Molecular aspects on the interaction of phenosafranine to deoxyribonucleic acid: Model for intercalative drug-DNA binding

The mode, mechanism and energetics of interaction of phenosafranine, the planar, cationic and rigid phenazium dye to calf thymus DNA was investigated from absorption, fluorescence, circular dichroism, isothermal titration calorimetry, thermal melting, and viscosity. The study revealed non-cooperative binding of the dye to DNA with an affinity in the range (3.81-4.22) × 10⁵ M⁻¹ as observed from diverse techniques and obeying neighbor exclusion principle. The stoichiometry of binding was characterized to be one phenosafranine molecule per two base pairs. The binding was characterized by strong stabilization of DNA against thermal strand separation, large intrinsic circular dichroic changes of DNA by itself and the generation of induced circular dichroism for the optically inactive phenosafranine molecules. Hydrodynamic and fluorescence quenching studies revealed strong evidence that the phenosafranine molecules are intercalated between every alternate base pairs of calf thymus DNA. Isothermal titration calorimetry studies suggested that the binding was exothermic and favoured by both negative enthalpy and positive entropy changes. This study for the first time presents the complete molecular aspects and energetics of phenosafranine complexation to DNA as model for intercalative drug-DNA interaction.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic and structural studies of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl phosphorodiamidate complexes with tin(IV) chloride

The two octahedral complexes SnCl₄ · 2(O)P(NR₂)₂OCH₂CF₃ (R = Me (1) or Et (2)) have been prepared from SnCl₄ and the ligands (R₂N)₂P(O)OCH₂CF₃ in chloroform solution. Both adducts have been characterised by (³¹P and ¹¹⁹Sn) NMR, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The NMR data show that the complexes exist as mixtures of cis and trans isomers in solution with the latter isomer being the predominant species. The structure of 1 has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Accordingly, the structure is centrosymmetric and the two ligands are bound trans to each other in the octahedral tin complex. DFT/B3LYP calculations show that trans configuration does indeed lead to the lowest energy species. Comparison of the structural, NMR and theoretical data of both complexes with those related to SnCl₄ · 2L (L = (Me₂N)₃P(O) and (Me₂N)₂P(O)F) further supports the important effects of the nature of the substituents in the ligand on the stereochemistry of the complex formed.     

Thermodynamic study of complex formation process of free base meso-tetraphenylporphyrins with dimethyl and dibutyltin(IV) dichloride: a new algorithm for a single thermometric titration

A novel, fast and easy single sample measurement has been developed based upon temperature dependence of equilibrium constant in order to determine the enthalpy and entropy changes of a complexation reaction using spectrophotometric temperature titration. The method can be used in determination of the formation constant and thermodynamic parameters of the solutions that there are difficulties in their titration where volatile compounds are studying. Knowledge of component spectra is not required for the analysis. The formation constants of the interactions of ß-di and tri-brominated meso-tetraphenylporphyrins, and meso-tetrakis(4-methylphenyl) and (4-methoxyphenyl) porphyrins with Me₂SnCl₂ and Bu₂SnCl₂, have been determined in range of 0–25 °C utilizing van’t Hoff relation, mass balance and equilibrium constant equations by an iterative least squares method with ΔH ⁰ as adjustable parameter. The outputs of analysis are the equilibrium constants, ligand and adduct spectral profiles, their concentrations as a function of temperature, the adjusted values of the standard enthalpy ΔH ⁰, and entropy ΔS ⁰ changes. The order of formation constants of the resulting 1:1 complexes decreased with increasing number of bromide substituents and increased with adding methyl and methoxy groups, and vary as H₂T(4-CH₃O)PP > H₂T(4-CH₃)PP > H₂TPP > H₂TPPBr₂ > H₂TPPBr₃ and Me₂SnCl₂ > Bu₂SnCl₂.     

Thermal investigation of some heterocyclic ligand complexes of tin(IV) in the solid state

1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 2,2′-bipyridyl (bipy), pyridine (py) and 4-picoline (4-pic) complexes of dibutyltindichloride (Bu₂SnCl₂) and dimethyltindichloride (Me₂SnCl₂) were synthesized. The complexes were characterized with the help of elemental analyses, IR spectra and thermal analyses. The complexes were found to have the compositions [Bu₂SnCl₂·phen], [Bu₂SnCl₂·bipy], [Me₂SnCl₂·phen], [Me₂SnCl₂·bipy], [Me₂SnCl₂·2py] and [Me₂SnCl₂·2(4-pic)]·H₂O. All these complex compounds appeared to posses octahedral structures. Thermodynamic parameters, such as activation energyE _a ^* enthalpy change ΔH and entropy change ΔS, for the dehydration and sublimation of the complexes were evaluated using some standard methods.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and in vitro antimicrobial activity of diorganotin(IV) dichloride adducts with [1,2,4]triazolo-[1,5-a]pyrimidine and 5,7-dimethyl-[1,2,4]triazolo-[1,5-a]pyrimidine

The heterocyclic ligands [1,2,4]triazolo-[1,5-a]pyrimidine (tp) and 5,7-dimethyl-[1,2,4]triazolo-[1,5-a]pyrimidine (dmtp), react with diorganotin dichlorides giving the addition compounds Me₂SnCl₂(tp)₂, Et₂SnCl₂(tp)₂, Me₂SnCl₂(dmtp)₂, Et₂SnCl₂(dmtp)₂, Bu₂SnCl₂(dmtp), Ph₂SnCl₂(dmtp). The organotin:ligand stoichiometry goes from 1:2 to 1:1 by increasing the steric hindrance of the organic groups bound to tin. The compounds have been characterized by means of infrared, ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer and ¹H AND ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.The ligands presumably coordinate to tin classically through the nitrogen atom at the position 3. The 1:1 complexes adopt trigonal bipyramidal structures, with the organic groups on the equatorial plane and the ligand in the apical position. All-trans octahedral structures are inferred for the 1:2 complexes, except for Et₂SnCl₂(tp)₂, characterized by a skew-trapezoidal structure.¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer measurements, at room temperature, in concomitance with DFT calculations, performed on isomeric structures of R₂SnCl₂(tp)₂ (R = Me, Et), allowed us to conclude that the all-trans octahedral coordination induces self-assembly in the solid state, possibly accomplished through π-π stacking interactions among the planar ligands coordinated to the organotin(IV) compound, while the skew-trapezoidal structure attributed to Et₂SnCl₂(tp)₂, induces the formation of monomeric adducts in the solid state.In vitro antimicrobial tests showed that [n-Bu₂SnCl₂(dmtp)] has interesting properties as anti Gram-positive and antibiofilm agent.     

An experimental and a DFT study on the synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, and reactivity of the adducts of dimethyl- and diphenyltin(IV) dichlorides with γ-pyrones [4H-pyran-4-one (PYR) and 2,6-dimethyl-4H-pyran-4-one (DMP)]: Crystal structure of Ph2SnCl2(PYR)

The Sn(IV) R₂SnCl₂(γ-pyrone)_n [R = Me or Ph; γ-pyrone = 4H-pyran-4-one (PYR) or 2,6-dimethyl-4H-pyran-4-one (DMP); n = 1 or 2] adducts have been synthesized and investigated. The adducts Ph₂SnCl₂(PYR) (1), Me₂SnCl₂(PYR)₂ (2), Ph₂SnCl₂(DMP) (3) and Me₂SnCl₂(PYR)(PNO) (4), (PNO = 4-methylpyridine N-oxide) have been prepared by the addition of the corresponding γ-pyrone to chloroform solution of R₂SnCl₂. The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic (IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR and Mössbauer) means. The single-crystal diffraction study of 1 shows the Sn(IV) to be five-coordinate, [Sn-O and Sn-Cl(1), Sn-Cl(2) distances of 2.3190(13) and 2.4312(6), 2.3653(7), respectively], and the Cl-Sn-Cl bond angle to be 91.17°. The reactivity of 2 towards bipy, Ph₃PO, QNO (Q = quinoline) resulted in complete displacement of PYR and formation of already known compounds whereas, the PNO displaced only one equivalent of PYR, causing the preparation of the new mixed complex 4, possibly through a S_N¹ formation mechanism. DFT/B3LYP molecular orbital calculations were carried out for the 1-4 complexes, their precursors, Ph₂SnCl₂, (5) and Me₂SnCl₂, (6) and the ligands, PYR, DMP and PNO in an attempt to explain the structures and reactivity of the complexes. Optimized resulting geometries, vibrational frequencies, and the electron-accepting ability of the complexes and the precursors towards nucleophiles are discussed.     

Organotin(IV) complexes with various donor ligands and their cytotoxicity against tumour cell lines. Part(I): R2SnCl2 with Schiff bases; unusual CN bond cleavage of the bases and X‐ray structures of the ionic products formed

Several Schiff bases derived from salicylaldehyde and aminopyridines were found to coordinate with Me₂SnCl₂ in 1:1 or 1:2 (tin:base) molar ratio in diethylether, depending on the nature of the Schiff base used, to form complexes of the general formula Me₂SnCl₂·L or Me₂SnCl₂·2L respectively. These Schiff bases coordinate with Ph₂SnCl₂ in a similar manner, but if the reaction is carried out in chloroform or if the product formed in ether is dissolved in chloroform then colourless to pale yellow crystals precipitated. The latter were analysed and found to be due to the ionic compounds [H₂NpyN–H⁺]₂ [Ph₂SnCl₄]^2? which were formed as a result of an unusual cleavage of the C?N bond of the Schiff bases. The Schiff bases, their Me₂SnCl₂ complexes and the ionic compounds were analyzed physicochemically and spectroscopically. The crystal structures of two of the ionic compounds showed that the cation [H₂NpyN–H⁺] binds with the anion [Ph₂SnCl₄]^2? via hydrogen bonds. The Schiff bases, their Me₂SnCl₂ complexes and the ionic compounds were screened against the three tumour cell lines, L₉₂₉, K₅₆₂ and HeLa, and the results were compared with those of the anticancer drugs, cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,Molecular Structure,and Isomerisation in Solution of (Me3SbS)2Me2SnCl2. Concomitant Hypercoordination of Tin and Antimony

The reaction of Me₃SbCl₂ and (Me₂SnS)₃ afforded the complex (Me₃SbS)₂Me₂SnCl₂ in high yields, whose molecular structure features both hypercoordinated tin and antimony atoms. In solution, (Me₃SbS)₂Me₂SnCl₂ undergoes a reversible dissociation and ligand interchange reaction to give Me₃SbS, Me₃SbCl₂ and (Me₂SnS)₃.     

Molar excess enthalpies of ethyl acetate + alkanols at T = 298.15 K, p = 10.0 MPa

A commercial flow-mixing isothermal calorimeter was tested by measuring heat of mixing curves for exothermic, endothermic, S-shaped and double minimum molar excess enthalpy mixtures at high pressure. The results show this calorimeter is able to produce good quality data. Molar excess enthalpies for ethyl acetate mixed with a series of simple alkanols were measured at T = 298.15 K and p = 10 MPa.     

Thermochemistry of Li1+xMn2−xO4 (0?x?1/3) spinel

Lithium substituted Li_1+xMn_2−xO₄ spinel samples in the entire solid solution range (0?x?1/3) were synthesized by solid-state reaction. The samples with x<0.25 are stoichiometric and those with x?0.25 are oxygen deficient. High-temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry in molten 3Na₂O·4MoO₃ at 974 K was performed to determine their enthalpies of formation from constituent binary oxides at 298 K. The cubic lattice parameter was determined from least-squares fitting of powder XRD data. The variations of the enthalpy of formation from oxides and the lattice parameter with x follow similar trends. The enthalpy of formation from oxides becomes more exothermic with x for stoichiometric compounds (x<0.25) and deviates endothermically from this trend for oxygen-deficient samples (x?0.25). This energetic trend is related to two competing substitution mechanisms of lithium for manganese (oxidation of Mn³⁺ to Mn⁴⁺ versus formation of oxygen vacancies). For stoichiometric spinels, the oxidation of Mn³⁺ to Mn⁴⁺ is dominant, whereas for oxygen-deficient compounds both mechanisms are operative. The endothermic deviation is ascribed to the large endothermic enthalpy of reduction.     

Non-chromatographic screening method for the determination of mercury species. Application to the monitoring of mercury levels in Antarctic samples

A simple non-chromatographic method for the determination of mercury (Hg²⁺), methylmercury (MeHg⁺), dimethylmercury (Me₂Hg), and phenylmercury (PhHg⁺) employing atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) as detection technique was developed. Mercury species showed a particular behavior in the presence of several reagents. In a first stage SnCl₂ was employed for Hg²⁺ determination; in a second step, [Hg²⁺ + PhHg⁺] concentration was determined using SnCl₂ and UV radiation. MeHg⁺ decomposition was prevented adding 2-mercaptoethanol. In a third stage, [Hg²⁺ + PhHg⁺ + MeHg⁺] concentration was determined using K₂S₂O₈. Finally, the four species were determined employing NaBH₄. Reagents concentration and flow rates were optimized. The extraction technique of mercury species involved the use of 2-mercaptoethanol as ion-pair reagent. The limits of detection for Hg²⁺, PhHg⁺, MeHg⁺, and Me₂Hg were 1, 40, 68, and 99 ng L⁻¹ with a relative standard deviation of 1.5, 3.1, 4.7 and 5.8%, respectively. Calibration curve was linear with a correlation factor equal to 0.9995. The method was successfully applied to the determination of the mercury species in two Antarctic materials: IRMM 813 (Adamussium colbecki) and MURST-ISS-A2 (Antarctic Krill).     

Structure and conformational motion of seven-coordinate diorganotin(IV) complexes derived from salen and salan type ligands

Reaction of R₂SnCl₂ (R = Me, nBu, Ph) and the potassium salts of salenN₃H₃ (N,N′-bis(salicylidene)diethylenetriamine) and saleanN₃H₅ (N,N′-bis(o-hydroxybenzyl)diethylenetriamine) provided diorganotin(IV) complexes of the composition [Me₂Sn(salenN₃H)]·solvate (solvate = 2.5H₂O, MeOH or DMSO), [nBu₂Sn(salenN₃H)]·H₂O, [Ph₂Sn(salenN₃H)]·2EtOH and [Me₂Sn(saleanN₃H₃)]·2.5H₂O. In all compounds the tin atoms are seven-coordinate and have pentagonal-bipyramidal coordination environments, in which the organic substituents attached to the tin atoms occupy the axial positions. This occurs both in solution and the solid state; however, in solution the molecules are involved in conformational equilibria that require the presence of intermediates, in which the N → Sn bonds are dissociated. Although the [saleanN₃H₃]²⁻ ligand is more flexible and basic, a very similar complexing behavior to that of [salenN₃H]²⁻ has been found, and there is evidence that it is even a weaker ligand. Both ligands show the tendency to adopt a curved conformation within the complex, thus indicating that the dynamic process resembles the flapping of butterfly wings. However, the folding is reduced with increasing steric bulk of the organic substitutents attached to the tin atoms. The six-membered heterocyclic rings in the [R₂Sn(salenN₃H)] derivatives have envelope conformation, while those in [Me₂Sn(saleanN₃H₃)] have distorted boat-conformation. Thus, small changes in the hybridization and basicity of the nitrogen atoms cause significant differences of the stability and the dynamic behavior of the resulting molecules.     

Synthesis and molecular structures of the cobalt complexes (η4-C4Me4)Co(CO)2SnCl3, (η4-C4Me4)Co(CO)2(TeI2Ph), and (η4-C4Me4)Co(CO)2 (TeBrIPh) with the shortened Co-Sn and Co-Te bonds

The complex (η⁴-C₄Me₄)Co(CO)₂I (I) reacted with excess SnCl₂ in boiling THF to give, through replacement of the iodide ligand by the fragment SnCl₃, the mononuclear complex (η⁴-C₄Me₄)Co(CO)₂SnCl₃ (II) containing the Co-Sn bond (2.459(1) ?). In a reaction of complex I with phenyltellurenyl halides PhTeI and PhTeBr, an analogous insertion into the cobalt-iodine bond yielded (η⁻C₄Me₄)Co(CO)₂(TeI₂Ph) (III) and (η⁴-C₄Me₄)Co(CO)₂(TeBrIPh) (IV), respectively. This type of coordination of the aryltellurenyl halide fragment to the transition metal atom was observed for the first time. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a substantial shortening of the formally single Co-Sn and Co-Te bonds in complexes II–IV compared to the sum of the covalent radii of the corresponding atoms. Original Russian Text ? Yu.V. Torubaev, A.A. Pasynskii, A.R. Galustyan, p. Mathur, 2009, published in Koordinatsionnaya Khimiya, 2009, vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 3–7.     

[Pd(H)(SnCl3)L2]: The key active species in the catalyzed alkoxycarbonylation reaction of terminal alkenes

The four complexes [Pd(H)(Cl)L₂] and [Pd(H)(SnCl₃)L₂], L = PPh₃, PCy₃, have been synthesized and fully characterized by multinuclear NMR. They represent the active species of the hydride palladium-catalyzed alkoxycarbonylation of terminal alkenes. Isolation of the model acylplatinum complex, resulting from the carbonylation of dihydromyrcene, clearly shows that SnCl₂ as co-catalyst produces a SnCl₃ ligand which modulates the metal center electron density.     

Synthesis and characterization of glycoconjugate tin(IV) complexes: In vitro DNA binding studies, cytotoxicity, and cell death

New glycosyl derived ligand and its complexes, with SnCl₄·5H₂O (1) and (CH₃)₂SnCl₂(2) were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic (IR, ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, UV-vis, ESI-MS) and analytical methods. Interaction studies of 1 and 2 with CT DNA were studied by using various biophysical techniques, which showed high binding affinity of 2 with CT DNA. In vitro cytotoxicity of complexes 1 and 2 were evaluated against different human cancer cell lines of different histological origins by employing SRB Assay. The organotin(IV) complex 2 exhibited remarkable activity against DWD (oral cancer) cell lines with GI₅₀ values <10 μg/ml. Complex 2 induced apoptosis of DWD cell line at a very low concentration of 1-4 μg/mL.     

Study on the interactions between anti-tumor metal complexes and mononucleotides using trans -[en2Os(η2-H2)(CF3SO3)](CF3SO3) as a 1H NMR probe in a competitive mode

The interaction of several anti-tumor metal complexes with dGMP have been investigated using trans-[en₂Os(η²-H₂)]²⁺ as a ¹H NMR probe in a competitive mode. Me₂SnCl₂, Bu₂SnCl₂, Et₂Sn(phen)Cl₂ and Et₂SnCl₂can bind to dGMP mainly via phosphate; Cp₂TiCl₂ binds to dGMP mainly via phosphate and N₇. The binding constant for (CH₃)₂SnCl₂ binding to phosphate of dGMP exceeds 2.71×10⁴. The binding constant for Cp₂TiCl₂ to phosphate is even greater than that of Sn(IV). Cis-platin has high affinity for both N₇ and phosphate, but mainly for N₇. Binding of the probe to N₇ of dGMP reduces the binding affinity for phosphate of the same dGMP molecule by a factor of 5 to 6. Much the same factor is expected to apply to other metals containing agents interacting with dGMP.     

Cytotoxic half-sandwich rhodium(III) complexes: Polypyridyl ligand influence on their DNA binding properties and cellular uptake

The DNA binding of polypyridyl (pp) (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh^III complexes of the types [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(pp)](CF₃SO₃) (2-6) (pp = bpy, phen, dpq, dppz, dppn), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh{(Me₂N)₂CS}(pp)](CF₃SO₃)₂ (7-9) (pp = dpq, dppz, dppn) and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(L)(pp)](CF₃SO₃) (10) (L = C₆H₅S⁻) and (11) (L = C₁₀H₇S⁻) has been studied by UV/Vis spectroscopy, circular dichroismus and viscosity measurements. Complexes 3-11 are cytotoxic towards the human MCF-7 breast and HT-29 colon cancer cell lines and exhibit IC₅₀ values in the range 0.56-10.7 μM. Stable intercalative binding into CT-DNA is indicated for the dpq and dppz complexes by large increases ΔT_m of 6-12 °C in the DNA thermal denaturation temperature for r = [complex]/[DNA] = 0.1 and by induced CD bands and large viscosity increases. In contrast, significant DNA lengthening is not observed after incubation of the biopolymer with the dppn complexes 2 and 9 at molar ratios of r < 0.08. Pronounced hypochromic shifts for the π-π^∗ transitions of the dppn ligands in the range 320-425 nm indicate the possible presence of surface stacking. The in vitro cytotoxicities of the chloro complexes 4-6 and the (Me₂N)₂CS complexes 7-9 are dependent on the size of the polypyridyl ligand with IC₅₀ values decreasing in the order dpq > dppz > dppn. For instance, IC₅₀ values of 5.3, 1.5 and 0.91 μM were determined for 7-9 against MCF-7 cells. Rapid Cl⁻/H₂O exchange leads the formation of aqua dications for 4-6, whose levels of cellular uptake and cytotoxicities are similar to those established for 7-9. Intramolecular interactions between the aromatic thiolate and dppz ligands of 10 and 11 prevent significant DNA intercalation. X-ray structural determinations have been performed for 2-7 and 11.     

The Enthalpy and Kinetics of Sorption on VION Fibrous Chemisorbents

The enthalpy and kinetics of interaction of acids and alkalis with VION KN-1 and VION AN-1 weakly ionized fibrous chemisorbents were determined by the calorimetric and sorption techniques. The interaction of the chemisorbents, no matter what their initial form, with acids and alkalis was exothermic, and the maximum thermal effect was attained within the initial period of 10–20 min. The sorption of Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cd²⁺ by the salt (Na) form of the cation exchanger was endothermic, and the enthalpy of the process depended on the nature of metal cations and their concentration in solution. Original Russian Text ? V.D. Kopylova, O.M. Zverev, A.V. Astapov, Yu.S. Peregudov, 2008, published in Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii, 2008, Vol. 82, No. 4, pp. 739–744.     

Anticancer activity of new organo-ruthenium, rhodium and iridium complexes containing the 2-(pyridine-2-yl)thiazole N,N-chelating ligand

The dinuclear dichloro complexes [(η⁶-arene)₂Ru₂(μ-Cl)₂Cl₂] and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂M₂(μ-Cl)₂Cl₂] react with 2-(pyridine-2-yl)thiazole (pyTz) to afford the cationic complexes [(η⁶-arene)Ru(pyTz)Cl]⁺ (arene = C₆H₆1, p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me 2 or C₆Me₆3) and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)M(pyTz)Cl]⁺ (M = Rh 4 or Ir 5), isolated as the chloride salts. The reaction of 2 and 3 with SnCl₂ leads to the dinuclear heterometallic trichlorostannyl derivatives [(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)Ru(pyTz)(SnCl₃)]⁺ (6) and [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(pyTz)(SnCl₃)]⁺ (7), respectively, also isolated as the chloride salts. The molecular structures of 4, 5 and 7 have been established by single-crystal X-ray structure analyses of the corresponding hexafluorophosphate salts. The in vitro anticancer activities of the metal complexes on human ovarian cancer cell lines A2780 and A2780cisR (cisplatin-resistant), as well as their interactions with plasmid DNA and the model protein ubiquitin, have been investigated.     

Benign synthesis of carboxamide ligands,H2Me2bqb and H2Me2bpb. Preparation,characterization and electrochemistry of Ni(II) complexes: The crystal structure of [Ni(Me2bqb)]

A novel and highly efficient approach for the synthesis of H₂Me₂bqb and H₂Me₂bpb using ionic liquid as an environmentally benign reaction medium has been developed, eliminating the need for the pyridine as a toxic solvent. The Ni(II) complex of the dianionic ligand Me₂bqb²⁻, [Me₂bqb²⁻ = 1,2-bis(quinoline-2-carboxamide)-4,5-dimethyl-benzene dianion], has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopic methods, and the crystal and molecular structure of [Ni(Me₂bqb)] (1), has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The complex exhibits distorted square-planar NiN₄ coordination geometry with two short and two long Ni–N bonds (Ni–N ∼1.85 and ∼1.96 Å, respectively). The electrochemical behavior of [Ni(Me₂bqb)] (1), has been studied by cyclic voltammetry and compared with the analogous complex, [Ni(Me₂bpb)] (2).