The reduction process follows overall second‐order kinetics: −d [Pt(IV)]/dt = k ′[Hcy]_tot[Pt(IV)], where [Hcy]_tot stands for the total concentration of Hcy and k ′ pertains to the observed second‐order rate constants. The k ′ versus pH profiles have been established for both prodrugs. Spectrohotometric titrations reveal a stoichiometry of Δ[Pt(IV)]:Δ[Hcy]_tot = 1:2; homocystine is identified as the major oxidation product of Hcy by high‐resolution mass spectrometry. A reaction mechanism has been proposed, which involves all the four protolysis species of Hcy attacking the Pt(IV) prodrugs in parallel. Moreover, these parallel attacks are the rate‐determining steps, resulting in a Cl⁺ transfer from the Pt(IV) prodrugs to the attacking sulfur atom. Rate constants of the rate‐determining steps have been derived, indicating that the two prodrugs are reduced with a very similar rate in spite of the difference between the coordination ligands in their equatorial positions. The reactivity analysis in the case of cis,trans‐[Pt(cbdca)(NH₃)₂Cl₂] unravels that one species of Hcy (form III ) is almost exclusively responsible for the reductions at the physiological pH (7.4), although it is existing only 5.2% of the total Hcy. On the other hand, the dominant existing form II of Hcy virtually does not make a contribution to the overall reactivity at pH 7.4.     

Kinetic Studies of Oxidative Addition Reaction of Arylplatinum(II) Complex Containing 4,4′‐Bipyridine and Calculation of Activation Parameters

New complexes of arylplatinum(II) and arylplatinum(IV) containing a bridging ligand, 4,4′‐bipyridine, were synthesized by the reaction of starting material of platinum(II) including para‐tolyl groups,[(p‐MeC₆H₄)₂Pt(SMe₂)₂], with the 4,4′‐bipyridine ligand in 1:1 molar stoichiometry. In the synthesized complexes, the ligand was bonded to the platinum center through the nitrogen donor atoms. To investigate the kinetic reaction of the platinum(II) complex with iodomethane (CH₃‐I) as a reagent, the oxidative addition reaction of this reagent with Pt(II) was performed in dichloromethane and a Pt(IV) complex with the octahedral geometry was formed. The synthesized complexes have been characterized by different spectroscopic methods such as FT‐IR, ¹H NMR, UV–vis, and elemental analysis. Moreover, the conductivity measurements showed nonelectrolyte characteristics for these complexes. The obtained data showed that the complexes have 1:1 metal‐to‐ligand molar ratio. Also, the oxidative addition reaction of CH₃I with the arylplatinum(II) complex at different temperatures was used for obtaining kinetic parameters such as rate constants, activation energy, entropy, and enthalpy of activation using the Microsoft Excel solver. From the acquired data, an S_N2 mechanism was suggested for the oxidative addition reaction.     

Can an Elusive Platinum(III) Oxidation State be Exposed in an Isolated Complex?

Platinum(IV) complexes are extensively studied for their activity against cancer cells as potential substitutes for the widely used platinum(II) drugs. Pt^IV complexes are kinetically inert and need to be reduced to Pt^II species to play their pharmacological action, thus acting as prodrugs. The mechanism of the reduction step inside the cell is however still largely unknown. Gas‐phase activation of deprotonated platinum(IV) prodrugs was found to generate products in which platinum has a formal +3 oxidation state. IR multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy is thus used to obtain structural information helping to define the nature of both the platinum atom and the ligands. In particular, comparison of calculations at DFT, MP2 and CCSD levels with experimental results demonstrates that the localization of the radical is about equally shared between the d_xz orbital of platinum and the p_z of nitrogen on the amino group, the latter acting as a non‐innocent ligand.     

Multitargeted Platinum(IV) Anticancer Complexes Bearing Pyridinyl Ligands as Axial Leaving Groups

Although multitargeted Pt^IV anticancer prodrugs have shown significant activities in reducing drug resistance, the types of bioactive ligands and drugs that can be conjugated to the Pt center remain limited to O-donors. Herein, we report the synthesis of Pt^IV complexes bearing axial pyridines via ligand exchange reactions. Unexpectedly, the axial pyridines are quickly released after reduction, indicating their potential to be utilized as axial leaving groups. We further expand our synthetic approach to obtaining two multitargeted Pt^IV prodrugs containing bioactive pyridinyl ligands: a PARP inhibitor and an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor; these conjugates exhibit great potential for overcoming drug resistance, and the latter conjugate inhibits the growth of Pt-resistant tumor in vivo. This research adds to the array of synthetic methods for accessing Pt^IV prodrugs and significantly increases the types of bioactive axial ligands that can be conjugated to a Pt^IV center.     

Complexes of Pt(II) and Pt(IV) with disubstituted purines

Mixed-ligand complexes of Pt(II) and Pt(IV) with 2,6-diaminopurine and 6-thioguanine were synthesized and characterised. The complexes were prepared in acidic and basic media. The binding of the ligands to the metal ion varies according to the pH of the medium. Thus, in the complexes of 6-thioguanine, the ligand acts as a monodentate ligand coordinating through the neutral C₆-SH group in the acidic medium and in the basic medium as a bidentate ligand binding to the metal ion through C₆S^? and N₇, forming a five-membered chelate ring. In an acidic medium 2,6-diaminopurine forms mononuclear complexes with Pt(II) and Pt(IV) binding through N₇. In a basic medium binuclear hydroxobridged complexes are formed with Pt(IV) and the ligand is monodentate, coordinating through N₇.     

Synthesis of new water soluble diorganotin(IV) complexes with hydrazones derived from Girard-T reagent as antibacterial and anticancer agents

Three new water-soluble organotin complexes R₂Sn(5-BrSalGT)Cl [R = Ph, Me] and Ph₂Sn(2-OHNaphGT)Cl have been synthesized by the reaction of R₂SnCl₂ (R = Ph or Me) with Schiff bases derived from condensation of Girard-T reagent with 5-bromosalicylaldehyde and 2-naphthaldehyde, (5-BrH₂SalGT)Cl (1) and (2-OHH₂NaphGT)Cl (2). The synthesized compounds have been investigated by elemental analysis, conductometric measurements, IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy. These data show that the deporotonated ligand is coordinated to Sn(IV) via ONO atoms and six-coordinate zwitterionic complexes are formed. The ligands and their complexes were investigated for their in vitro toxicity against Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. The results show remarkable antibacterial activity against the studied bacteria. All complexes exhibit more inhibitory effects than the parent ligand. The anticancer activity of all compounds were also performed on HN5 cell line and (2-OHH₂NaphGT)Cl with concentration of 1 mg mL^?1 was found to show higher anticancer activity than other compounds.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel oxime-imine ligands and their heteronuclear ruthenium(III) complexes

Vicinal carbonyl oxime (HL¹) and oxime-imine (H₂L²) ligands and their mononuclear Ru(III) and Cu(II), heterodinuclear Ru(III)-Mn(II), Ru(III)-Ni(II), Ru(III)-Cu(II), and heterotrinuclear Ru(III)-Cu(II)-Ru(III) chelates were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, IR, ESR, ICP-OES, magnetic moment measurements, and thermal analyses studies. The free ligands were also characterized by ¹H NMR spectra. The carbonyl-oxime ligand coordinates through the oxygen of =N-OH to form a six-membered chelate ring. The quadridentate tetraaza ligand (H₂L²) obtained by condensing of the bidentate ligand 1-p-diphenylmethane-2-hydroxyimino-2-(1-naphthylamino)-1-ethanone (HL¹) with 1,2-phenylenediamine coordinates with Ru(III) through its nitrogen donors in the equatorial position with the loss of one of the oxime protons and concomitant formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond. Stoichiometric and spectral results of the metal complexes indicated that the metal: ligand ratios in the mononuclear complexes of the ligand (HL¹) were found to be 1: 2, while these ratios were 1: 1 in the mononuclear complexes of the ligand (H₂L²). The metal: ligand ratios of the dinuclear complexes were found to be 2: 1, and this ratio was 3: 2 in the trinuclear complex. The article is published in the original.     

Reactivity of cyclometallated platinum complexes with chiral ligands

The reaction of [Pt₂Me₄(μ-SMe₂)₂] with 3-substituted iminic thiophenes and 2-phenylpyridine gives platinum (II) [C,N] cyclometallated complexes which contain a labile ligand (SMe₂ or CH₃CN). Several platinum (II) complexes have been synthesized by substitution reactions with phosphine or sulfoxide ligands to introduce, in most cases, a second chiral center. The new complexes’ reactions with methyl iodide were subsequently studied and showed results that are dependent on the steric and electronic effects of both the cyclometallated ligand and the ancillary phosphine or sulfoxide ligand. The structure of [PtMe((R)-C₁₀H₇CHMeNCHC₄H₂S)(CH₃CN)], a synthetic precursor, is also reported.     

Stereoselective C-X and regioselective C-H activation to,and selective C(sp2)-C(sp3) reductive elimination from,platinum compounds with thiophene-derived ligands

Several thiophene-based N^C ligands were synthesized. Strategically, a bromide was incorporated on the 2-position of the thiophene ring. When allowed to react with the platinum tetramethyl dimer, [Pt₂Me₄(µ-SMe₂)₂], platinum(IV) platinacycles were formed by oxidative addition of the C(sp²)-X bond. These platinum(IV) compounds were characterized by NMR and HRMS. The platinum (IV) compounds were subsequently subjected to thermolysis. A series of reactions occurred, including selective C-C reduction elimination and selective C-H oxidative addition, giving mixtures of platinum(II) products with varying degrees of regioselectivity.     

Construction and structural analysis of mono- and heterobimetallic bis(titanate) molecular cages

To explore the utility of bis(dihydroxynaphthalene) ligands for the construction of supramolecular structures, we demonstrated the preparation of cage-shaped complexes by combining these ligands with hexacoordinate titanium(IV). The reaction of biphenylenebis(dihydroxynaphthalene) with TiO(acac)₂ proceeded in the presence of N-methylmorpholine in DMF and an M₂L₃-type cage was obtained by self-organization. As an extension of this work, the preparation of heterobimetallic molecular cages was examined by using combinations of titanium(IV), palladium(II) or platinum(II), and pyridyldihydroxynaphthalenes. Ti(IV)/Pd(II) cages were prepared in one pot by treatment of the pyridyldihydroxynaphthalene ligands with TiO(acac)₂ followed by PdCl₂(MeCN)₂. In the preparation of Ti(IV)/Pt(II) cages, platinum(II)-bridged bis(dihydroxynaphthalene) ligands were isolated in advance from the reaction of pyridyldihydroxynaphthalene ligand precursors with K₂PtCl₄, which were then deprotected and reacted with TiO(acac)₂ in the same conditions as those for biphenylenebis(dihydroxynaphthalene). The precise structures of the Ti(IV)/Pd(II) and Ti(IV)/Pt(II) heterobimetallic cages were fully elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Synthesis, characterization and X-ray crystal structures of seven-coordinate pentagonal-bipyramidal zinc(II), cadmium(II) and tin(IV) complexes of a pentadentate N3S2 thiosemicarbazone

New complexes of the general formula, [M(H₂dap⁴NMetsc)(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂·H₂O (M = Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺; H₂dap⁴NMetsc = 2,6-diacetylpyridinebis(⁴N-methylthiosemicarbazone) and [Sn((dap⁴NMetsc)X₂] (X = Ph, Cl and I) (dap⁴NMetsc = the doubly deprotonated form of 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(⁴N-methylthiosemicarbazone) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by a variety of physico-chemical techniques. X-ray crystallographic structure determination shows that in the zinc and cadmium complexes, the bis(thiosemicarbazone) ligand coordinates as a neutral N₃S₂ pentadentate chelating agent through the two azomethine nitrogen atoms, the pyridine nitrogen atom and the two thione sulfur atoms. The N₃S₂ donors of the ligand occupy the equatorial plane and the two aqua ligands occupy the sixth and seventh axial positions of the seven-coordinated cadmium(II) and zinc(II) ions. In the tin(IV) complexes, however, the thiosemicarbazone is coordinated to the tin(IV) ion as a dinegatively charged pentadentate chelating agent via the pyridine nitrogen atom, the two azomethine nitrogen atoms and the two thiolate sulfur atoms. The two apical positions of the seven-coordinate tin(IV) ion are occupied by either phenyl, chlorido or iodido ligands. In each of the complexes, the overall geometry adopted by the metal ion may be considered as a distorted pentagonal-bipyramid.     

Platinum(IV) and palladium(II) thiosemicarbazide and thiodiamine complexes: A spectral and antibacterial study

Platinum(IV) and palladium(II) complexes [Pt(L)₂Cl₂] and [Pd(L)Cl₂], [where, L?=?1,1-diphenyl-2-thiosemicarbazide (L¹) and (1,1-diphenyl-2-thio)-1,3-propanediamine (L²) have been synthesized. The thiosemicarbazides and thiodiamines exist as the thione-thiol tautomer and coordinate as a bidentate N-S ligand. The ligands are monobasic bidentate. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, mass, electronic and 1H NMR spectroscopic studies. In vitro antibacterial studies have also been carried out for some complexes.     

Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxicity of platinum(II) complexes with chiral N-monosubstituted 1,2-cyclohexyldiamine derivatives as the carrier groups

Eight platinum(II) complexes with the new chiral ligands, (1R,2R)-N ¹-(pyridine-2-ylmethyl) cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (R) or (1S,2S)-N ¹-(pyridine-2-ylmethyl) cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (S) as the carrier groups were designed, synthesized, and spectrally characterized. All platinum(II) complexes showed much better aqueous solubility than cisplatin and oxaliplatin. In vitro cytotoxicity of the compounds against human HepG-2, MCF-7, A549, and HCT-116 cell lines was evaluated. Results indicate that all compounds with R as the carrier group showed cytotoxicity against HCT-116, A549, and MCF-7 cell lines; however, all compounds with S as carrier group exhibited disappointing cytotoxicity against tested cell lines. Compound R2, bearing ClCH₂COO^- as leaving group, exhibited better cytotoxicity than that of carboplatin against A549 and MCF-7 cell lines and also showed close activity to oxaliplatin against HCT-116 cell line.     

Formation of anionic σ-aryl complexes of platinum (IV) in the reaction of H2PtCl6 with aromatic compounds. The crystal and molecular structures of platinum (IV) complexes of naphthalene and ortho-nitrotoluene

The crystal and molecular structures of anionic platinum(IV) complexes of naphthalene (I) and ortho-nitrotoluene (II) have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The structures of both complexes are similar. The platinum atom is octahedrally coordinated with four chlorine atoms occupying the equatorial positions and σ-bonded aryl and neutral ammonia ligands situated in the axial positions.     

DNA modification by cis-diaminoplatinum(ii) complexes with aminonitroxide ligands

The mixed-ligand complexes cis-Pt^II[R(CH₂)_nNH₂](NH₃)X₂, where R = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-oxylpiperidin-4-yl, X₂ = ClI or Cl₂, n = 1 or 2, and binuclear complexes trans-3,4-bis[cis-ammine(iodochloro or dichloro)platinum(ii)amino]-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyls were synthesized. The reactivity of the aminonitroxide complexes toward DNA, the destabilizing effect of the adducts on DNA structure, and the distribution of the Pt adducts along the DNA duplex were studied. The platination activity of the complexes is affected by the natures of both the leaving ligands X and the carrying amino ligands. The decrease in the platination activity of the complexes with an increase in the amino ligand sizes is probably caused by steric hindrance. The complexes that effectively platinate isolated DNA and cause a moderate destabilizition of DNA duplex possess high antitumor activities.