Selectivity of purine alkylation by a quinone methide. Kinetic or thermodynamic control?

The alkylation reaction of 9-methyladenine and 9-methylguanine (as prototype substrates of deoxy-adenosine and -guanosine), by the parent o-quinone methide (o-QM), has been investigated in the gas phase and in aqueous solution, using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level. The effect of the medium on the reactivity, and on the stability of the resulting adducts, has been investigated by using the C-PCM solvation model to assess which adduct arises from the kinetically favorable path, or from an equilibrating process. The calculations indicate that the most nucleophilic site of the methyl-substituted nucleobases in the gas phase is the guanine oxygen atom (O(6)) (DeltaG()(gas) = 5.6 kcal mol(-)(1)), followed by the adenine N1 (DeltaG)(gas) = 10.3 kcal mol(-)(1)), while other centers exhibit a substantially lower nucleophilicity. The bulk effect of water as a solvent is the dramatic reduction of the nucleophilicity of both 9-methyladenine N1 (DeltaG)(solv) = 14.5 kcal mol(-)(1)) and 9-methylguanine O(6) (DeltaG)(solv) = 17.0 kcal mol(-)(1)). As a result there is a reversal of the nucleophilicity order of the purine bases. While O(6) and N7 nucleophilic centers of 9-methylguanine compete almost on the same footing, the reactivity gap between N1 and N7 of 9-methyladenine in solution is highly reduced. Regarding product stability, calculations predict that only two of the adducts of o-QM with 9-methyladenine, those at NH(2) and N1 positions, are lower in energy than reactants, both in the gas phase and in water. However, the adduct at N1 can easily dissociate in water. The adducts arising from the covalent modification of 9-methylguanine are largely more stable than reactants in the gas phase, but their stability is markedly reduced in water. In particular, the oxygen alkylation adduct becomes slightly unstable in water (DeltaG(solv) = +1.4 kcal mol(-)(1)), and the N7 alkylation product remains only moderately more stable than free reactants (DeltaG(solv) = -2.8 kcal mol(-)(1)). Our data show that site alkylations at the adenine N1 and the guanine O(6) and N7 in water are the result of kinetically controlled processes and that the selective modification of the exo-amino groups of guanine N2 and adenine N6 are generated by thermodynamic equilibrations. The ability of o-QM to form several metastable adducts with purine nucleobases (at guanine N7 and O(2), and adenine N1) in water suggests that the above adducts may act as o-QM carriers.     

Unprecedented head-to-head conformers of d(GpG) bound to the antitumor active compound tetrakis (mu-carboxylato)dirhodium(II,II)

The N7/O6 equatorial binding interactions of the antitumor active complex Rh(2)(OAc)(4)(H(2)O)(2) (OAc(-) = CH(3)CO(2)(-)) with the DNA fragment d(GpG) have been unambiguously determined by NMR spectroscopy. Previous X-ray crystallographic determinations of the head-to-head (HH) and head-to-tail (HT) adducts of dirhodium tetraacetate with 9-ethylguanine (9-EtGH) revealed unprecedented bridging N7/O6 guanine nucleobases that span the Rh-Rh bond. The absence of N7 protonation at low pH and the notable increase in the acidity of N1-H (pK(a) approximately 5.7 as compared to 8.5 for N7 only bound platinum adducts), suggested by the pH dependence titrations of the purine H8 (1)H NMR resonances for Rh(2)(OAc)(2)(9-EtG)(2) and Rh(2)(OAc)(2-)[d(GpG)],are consistent with bidentate N7/O6 binding of the guanine nucleobases. The pK(a) values estimated for N1-H (de)protonation, from the pH dependence studies of the C6 and C2 (13)C NMR resonances for the Rh(2)(OAc)(2)(9-EtG)(2) isomers, concur with those derived from the H8 (1)H NMR resonance titrations. Comparison of the (13)C NMR resonances of C6 and C2 for the dirhodium adducts Rh(2)(OAc)(2)(9-EtG)(2) and Rh(2)(OAc)(2)[d(GpG)] with the corresponding resonances of the unbound ligands [at pH 7.0 for 9-EtGH and pH 8.0 for d(GpG)], shows substantial downfield shifts of Deltadelta approximately 11.0 and 6.0 ppm for C6 and C2, respectively; the latter shifts reflect the effect of O6 binding to the dirhodium centers and the ensuing enhancement in the acidity of N1-H. Intense H8/H8 ROE cross-peaks in the 2D ROESY NMR spectrum of Rh(2)(OAc)(2)[d(GpG)] indicate head-to-head arrangement of the guanine bases. The Rh(2)(OAc)(2)[d(GpG)] adduct exhibits two major right-handed conformers, HH1 R and HH2 R, with HH1 R being three times more abundant than the unusual HH2 R. Complete characterization of both adducts revealed repuckering of the 5'-G sugar rings to C3'-endo (N-type), retention of C2'-endo (S-type) conformation for the 3'-G sugar rings, and anti orientation with respect to the glycosyl bonds. The structural features obtained for Rh(2)(OAc)(2))[d(GpG)] by means of NMR spectroscopy are very similar to those for cis-[Pt(NH(3))(2))[d(GpG)]] and corroborate molecular modeling studies.     

New chemistry of olefin complexes of platinum(II) unravelled by basic conditions: synthesis and properties of elusive cationic species

The evolution in basic medium ([RO-] = 1 M in methanol, R = H or Me) of five-coordinate platinum(II) compounds, [PtCl2(eta2-C2H4)(N-N)], 2a-c, (N-N = N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,2-ethanediamine, a; 2,2'-bipyridyl, b; 1,10-phenanthroline, c) leads to the formation of [PtCl(eta1-CH2CH2-OCH3)(N-N)], 5a-c. The analogous compound 5d (N-N = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, d) can also be prepared, but not via transformation of the five-coordinate species 2d in basic medium where it is quite stable. 5d can instead be prepared by reaction of d with a strongly basic methanol solution of Zeise's anion [PtCl3(eta2-C2H4)](-), 1. In such a medium the di-anionic trans-[PtCl2(OR)(eta1-CH2CH2-OCH3)](2-) species (1") reacts with to form exclusively 5d. Hydrolysis of with acids bearing weakly coordinating anions leads to [PtCl(eta2-C2H4)(N-N)]+, 3a-c, as stable cations; upon the same treatment 5d does not generate 3d, but it reacts with HCl to give 2d in almost quantitative yield. Cationic complexes 3b, 3c, here reported for the first time, were reacted with some nucleophiles and their behaviour compared with that of the already known 3a. In 3b, 3c the metal centre competes with the coordinated ethene for binding to nucleophiles; therefore the acetylacetonate anion can either add to the olefin (affording compounds 6b, 6c ) or to the metal ion replacing the ethene ligand (yielding compounds 7b, 7c). Under similar conditions, 3a gives exclusively 6a. Secondary amines readily add to ethene in 3b, 3c, affording the addition products 8b, 8c, which undergo a ready cyclization to an azaplatinacyclobutane ring (9b, 9c). The remarkable ease of the four-membered ring formation has been related to the high electrophilic character of the metal core in 3b, 3c.     

G-G base-pairing in nucleobase adducts of the anticancer drug cis-[PtCl2(NH3)(2-picoline)] and its trans isomer

cis-[PtCl2(NH3)(2-picoline)] (AMD473) is a sterically-hindered anticancer complex with a profile of chemical and biological activity that differs significantly from that of cisplatin. Adducts of AMD473 with neutral 9-ethylguanine (9-EtGH) and anionic (N1-deprotonated) 9-ethylguanine (9-EtG) as perchlorate and nitrate salts, and also a nitrate salt of the trans isomer (AMD443), were prepared and their structures determined by X-ray crystallography: cis-[Pt(NH3)(2-pic)(9-EtGH)2](ClO4)2 (1).2H(2)OMe(2)CO, cis-[Pt(NH3)(2-pic)(9-EtGH)2](NO3)2 (2).2H2O, cis-[Pt(NH3)(2-pic)(9-EtGH)(9-EtG)]NO3 (3),3.5 H2O, trans-[Pt(NH3)(2-pic)(9-EtGH)(9-EtG)]NO3 (4).8H2O. In all cases, platinum coordination is through N7 of neutral (1, 2) and anionic (3, 4) guanine. In each complex, the guanine bases are arranged in the head-to-tail conformation. In complex 1, there is an infinite array of six-molecule cycles, based on both hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking of the 2-picoline and guanine rings. Platinum(II) coordinated at N7 acidifies the N1 proton of neutral 9-ethylguanine (pKa = 9.57) to give pKa1 = 8.40 and pKa2 = 8.75 for complex 2, and pKa1 = 7.77 and pKa2 = 9.00 for complex 4. In complexes 3 and 4, three intermolecular hydrogen bonds are formed between neutral and deprotonated guanine ligands involving O6, N1 and N2 sites. Unusually, both of the platinated guanine bases of complexes 3 and 4 participate in this triple G triple bond G hydrogen bonding. This is the first report of X-ray crystal structures of nucleobase adducts of the promising anticancer drug AMD473.     

Interaction between the DNA model base 9-ethylguanine and a group of ruthenium polypyridyl complexes: kinetics and conformational temperature dependence

The binding capability of three ruthenium polypyridyl compounds of structural formula [Ru(apy)(tpy)Ln-](ClO4)(2-n) [1a-c; apy = 2,2'-azobis(pyridine), tpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine, L = Cl, H2O, CH3CN] to a fragment of DNA was studied. The interaction between each of these complexes and the DNA model base 9-ethylguanine (9-EtGua) was followed by means of 1H NMR studies. Density functional theory calculations were carried out to explore the preferential ways of coordination between the ruthenium complexes and guanine. The ruthenium-9-EtGua adduct formed was isolated and fully characterized using different techniques. A variable-temperature 1H NMR experiment was carried out that showed that while the 9-EtGua fragment was rotating fast at high temperature, a loss of symmetry was suffered by the model base adduct as the temperature was lowered, indicating restricted rotation of the guanine residue.     

Association patterns of platinated purine nucleobases in metal-modified pairs and triples

Blocking of Watson-Crick or Hoogsteen edges in purine nucleobases by a metal entity precludes involvement of these sites in interbase hydrogen bonding, thereby leaving the respective other edge or the sugar edge as potential H bonding sites. In mixed guanine, adenine complexes of trans-a2PtII (a = NH3 or CH3NH2) of composition trans-[(NH3)2Pt(9-EtA-N1)(9-MeGH-N7)](NO3)2 (1a), trans-[(NH3)2Pt(9-EtA-N1)(9-MeGH-N7)](ClO4)2 (1b), and trans,trans-[(CH3NH2)2(9-MeGH-N7)Pt(N1-9-MeA-N7)Pt(9-MeGH-N7)(CH3NH2)2](ClO4)4*2H2O (2) (with 9-EtA = 9-ethyladenine, 9-MeA= 9-methyladenine, 9-MeGH = 9-methylguanine), this aspect is studied. Thus, in 1b pairing of two adenine ligands via Hoogsteen edges and in 2 pairing of two guanine bases via sugar edges is realized. These situations are compared with those found in a series of related complexes.     

Unusual reaction between (nitrile)Pt complexes and pyrazoles: substitution proceeds via metal-mediated nitrile-pyrazole coupling followed by elimination of the nitrile

The reaction of platinum(IV) complex trans-[PtCl4(EtCN)2] with pyrazoles 3,5-RR'pzH (R/R' = H/H, Me/H, Me/Me) leads to the formation of the trans-[PtCl4{NH=C(Et)(3,5-RR'pz)}2] (1-3) species due to the metal-mediated nitrile-pyrazole coupling. Pyrazolylimino complexes 1-3 (i) completely convert to pyrazole complexes cis-[PtCl4(3,5-RR'pzH)2] by elimination of EtCN upon reflux in a CH2Cl2 solution or upon heating in the solid state; (ii) undergo exchange at the imino C atom with another pyrazole different from that contained in the pyrazolylimino ligand. The reaction of trans-[PtIICl2(EtCN)2] and 3,5-RR'pzH, conducted under conditions similar to those for trans-[PtIVCl4(EtCN)2], is much less selective, and the composition of the products strongly depends on the pyrazole employed: (a) with pzH, the reaction gives a mixture of three products, i.e., [PtCl2NH=C(Et)pz-kappa2N,N}] (4), [PtCl(pzH){NH=C(Et)pz-kappa2N,N}]Cl (5), and [Pt(pzH)2{NH=C(Et)pz-kappa2N,N}]Cl2 (6) (complexes 5 and 6 are rather unstable and gradually transform to trans-[PtCl2(pzH2] and [Pt(pzH)(4)]Cl(2) and free EtCN); (b) with 3,5-Me(2)pzH, the reaction leads to the formation of [PtCl2NH=C(Et)(3,5-Me2pz)-kappa2N,N}] (7) and [PtCl(3,5-Me2pzH)3]Cl (8); (c) in the case of asymmetric pyrazole 3(5)-MepzH, which can be added to EtCN and/or bind metal centers by any of the two nonequivalent nitrogen sites, a broad mixture of currently unidentified products is formed. The reduction of 1-3 with Ph3P=CHCO2Me in CHCl3 allows for the formation of corresponding platinum(II) compounds trans-[PtCl2{NH=C(Et)(3,5-RR'pz)}2] (9-11). Ligands NH=C(Et)(3,5-RR'pz) (12-14) were almost quantitatively liberated from 9-11 with 2 equiv of 1,2-bis-(diphenylphosphino)ethane in CDCl3, giving free imines 12-14 in solution and the precipitate of trans-[Pt(dppe)2](Cl)2. Pyrazolylimines 12-14 undergo splitting in CDCl3 solution at 20-25 degrees C for ca. 20 h to furnish the parent propiononitrile and the pyrazole 3,5-RR'pzH, but they can be synthetically utilized immediately after the liberation.     

Frustrated Lewis pair addition to conjugated diynes: formation of zwitterionic 1,2,3-butatriene derivatives

The frustrated Lewis pair B(C(6)F(5))(3)/P(o-tolyl)(3) (4a) reacts with 4,6-decadiyne to give the trans-1,2-addition product 5. In contrast, the B(C(6)F(5))(3)/P(t)Bu(3) FLP (4b) reacts with this substrate to give the trans-1,4-adduct trans-6. The cumulene trans-6 undergoes trans-/cis-isomerization upon photolysis to give a ca. 1:1 trans-6/cis-6 mixture. The FLP 4b reacts with 2,6-hexadiyne at r.t. to yield a ca. 4:1 mixture of their trans-1,2- and trans-1,4-addition products (7,8). DFT calculations showed that the zwitterionic 1,4-addition products are favored under thermodynamic control. Thermolysis of the kinetic trans-1,2-addition product (7) (80 °C, bromobenzene) does not lead to the thermodynamically favored 1,4-isomer (8), but instead elimination of isobutylene occurs to the formal trans-1,2-adduct (9) of the B(C(6)F(5))(3)/PH(t)Bu(2) pair. Compounds 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 were analyzed by X-ray diffraction.     

Metal-modified nucleobase sextet: joining four linear metal fragments (trans-a2PtII) and six model nucleobases to an exceedingly stable entity

Crosslinking of three different model nucleobases (9-ethyladenine, 9-EtA; 9-ethylguanine, 9-EtGH; 1-methyluracil, 1-MeU) by two linear trans-aPtII (a = NH3 or CH3NH2) entities leads to a flat metal-modified base triplet, trans,trans-[(NH3)2Pt(1-MeU-N3)(mu-9-EtA-N7,N1)Pt(CH3NH2)2(9-EtGH-N7)]3+ (4b). Upon hemideprotonation of the 9-ethylguanine base at the N1 position. 4b spontaneously dimerizes to the metalated nucleobase sextet 5, [(4b)(triple bond)(4b-H)]5+. In this dimeric structure a neutral and an anionic guanine ligand, which are complementary to each other, are joined through three H bonds and additionally by two H bonds between guanine and uracil nucleobases. Four additional interbase H bonds maintain the approximate coplanarity of all six bases. The two base triplets form an exceedingly stable entity (KD = 500 +/- 150 M(-1) in DMSO), which is unprecedented in nucleobase chemistry. The precursor of 4b and several related complexes are described and their structures and solution properties are reported.     

The electrophilic reactions of pentacyanonitrosylferrate(II) with hydrazine and substituted derivatives. Catalytic reduction of nitrite and theoretical prediction of eta(1)-, eta(2)-N(2)O bound intermediates

The electrophilic reactivity of the pentacyanonitrosylferrate(II) ion, [Fe(CN)(5)NO](2)(-), toward hydrazine (Hz) and substituted hydrazines (MeHz, 1,1-Me(2)Hz, and 1,2-Me(2)Hz) has been studied by means of stoichiometric and kinetic experiments (pH 6-10). The reaction of Hz led to N(2)O and NH(3), with similar paths for MeHz and 1,1-Me(2)Hz, which form the corresponding amines. A parallel path has been found for MeHz, leading to N(2)O, N(2), and MeOH. The reaction of 1,2-Me(2)Hz follows a different route, characterized by azomethane formation (MeNNMe), full reduction of nitrosyl to NH(3), and intermediate detection of [Fe(CN)(5)NO](3)(-). In the above reactions, [Fe(CN)(5)H(2)O](3)(-) was always a product, allowing the system to proceed catalytically for nitrite reduction, an issue relevant in relation to the behavior of the nitrite and nitric oxide reductase enzymes. The mechanism comprises initial reversible adduct formation through the binding of the nucleophile to the N-atom of nitrosyl. The adducts decompose through OH(-) attack giving the final products, without intermediate detection. Rate constants for the adduct-formation steps (k = 0.43 M(-)(1) s(-)(1), 25 degrees C for Hz) decrease with methylation by about an order of magnitude. Among the different systems studied, one-, two-, and multielectron reductions of bound NO(+) are analyzed comparatively, with consideration of the role of NO, HNO (nitroxyl), and hydroxylamine as bound intermediates. A DFT study (B3LYP) of the reaction profile allows one to characterize intermediates in the potential hypersurface. These are the initial adducts, as well as their decomposition products, the eta(1)- and eta(2)-linkage isomers of N(2)O.     

Unprecedented monofunctional metalation of adenine nucleobase in guanine- and thymine-containing dinucleotide sequences by a cytotoxic platinum-acridine hybrid agent

We have investigated the reactions of [PtCl(en)(ACRAMTU-S)](NO(3))(2) (2) (en = ethane-1,2-diamine; ACRAMTU = 1-[2-(acridin-9-ylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dimethylthiourea, acridinium cation, 1), the prototype of a new class of cytotoxic DNA-targeted agents, with 2'-deoxyguanosine (dGuo) and random-sequence native DNA by in-line liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and NMR spectroscopy ((1)H, (195)Pt) to identify the covalent adducts formed by platinum. In the mononucleoside model system, two adducts are observed, [Pt(en)(ACRAMTU)(dGuo)](3+) (P1, major) and [Pt(en)(dGuo)(2)](2+) (P2, minor). The reaction, which proceeds significantly slower (half-life 11-12 h at 37 degrees C, pH 6.5) than analogous reactions with cisplatin and reactions of 2 with double-stranded DNA, results in the unexpected displacement of the sulfur-bound acridine ligand in approximately 15% of the adducts. This reactivity is not observed in double-stranded DNA, rendering 1 a typical nonleaving group in reactions with this potential biological target. In enzymatic digests of calf thymus DNA treated with 2, three adducts were identified: [Pt(en)(ACRAMTU)(dGuo)](3+) (A1, approximately 80%), [Pt(en)(ACRAMTU)[d(GpA)]](2+) (A2, approximately 12%), and [Pt(en)(ACRAMTU)[d(TpA)]](2+) (A3, approximately 8%). A1 and P1 proved to be identical species. In the dinucleotide adducts A2 and A3, complex 2 covalently modifies adenine at GA and TA base steps, which are high-affinity intercalation sites of the acridine derivative 1. A2 and A3, which may be formed in the minor groove of DNA, are the first examples of monofunctional adenine adducts of divalent platinum formed in double-stranded DNA. The analysis of the adduct profile indicates that the sequence specificity of 1 plays an important role in the molecular recognition between DNA and the corresponding conjugate, 2. Possible biological consequences of the unusual adduct profile are discussed.     

Duplex-promoted platination of adenine-N3 in the minor groove of DNA: challenging a longstanding bioinorganic paradigm

The interactions of [Pt(en)Cl(ACRAMTU-S)](NO3)2 (PT-ACRAMTU, en = ethane-1,2-diamine, ACRAMTU = 1-[2-(acridin-9-ylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dimethylthiourea) with adenine in DNA have been studied using a combination of analytical and high-resolution structural methods. For the first time, a cytotoxic platinum(II) complex has been demonstrated to form adducts in the minor groove of DNA through platination of the adenine-N3 endocyclic nitrogen. An acidic depurination assay was developed that allowed the controlled and selective (pH 2, 60 degrees C, 12 h) release of platinum-modified adenine from drug-treated nucleic acid samples. From the digested mixtures, three adducts were isolated by semipreparative reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography and studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (in-line LC-MS), variable-pH 1H NMR spectroscopy, and, where applicable, X-ray crystallography. The three species were identified as the N7 (A-I), N3 (A-II), and N1 (A-III) linkage isomers of [Pt(en)(ACRAMTU-S)(adenine)]3+ (A). Incubations carried out with the single- and double-stranded model sequences, d(TA)5 and d(TA)15, as well as native DNA indicate that the adduct profiles (A-I:A-II:A-IIIratios) are sensitive to the nature of the nucleic acid template. A-II was found to be a double-strand specific adduct. The crystal structure of this adduct has been determined, providing ultimate evidence for the N3 connectivity of platinum. A-II crystallizes in the triclinic space group P in the form of centrosymmetric dimers, {[Pt(en)(ACRAMTU-S)(adenine-N3)]2}6+. The cations are stabilized by a combination of adenine-adenine base pairing (N6...N1 2.945(5) A) and mutual acridine-adenine base stacking. Tandem mass spectra and 1H chemical shift anomalies indicate that this type of self-association is not merely a crystal packing effect but persists in solution. The monofunctional platination of adenine at its N7, N3, and N1 positions in a significant fraction of adducts breaks a longstanding paradigm in platinum-DNA chemistry, the requirement for nucleophilic attack of guanine-N7 as the principal step in cross-link formation. The biological consequences and potential therapeutic applications of the unique base and groove recognition of PT-ACRAMTU are discussed.     

Novel binding interactions of the DNA fragment d(pGpG) cross-linked by the antitumor active compound tetrakis(mu-carboxylato)dirhodium(II,II)

Insight into the N7/O6 equatorial binding interactions of the antitumor active complex Rh(2)(OAc)(4)(H(2)O)(2) (OAc(-) = CH(3)CO(2)(-)) with the nucleotide 5'-GMP and the DNA fragment d(pGpG) has been obtained by one- (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR spectroscopy. The lack of N7 protonation at low pH values and the significant increase in the acidity of N1-H (pK(a) approximately 5.6 as compared to 8.5 for N7 only bound platinum adducts), indicated by the pH dependence study of the H8 (1)H NMR resonance for the HT (head-to-tail) isomer of Rh(2)(OAc)(2)(5'-GMP)(2), are consistent with bidentate N7/O6 binding of the guanine. The H8 (1)H NMR resonance of the HH (head-to-head) Rh(2)(OAc)(2)(5'-GMP)(2) isomer, as well as the 5'-G and 3'-G H8 resonances of the Rh(2)(OAc)(2) [d(pGpG)] adduct exhibit pH-independent titration curves, attributable to the added effect of the 5'-phosphate group deprotonation at a pH value similar to that of the N1 site. The enhancement in the acidity of N1-H, with respect to N7 only bound metal adducts, afforded by the O6 binding of the bases to the rhodium centers, has been corroborated by monitoring the pH dependence of the purine C6 and C2 (13)C NMR resonances for Rh(2)(OAc)(2)(5'-GMP)(2) and Rh(2)(OAc)(2) [d(pGpG)]. The latter studies resulted in pK(a) values in good agreement with those derived from the pH-dependent (1)H NMR titrations of the H8 resonances. Comparison of the (13)C NMR resonances of C6 and C2 for the dirhodium adducts Rh(2)(OAc)(2)(5'-GMP)(2) and Rh(2)(OAc)(2) [d(pGpG)] with the corresponding resonances of the unbound ligands at pH 8.0, showed substantial downfield shifts of Deltadelta approximately 11.0 and 6.0 ppm, respectively. The HH arrangement of the bases in the Rh(2)(OAc)(2) [d(pGpG)] adduct is evidenced by intense H8/H8 ROE cross-peaks in the 2D ROESY NMR spectrum. The presence of the terminal 5'-phosphate group in d(pGpG) results in stabilization of one left-handed Rh(2)(OAc)(2) [d(pGpG)] HH1 L conformer, due to the steric effect of the 5'-group, favoring left canting in cisplatin-DNA adducts. Complete characterization of the Rh(2)(OAc)(2[d(pGpG)] adduct revealed notable structural features that resemble those of cis-[Pt(NH(3))(2) [d(pGpG)]]; the latter involve repuckering of the 5'-G sugar ring to C3'-endo (N-type) conformation, retention of C2'-endo (S-type) 3'-G sugar ring conformation, and anti orientation with respect to the glycosyl bonds. The superposition of the low energy Rh(2)(OAc)(2) [d(pGpG)] conformers, generated by simulated annealing calculations, with the crystal structure of cis-[Pt(NH(3))(2) [d(pGpG)]], reveals remarkable similarities between the adducts; not only are the bases almost completely destacked upon coordination to the metal in both cases, but they are favorably poised to accommodate the bidentate N7/O6 binding to the dirhodium unit. Unexpectedly, the two metal-metal bonded rhodium centers are capable of engaging in cis binding to GG intrastrand sites by establishing N7/O6 bridges that span the Rh-Rh bond.     

Coordination of a complete series of N2 reduction intermediates (N2H2, N2H4, and NH3) to an iron phosphine scaffold

The series of dinitrogen reduction intermediates (N(2)H(2), N(2)H(4), and NH(3)) coordinated to the Fe(DMeOPrPE)(2)H(+)(DMeOPrPE = 1,2-[bis(dimethoxypropyl)phosphino]ethane) scaffold has been synthesized or generated. The synthesis of trans-[Fe(DMeOPrPE)(2)(NH(3))H][BPh(4)] and generation of trans-[Fe(DMeOPrPE)(2)(N(2)H(4))H][BPh(4)] were achieved by substitu tion of the dinitrogen ligand on trans-[Fe(DMeOPrPE)(2)(N(2))H][BPh(4)]. The trans-[Fe(DMeOPrPE)(2)(N(2)H(2))H](+) complex and its deprotonated conjugate base, trans-Fe(DMeOPrPE)(2)(N(2)H)H, were observed by (31)P and (1)H NMR from decomposition of trans-[Fe(DMeOPrPE)(2)(N(2)H(4))H](+) in the presence of excess hydrazine. Attempts to chemically oxidize trans-[Fe(DMeOPrPE)(2)(N(2)H(4))H](+) to trans-[Fe(DMeOPrPE)(2)(N(2)H(2))H][BPh(4)] with a variety of oxidizing agents yielded only decomposition products consistent with the intermediate formation of trans-[Fe(DMeOPrPE)(2)(N(2)H(2))H](+) prior to decomposition.     

Addition of the phenoxathiin cation radical to alkenes and nonconjugated dienes. Formation of (E)- and (Z)-(10-phenoxathiiniumyl)alkenes and (E)- and (Z)-(10-phenoxathiiniumyl)dienes on basic alumina

Addition of phenoxathiin cation radical (PO*+) to acyclic alkenes in acetonitrile (MeCN) solution occurred stereospecifically to form bis(10-phenoxathiiniumyl)alkane adducts. Stereospecific trans addition is ascribed to the intermediacy of an episulfonium cation radical. The alkenes used were cis- and trans-2-butene, cis- and trans-2-pentene, cis- and trans-4-methyl-2-pentene, cis- and trans-4-octene, trans-3-hexene, trans-3-octene, trans-5-decene, cis-2-hexene, and cis-2-heptene. The erythro bisadducts (compounds 6) were obtained with trans-alkenes, while threo bisadducts (compounds 7) were obtained with cis-alkenes. The assigned structures of 6 and 7 were consistent with their NMR spectra and, in one case, 6c (the adduct of trans-4-methyl-2-pentene) was confirmed with X-ray crystallography. Additions of PO*+ to 1,4-hexa-, 1,5-hexa-, 1,6-hepta-, and 1,7-octadiene gave bis(10-phenoxathiiniumyl)alkenes (compounds 8), the assigned structures of which were consistent with their NMR spectra. Each of these adducts lost a proton and phenoxathiin (PO) when treated with basic alumina in MeCN solution. Compounds 6 (from trans-alkenes) gave mixtures of (Z)- (9) and (E)-(10-phenoxathiiniumyl)alkenes (10) in which the (Z)-isomers (9) were dominant. On the other hand, compounds 7 (from cis-alkenes) gave mixtures of 9 and 10 in which, with one exception (the adduct 7c of cis-4-methyl-2-pentene), compounds 10 were dominant. The path to elimination is discussed. The alkenes 9 and 10 were characterized with NMR spectroscopy and, in one case (9a), with X-ray crystallography. Reactions of 8b-d with basic alumina gave mixtures of (E)- (13) and (Z)-(10-phenoxathiiniumyl)dienes (14), in which compounds 13 were dominant. The configuration of the product from 8a (the adduct of 1,4-hexadiene) could not be settled. Noteworthy features in the coupling patterns and chemical shifts in the NMR spectra of some of the adducts and their products are discussed and related to adduct conformations.     

Diels-Alder reactions of 3-substituted coumarins in water and under high-pressure condition. An uncatalyzed route to tetrahydro-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-ones

[reaction: see text] Diels-Alder reactions of 3-substituted coumarins 1a-g with methyl-1,3-butadienes 2a-c carried out in water alone and in CH2Cl2 under 9 kbar pressure are reported. In aqueous medium satisfactory results were obtained by operating at 150 degrees C, whereas under high pressure the cycloadditions were complete at 60-70 degrees C with excellent yields (85-95%). The reactions with isoprene (2b) always resulted in the exclusive formation of para cycloadducts, whereas with (E)-piperylene (2c) only ortho products were detected. The cycloaddition of 3-phenylsulfonylcoumarin (1a) with (E)-piperylene (2c) allowed the endo adduct to be obtained exclusively, whereas 3-carboxycoumarin (1b) reacted with 2c to give a mixture of the corresponding endo/exo adducts in a 58:42 ratio in water and in a 45:55 ratio under high-pressure condition.     

Competition between glutathione and guanine for a ruthenium(II) arene anticancer complex: detection of a sulfenato intermediate

The organometallic anticancer complex [(eta6-bip)Ru(en)Cl]+ (1; bip = biphenyl, en = ethylenediamine) selectively binds to guanine (N7) bases of DNA (Novakova, O.; Chen, H.; Vrana, O.; Rodger, A.; Sadler, P. J.; Brabec, V. Biochemistry 2003, 42, 11544-11554). In this work, competition between the tripeptide glutathione (gamma-L-Glu-L-Cys-Gly; GSH) and guanine (as guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, cGMP) for complex 1 was investigated using HPLC, LC-MS and 1H,15N NMR spectroscopy. In unbuffered solution (pH ca. 3), the reaction of 1 with GSH gave rise to three intermediates: an S-bound thiolato adduct [(eta6-bip)Ru(en)(GS-S)] (4) and two carboxylate-bound glutathione products [(eta6-bip)Ru(en)(GSH-O)]+ (5, 6) during the early stages (<6 h), followed by en displacement and formation of a tri-GS-bridged dinuclear Ru(II) complex [((eta6-bip)Ru)2(GS-mu-S)3]2- (7). Under physiologically relevant conditions (micromolar Ru concentrations, pH 7, 22 mM NaCl, 310 K), the thiolato complex 4 was unexpectedly readily oxidized by dioxygen to the sulfenato complex [(eta6-bip)Ru(en)(GS(O)-S)] (8) instead of forming the dinuclear complex 7. Under these conditions, competitive reaction of complex 1 with GSH and cGMP gave rise to the cGMP adduct [(eta6-bip)Ru(en)(cGMP-N7)]+ (10) as the major product, accounting for ca. 62% of total Ru after 72 h, even in the presence of a 250-fold molar excess of GSH. The oxidation of coordinated glutathione in the thiolato complex 4 to the sulfenate in 8 appears to provide a facile route for displacement of S-bound glutathione by G N7. Redox reactions of cysteinyl adducts of these Ru(II) arene anticancer complexes could therefore play a significant role in their biological activity.     

An efficient access to novel enantiomerically pure steroidal delta-amino acids

A highly chemoselective sequence of Stille and Heck couplings on the heterocyclic bromoenol triflates 2 a-c with the bicycloalkenylstannanes cis-3 and trans-3 furnished the intermediate bromobutadienes 4 a-c in good yields ranging from 73-94 %. A modified Heck coupling protocol employing the palladacycle 8 and an additional bidentate ligand such as 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphinyl)butane allowed a significant reduction in catalyst loading while still obtaining the heterocyclic 1,3,5-hexatrienes 5 a-c in good yields (71-94 %). The unsymmetrically substituted 1,3,5-hexatrienes 5 a-c in solution underwent 6pi-electrocyclizations following an optimized microwave-heating protocol to yield the steroidal tetracycles cis-7 a-c and trans-7 b (59-69 %). Tetracycles cis-7 a-c are the products of a subsequent 1,5-hydrogen shift to the thermodynamically more stable, more highly substituted diene units. Removal of the tert-butyl groups provided the novel steroidal delta-amino acid 9 a and the delta-amino acid derivatives 9 b, c in good yields (76-86 %).     

Spectral and thermal study on the adduct formation between square planar nickel(II) chelates and some bidentate ligands

Adducts of Ni(II)-square planar complexes [Ni(beta-dik)(Me(4)en)](+), with a series of bidentate ligands (L), where beta-dik=acetylacetonate (acac) and benzoylacetonate (bzac), Me(4)en=N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine and L=Me(4)en, 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy), ethylenediamine (en) and oxalate (C(2)O(4)(2-)) have been synthesized and characterized by spectral, thermal and magnetic measurements. Formation constants of the adducts formed from a series of ternary mixed Ni(II) complexes with the general formula [Ni(beta-dik)(diam)](+) with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) and pyridine were spectrophotometrically determined. Thermodynamic parameters of the adduct formation between nickel(II) square-planar chelates and pyridine (py), 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) and acetylacetone (acac) were also spectrophotometrically determined in 1,2-dichloroethane. The thermal stability of the isolated adducts was studied using thermogravimetry and the decomposition schemes of the adducts were given.     

Combined theoretical and computational study of interstrand DNA guanine-guanine cross-linking by trans-[Pt(pyridine)2] derived from the photoactivated prodrug trans,trans,trans-[Pt(N3)2(OH)2(pyridine)2

Molecular modeling and extensive experimental studies are used to study DNA distortions induced by binding platinum(II)-containing fragments derived from cisplatin and a new class of photoactive platinum anticancer drugs. The major photoproduct of the novel platinum(IV) prodrug trans,trans,trans-[Pt(N(3))(2)(OH)(2)(py)(2)] (1) contains the trans-{Pt(py)(2)}(2+) moiety. Using a tailored DNA sequence, experimental studies establish the possibility of interstrand binding of trans-{Pt(py)(2)}(2+) (P) to guanine N7 positions on each DNA strand. Ligand field molecular mechanics (LFMM) parameters for Pt-guanine interactions are then derived and validated against a range of experimental structures from the Cambridge Structural Database, published quantum mechanics (QM)/molecular mechanics (MM) structures of model Pt-DNA systems and additional density-functional theory (DFT) studies. Ligand field molecular dynamics (LFMD) simulation protocols are developed and validated using experimentally characterized bifunctional DNA adducts involving both an intra- and an interstrand cross-link of cisplatin. We then turn to the interaction of P with the DNA duplex dodecamer, d(5'-C(1)C(2)T(3)C(4)T(5)C(6)G(7)T(8)C(9)T(10)C(11)C(12)-3')·d(5'-G(13)G(14)A(15)G(16)A(17)C(18)G(19)A(20)G(21)A(22)G(23)G(24)-3') which is known to form a monofunctional adduct with cis-{Pt(NH(3))(2)(py)}. P coordinated to G(7) and G(19) is simulated giving a predicted bend toward the minor groove. This is widened at one end of the platinated site and deepened at the opposite end, while the P-DNA complex exhibits a global bend of ～67° and an unwinding of ～20°. Such cross-links offer possibilities for specific protein-DNA interactions and suggest possible mechanisms to explain the high potency of this photoactivated complex.