Synthesis,crystal structures and spectroscopic properties of two new organotin (IV) complexes and their antiproliferative effect against cancerous and non-cancerous cells

Cancer has become a leading cause of death worldwide, which is responsible for 7.6 million cancer deaths according to GLOBOCAN survey conducted in 2008. The exploration of cis-platin analogues (carboplatin, lobaplatin, nedaplatin, oxaliplatin) and their incorporation to the treatment of cancer patients has further led interest in exploring metal-based anticancer drugs. The current study describes the synthesis of two new tetra-coordinated mono- and tetranuclear organotin(IV) carboxylate complexes and their in vitro anticancer studies. Each one of the complexes (1–2) has been characterized by analytical (micro- and gravimetric analysis) and spectroscopic (FTIR, ¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn-NMR) techniques. Furthermore, molecular structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated using X-ray crystallography. The characterization data showed that the coordination took place via oxygen atoms from the carboxylate anions to generate 1 as an organodistannoxane dimer and 2 as a mononuclear complex. Exceptionally, the NMR spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic study showed that acetone molecules also took part in crystallizing 2. Both complexes were tested against three cancerous (colon cancer HCT 116, breast cancer MCF 7, leukemia K562) and one non-cancerous (3T3-L1) cell lines. Both complexes showed same IC₅₀ value (0.2 μM) against HCT 116, whereas for the other two cancer cell lines (MCF 7 and K562) and a normal cell line (3T3-L₁), 2 showed results better than 1. Importantly, the complexes showed exceptional activity against MCF 7 and K562 cell lines and the IC₅₀ values were calculated in nanomoles (MCF 7, IC_50s = 86.5 and 53.4 nM; K 562, IC_50s = 22.9 and 49.6 nM for 1 and 2, respectively). Both, 1 and 2, showed IC₅₀ values many times better than the standard drugs (5-FU, Tamoxifen, betulinic acid and cis-platin) used. Compared to cancerous cell lines, the complexes showed mild toxicity against normal cells (3T3-L1). Overall, two remained relatively effective.     

An investigation of the electron density of a Jahn–Teller‐distorted CrII cation: the crystal structure and charge density of hexakis(acetonitrile‐κN)chromium(II) bis(tetraphenylborate) acetonitrile disolvate

In the crystal structure of the title homoleptic Cr^II complex, [Cr(CH₃CN)₆](C₂₄H₂₀B)₂·CH₃CN, the [Cr(CH₃CN)₆]²⁺ cation is a high‐spin d⁴ complex with strong static, rather than dynamic, Jahn–Teller distortion. The electron density of the cation was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray refinements using aspherical structure factors from wavefunction calculations. The detailed picture of the electronic density allowed us to assess the extent and directionality of the Jahn–Teller distortion of the Cr^II cation away from idealized octahedral symmetry. The topological analysis of the aspherical d‐electron density about the Cr^II cation showed that there are significant valence charge concentrations along the axial Cr—N axes. Likewise, there were significant valence charge depletions about the Cr^II cation along the equatorial Cr—N bonds. These charge concentrations are in accordance with a Jahn–Teller‐distorted six‐coordinate complex.     

The structures of the isomorphous potassium and rubidium salts of 4‐nitrobenzoic acid and an overview of the metal complex stereochemistries of the alkali metal salt series with this ligand

4‐Nitrobenzoic acid (PNBA) has proved to be a useful ligand for the preparation of metal complexes but the known structures of the alkali metal salts of PNBA do not include the rubidium salt. The structures of the isomorphous potassium and rubidium polymeric coordination complexes with PNBA, namely poly[μ₂‐aqua‐aqua‐μ₃‐(4‐nitrobenzoato)‐potassium], [K(C₇H₄N₂O₂)(H₂O)₂]_n, (I), and poly[μ₃‐aqua‐aqua‐μ₅‐(4‐nitrobenzoato)‐rubidium], [Rb(C₇H₄N₂O₂)(H₂O)₂]_n, (II), have been determined. In (I), the very distorted KO₆ coordination sphere about the K⁺ centres in the repeat unit comprise two bridging nitro O‐atom donors, a single bridging carboxylate O‐atom donor and two water molecules, one of which is bridging. In Rb complex (II), the same basic MO₆ coordination is found in the repeat unit, but it is expanded to RbO₉ through a slight increase in the accepted Rb—O bond‐length range and includes an additional Rb—O_carboxylate bond, completing a bidentate O,O′‐chelate interaction, and additional bridging Rb—O_nitro and Rb—O_water bonds. The comparative K—O and Rb—O bond‐length ranges are 2.7352 (14)–3.0051 (14) and 2.884 (2)–3.182 (2) Å, respectively. The structure of (II) is also isomorphous, as well as isostructural, with the known structure of the nine‐coordinate caesium 4‐nitrobenzoate analogue, (III), in which the Cs—O bond‐length range is 3.047 (4)–3.338 (4) Å. In all three complexes, common basic polymeric extensions are found, including two different centrosymmetric bridging interactions through both water and nitro groups, as well as extensions along c through the para‐related carboxylate group, giving a two‐dimensional structure in (I). In (II) and (III), three‐dimensional structures are generated through additional bridges involving the nitro and water O atoms. In all three structures, the two water molecules are involved in similar intra‐polymer O—H...O hydrogen‐bonding interactions to both carboxylate and water O‐atom acceptors. A comparison of the varied coordination behaviour of the full set of Li–Cs salts with 4‐nitrobenzoic acid is also made.     

Unprecedented Reaction Pathway of Sterically Crowded Calcium Complexes: Sequential C−N Bond Cleavage Reactions Induced by C−H Bond Activations

Five bis(quinolylmethyl)‐(1H ‐indolylmethyl)amine (BQIA) compounds, that is, {(quinol‐8‐yl‐CH₂)₂NCH₂(3‐Br‐1H ‐indol‐2‐yl)} ( L¹H ) and {[(8‐R³‐quinol‐2‐yl)CH₂]₂NCH(R²)[3‐R¹‐1H ‐indol‐2‐yl]} ( L^2–5H ) ( L²H : R¹=Br, R²=H, R³=H; L³H : R¹=Br, R²=H, R³=i Pr; L⁴H : R¹=H, R²=CH₃, R³=i Pr; L⁵H : R¹=H, R²=n Bu, R³=i Pr) were synthesized and used to prepare calcium complexes. The reactions of L^1–5H with silylamido calcium precursors (Ca[N(SiMe₂R)₂]₂(THF)₂, R=Me or H) at room temperature gave heteroleptic products ( L^{1, 2} )CaN(SiMe₃)₂ ( 1 , 2 ), ( L^{3, 4} )CaN(SiHMe₂)₂ ( 3 a , 4 a ) and homoleptic complexes ( L^{3, 5} )₂Ca ( D3 , D5 ). NMR and X‐ray analyses proved that these calcium complexes were stabilized through Ca⋅⋅⋅C−Si, Ca⋅⋅⋅H−Si or Ca⋅⋅⋅H−C agostic interactions. Unexpectedly, calcium complexes (( L^3–5 )CaN(SiMe₃)₂) bearing more sterically encumbered ligands of the same type were extremely unstable and underwent C−N bond cleavage processes as a consequence of intramolecular C−H bond activation, leading to the exclusive formation of (E )‐1,2‐bis(8‐isopropylquinol‐2‐yl)ethane.     

Zinc Complexes of Cyclodextrin‐bearing 8‐Hydroxyquinoline Ligands: A Comparative Study

The mounting evidence supporting the role of metal ions in several diseases has turned metal‐ion chelation therapy into a promising treatment strategy. The design of efficient metal‐binding ligands requires in‐depth knowledge of molecular structure and stability constants of the complexes formed. This paper presents an extensive overview on the stability of zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes of a series of cyclodextrin‐8‐hydroxyquinoline conjugates. In order to explain the differences observed in the stability constants between the metal complexes of the 6‐functionalized and 3‐functionalized cyclodextrin isomers, conformational analysis and DFT simulations were also performed. Molecular simulations allowed us to clarify the binding mode and to explain the differences in the stability constants of the metal complexes of these derivatives.     

1,8‐Naphthalimide: A Potent DNA Intercalator and Target for Cancer Therapy

The poor pharmacokinetics, side effects and particularly the rapid emergence of drug resistance compromise the efficiency of clinically used anticancer drugs. Therefore, the discovery of novel and effective drugs is still an extremely primary mission. Naphthalimide family is one of the highly active anticancer drug based upon effective intercalator with DNA. In this article, we review the discovery and development of 1,8‐naphthalimide moiety, and, especially, pay much attention to the structural modifications and structure activity relationships. The review demonstrates how modulation of the moiety affecting naphthalimide compound for DNA binding that is achieved to afford a profile of antitumor activity. The DNA binding of imide and ring substitution at naphthalimide, bisnaphthalimide, naphthalimide‐metal complexes is achieved by molecular recognition through intercalation mode. Thus, this synthetic/natural small molecule can act as a drug when activation or inhibition of DNA function, is required to cure or control the cancer disease. The present study is a review of the advances in 1,8‐naphthalimide‐related research, with a focus on how such derivatives are intercalated into DNA for their anticancer activities.     

High-Fidelity,Narcissistic Self-Sorting in the Synthesis of Organometallic Assemblies from Poly-NHC Ligands

Highly selective, narcissistic self-sorting has been observed in the one-pot synthesis of three organometallic molecular cylinders of type [M₃{L-(NHC)₃}₂](PF₆)₃ (M=Ag⁺, Au⁺; L=1,3,5-benzene, triphenylamine, or 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene) from L-(NHC)₃ and silver(I) or gold(I) ions. The molecular cylinders contain only one type of tris-NHC ligand with no crossover products detectable. Transmetalation of the tris-NHC ligands from Ag⁺ to Au⁺ in a one-pot reaction with retention of the supramolecular structures is also demonstrated. High-fidelity self-sorting was also observed in the one-pot reaction of benzene-bridged tris-NHC and tetrakis-NHC ligands with Ag₂O. This study for the first time extends narcissistic self-sorting in metal–ligand interactions from Werner-type complexes to organometallic derivatives.     

An Fe3O4 nanoparticle-supported Mn (II)-azo Schiff complex acts as a heterogeneous catalyst in alcoholysis of epoxides

In this paper, an azo-containing Schiff base complex of manganese [Mn²⁺-azo ligand@APTES-SiO₂@Fe₃O₄] immobilized on chemically modified Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles has been used as a magnetically retrievable catalyst for the alcoholysis of different epoxides to their corresponding alkoxy alcohols with methanol, ethanol and n-propanol. The newly magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM).