Manipulating reduction potentials in an artificial safranin cofactor

Safranines hold great promise as artificial flavin-like electron transfer cofactors with tunable properties. We report the design and chemical synthesis of the p-methoxy derivative of safranine O using a new synthetic route based on the Ulmann condensation. Spectroelectrochemical comparison of the purified parent safranine and this derivative demonstrates that the modification increases its two-electron reduction potential by 125 mV, or 5.75 kcal/mol. This modification also causes redshifts in the absorbance and fluorescence spectra of the cofactor, suggesting that it may find future utility in arrayed sensor applications.     

Electrochemical reduction of Ru(η-arene)(κ-tris(pyrazolyl)methane) dicationic complexes

One-electron reduction of [Ru(η⁶-arene)(κ³-HCPz₃)]²⁺ complexes (arene = p-xylene, p-cymene, or hexamethylbenzene, Pz = pyrazolyl) was observed at approximately −1.4 V vs. ferrocene in nonaqueous media. Cyclic voltammetry data showed no direct evidence of a hapticity change for either the arene or the tris(pyrazolyl)methane (TPM) ligand in the electron-transfer step. The resulting 19-electron radicals underwent reactions at the arene, giving persistent cyclohexadienyl ruthenium complexes which could be oxidized back to the original complex in an overall chemically reversible process. The dominant reaction for the hexamethylbenzene-containing radical was shown to be an arene-based dimerization (k_dim = 4 (±3) × 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) which occurs in competition with an H-atom capture, most likely from solvent. The behavior of the 19-electron radicals is similar to that of their all-carbocyclic mixed-sandwich analogues Ru(arene)(C₅R₅) [O.V. Gusev, M.A. Ievlev, T.A. Peganova, M.G. Peterleitner, P.V. Petrovskii, Y.F. Oprunenko, N.A. Ustynyuk, J. Organomet. Chem. 551 (1998) 93].     

Oxovanadium(V) complexes incorporating tridentate aroylhydrazoneoximes: Synthesis, characterizations and antibacterial activity

Some new oxovanadium(V) complexes, [VOL^1-3(OEt)(EtOH)] (1-3), have been reported, which were obtained from the reaction of the Schiff bases H₂L^1-3 (where H₂L¹ = the salicylhydrazone of diacetyl monoxime; H₂L² = the 4-methoxy salicylhydrazone of diacetyl monoxime and H₂L³ = the 4-hydroxy salicylhydrazone of diacetyl monoxime) with VO(acac)₂ in a 1:1 molar ratio. Three 4-R-aroylhydrazoneoximes (V) have been used as ligands in the present study, differing in the inductive effect of the substituent R (R = H, OCH₃ and OH), in order to observe their influence, if any, on the redox potentials and biological activity of the complexes. All the synthesized ligands and metal complexes were successfully characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis and NMR spectroscopy. An X-ray diffraction study of [VOL¹(OEt)(EtOH)] (1) reveals that the metal center has a distorted octahedral O₅N coordination sphere, where the O,N,O donor ligand and the ethoxo group constitute a satisfactory O₃N basal plane. Cyclic voltammetry of the complexes show a quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric response in the potential range 0.29-0.36 V involving a single electron V(V)-V(IV) reduction. The complexes have also been screened for their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus, Proteus and Klebsiella. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of these complexes and the antibacterial activities indicate compound 1 as the potential lead molecule for drug design.     

Facile and efficient access to 2,6,9-tri-substituted purines through sequential N9, N2 Mitsunobu reactions

A facile, efficient and mild synthesis of 2,6,9-tri-substituted purines is presented, starting from commercially available 2-amino-6-chloropurine, which employs sequential N9 then N2 Mitsunobu reactions as key steps. Importantly, our synthetic approach to N2-functionalization of the purine nucleus obviates the harsh conditions required by the traditional nucleophilic aromatic substitution of a 2-halo group with primary amines. Benzylic, allylic, propargylic and aliphatic alcohols all coupled in very good to excellent yields in both Mitsunobu reactions. Significantly, excellent chemoselectivity and N9-regioselectivity were observed for the first coupling, and reactions were complete within 15 min at room temperature. Our novel methodology may be readily adapted to furnish N⁹-mono- or N²,N⁹-di-functionalized guanine analogues, and the utility of our protocol is further demonstrated by the efficient synthesis of the CDK inhibitor bohemine.     

Synthesis,electrochemistry and in situ spectroelectrochemistry of a new Co(III) thio Schiff-base complex with N,N′-bis(2-aminothiophenol)-1,4-bis(carboxylidene phenoxy)butane

A new cobalt Schiff-base complex, [Co(L)(OH)(H₂O)] (where L = [N,N′-bis(2-aminothiophenol)-1,4-bis(carboxylidene phenoxy)butane), was synthesized and its electrochemical and spectroelectochemical properties were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and thin-layer spectro-electrochemistry in solutions of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂). The [Co(L)(OH)(H₂O)] complex displays two well-defined reversible reduction processes with the corresponding anodic waves. The half-wave potentials of the first and second reduction processes were displayed at E_1/2 = 0.08 V and E_1/2 = −1.21 V (scan rate: 0.100 Vs⁻¹) in DMSO, and E_1/2 = −0.124 V and E_1/2 = −1.32 V (scan rate: 0.100 Vs⁻¹) in CH₂Cl₂. The potentials of the reduction processes in DMSO are shifted toward negative potentials (0.220–0.112 V) compared to those in CH₂Cl₂. The electrochemical results are assigned to two one-electron reduction processes; [Co(III)L] + ⁻e → [Co(II)L]⁻ and [Co(II)L]⁻ + ⁻e → [Co(I)L]²⁻. The six-coordination of the complex remains unchanged during the reduction processes and the electron transfer processes were not followed by a chemical reaction upon scan reversal. It was also seen that [Co(L)(OH)(H₂O)] was reduced at a more positive potential than the corresponding salen analogs. The shift and reversibility are apparently related to the high degree of electron delocalization of the [Co(L)(OH)(H₂O)] complex, having a N₂O₂S₂ donor set and two additional benzene units. Additionally, in situ spectroelectrochemical measurements support Co(III)/Co(II) and Co(II)/Co(I) reversible reduction processes with the observation of the corresponding spectral changes with the applied potentials E_app = −0.40 and −1.60 V. Application of the spectroelectrochemical results allowed the determination ofE_1/2 and n (the number of electrons) from the spectra of the fully oxidized and reduced species in one unified experiment as well. The results obtained by this method are in agreement with those by the CV and DPV methods.     

Experimental and theoretical studies on inversion dynamics of dichloro(l-difluoromethionine-N,S)platinum(II) and dichloro(l-trifluoromethionine-N,S)platinum(II) complexes

Fluorinated analogues of methionine such as l-S-(difluoromethyl)homocysteine (l-difluoromethionine; DFM) and l-S-(trifluoromethyl)homocysteine (l-trifluoromethionine; TFM) have been demonstrated to be interesting analogues for incorporation into peptides and proteins. The presence of the fluorine nucleus adjacent to the sulfur atom in the side chain not only serves to alter the nucleophilicity and electron density of the sulfur atom but it can function as an important NMR spectroscopic (¹⁹F) probe. Additional information on the properties of these fluorinated amino acid analogues was obtained by studying their interactions with dipotassium tetrachloroplatinate (K₂PtCl₄). The resulting complexes, dichloro(l-difluoromethionine-N,S)platinum(II) and dichloro(l-trifluoromethionine-N,S)platinum(II) were investigated with respect to their sulfur inversion rates utilizing dynamic NMR methods. Inversion barriers for the DFM- and TFM-platinum complexes were experimentally determined to be 16.4 ± 0.2 and 18 ± 1 kcal/mol, respectively. Density functional calculations at the B3LYP/SDD level were also performed to model the structures and energies of the ground and transition states for these complexes.     

Multiply ionization of diethyl ether clusters by 532 nm nanosecond laser: The influence of laser intensity and the electron energy distribution

The formation mechanism for multiply charged ions (C^q+ and O^q+ (q = 2–4)) were investigated using a dual polarity time-of-flight mass spectrometer when diethyl ether clusters interacted with nanosecond laser pulse. The signal intensity of multiply charged ions and electron energy was measured experimentally. It was shown that the intensity of multiply charged ions increased about 50 times when laser intensity increased from 7.6 × 10⁹ to 7.0 × 10¹⁰ W/cm², then saturated as laser intensity increased further. It is interesting that the evolution of the mean value of electron energy was same to that of multiply charged ions. The theoretical calculation showed the ionization potential of atomic ions could be significantly decreased due to the effect of Coulomb screening especially at low laser intensity. It indicated that the electron ionization combined with Coulomb screening effect could explain the production of multiply charged ions in nanosecond laser field.     

Direct electrochemistry with enhanced electrocatalytic activity of hemoglobin in hybrid modified electrodes composed of graphene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

A graphene (GR) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) hybrid was prepared and modified on a 1-hexylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate based carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE). Hemoglobin (Hb) was immobilized on GR-MWCNT/CILE surface with Nafion as the film forming material and the modified electrode was denoted as Nafion/Hb-GR-MWCNT/CILE. Spectroscopic results revealed that Hb molecules retained its native structure in the GR-MWCNT hybird. Electrochemical behaviors of Hb were carefully investigated by cyclic voltammetry with a pair of well-defined redox peaks obtained, which indicated that direct electron transfer of Hb was realized in the hybrid modified electrode. The result could be attributed to the synergistic effects of GR-MWCNT hybrid with enlarged surface area and improved conductivity through the formation of a three-dimensional network. Electrochemical parameters of the immobilized Hb on the electrode surface were further calculated with the results of the electron transfer number (n) as 1.03, the charge transfer coefficient (a) as 0.58 and the electron-transfer rate constant (k_s) as 0.97 s⁻¹. The Hb modified electrode showed good electrocatalytic ability toward the reduction of different substrates such as trichloroacetic acid in the concentration range from 0.05 to 38.0 mmol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.0153 mmol L⁻¹ (3σ), H₂O₂ in the concentration range from 0.1 to 516.0 mmol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 34.9 nmol/L (3σ) and NaNO₂ in the concentration range from 0.5 to 650.0 mmol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.282 μmol L⁻¹ (3σ). So the proposed electrode had the potential application in the third-generation electrochemical biosensors without mediator.     

Stabilization of the trivalent oxidation state of copper by tridentate imine–oxime–amine ligands

Two tridentate imine–oxime–amine ligands have been synthesized and their corresponding copper(II) complexes have been isolated. These copper(II) complexes are readily oxidized both chemically and electrochemically to give relatively stable copper(III) complexes. In the pH range 1.5–3.0 the electron transfer process is electrochemically reversible with ΔE_p = 60 mV and i_pa/i_pc ∼ 1. Plots of E_1/2 versus pH are linear with a slope = −60 indicating the involvement of one proton in the electron transfer process. Aqueous solutions of copper(III) complexes have high molar absorption at λ_max with ε > 10⁴ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹. Solid samples of the complexes are diamagnetic consistent with a d⁸ square planar geometry. It seems that only imine–oxime nitrogens are coordinated to copper(II) with the NH₂ group being free as indicated by i.r. spectra. Substitution of a –CH₃ group on the carbon atom adjacent to the oxime group by the more electron donating group –CH(CH₃)₂ lowers electrode potential by more than 90 mV. This is consistent with an earlier observation that electron-donating substituents on the carbon atom adjacent to the oxime group lower the potential of Cu^III/Cu^II couples and stabilize the higher oxidation state.     

A method for rapid screening of interactions of pharmacologically active compounds with albumin

We determine the association constants for ligand–protein complex formation using the flow injection method. We carry out the measurements at high flow rates (F = 1 mL min⁻¹) of a carrier phase. Therefore, determination of the association constant takes only a few minutes. Injection of 1 nM of the ligand (10 μL of 1 μM concentration of the ligand solution) is sufficient for a single measurement. This method is tested and verified for a number of complexes of selected drugs (cefaclor, etodolac, sulindac) with albumin (BSA). We obtain K = 4.45 × 10³ M⁻¹ for cefaclor, K = 1.00 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ for etodolac and K = 1.03 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ for sulindac in agreement with the literature data. We also determine the association constants of 20 newly synthesized 3β- and 3α-aminotropane derivatives with potential antipsychotic activity – ligands of 5-HT_1A, 5-HT_2A and D₂ receptors with the albumin. Results of the studies reported here indicate that potential antipsychotic drugs bind weakly to the transporter protein (BSA) with K ≈ 10²–10³ M⁻¹. Our method allows measuring K in a wide range of values (10²–10⁹ M⁻¹). This range depends only on the solubility of the ligand and sensitivity of the detector.