Design,Synthesis and Antifungal Evaluation of N‐Substituted‐1‐(3‐chloropyridin‐2‐yl)‐N‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐5‐(trifluoromethyl)‐1H‐pyrazole‐4‐carboxamide Derivatives

A series of 1‐(3‐chloropyridin‐2‐yl)‐5‐(trifluoromethyl)‐1H‐pyrazole‐4‐carboxamide derivatives which have di‐substituents on nitrogen were designed and synthesized. Bioassay results showed that all the synthetic compounds exhibited lower antifungal activities against Gibberella zeae, Cytospora mandshurica, and Fusarium oxysporum than T ₃ (14.7, 21.1, and 32.7 μg/mL), but some of them exhibited better activities against Botrytis cinerea, Phytophthora infestans, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum than T ₃ (>200, >200, and >200 μg/mL); the EC₅₀ values of 7d and 7c against B. cinerea were 94.9 and 56.2 μg/mL, respectively. The EC₅₀ values of 7a , 7d , and 7c against S. sclerotiorum were 73.5, 78.7, and 68.5 μg/mL, respectively.     

Synthesis and Antiviral Bioactivity of Novel 2‐Substituted Methlthio‐5‐(4‐Amino‐2‐Methylpyrimidin‐5‐yl)‐1,3,4‐Thiadiazole Derivatives

A series of novel 2‐substituted methlthio‐5‐(4‐amino‐2‐methylpyrimidin‐5‐yl‐)‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole derivatives were synthesized, characterized and evaluated for antiviral activities against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). The preliminary biological results indicated that most compounds exhibit excellent antiviral activity against TMV in vivo. Among these compounds, compounds 9c , 9i , and 9p displayed the similar curative effect against TMV (EC₅₀ = 287.05–322.47 µg/mL) to that of the commercial agent Ningnanmycin (EC₅₀ = 301.83 µg/mL). In particular, compound 9d demonstrated the best curative effect against TMV (EC₅₀ = 266.21 µg/mL), which was better than that of commercial Ningnanmycin.     

Synthesis and In Vitro Anti-HIV Activity of Some New Schiff Base Ligands Derived from 5-Amino-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol and Their Metal Complexes

New Schiff base ligands (6–9) derived from 5-amino-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol 1 and substituted benzaldehydes (2–5) as well as their metal complexes with Cu(II), Fe(II), Au(III), and Mn(II) (12–17) have been synthesized. A new benzothiazole derivative (11) was prepared from coupling of 7 with N-(benzothiazol-2-yl)-2-chloroacetamide 10. Their spectral properties were investigated. The newly designed and synthesized Schiff base ligands and the metal complexes were assayed for anti-HIV-1 and HIV-2 activity by examination of their inhibition of HIV-induced cytopathogenicity in MT-4 cells. Compounds 11 and 16 were found to be the most active inhibitors in cell culture (EC₅₀ = 12.2 μg/mL (SI = 4) and > 2.11 μg/mL (SI = > 1), respectively) against HIV-1, whereas 11 showed inhibition against HIV-2 of EC₅₀ > 10.2 μg/mL with SI = 9, which provided a good lead for further optimization.     

Design,synthesis, and biological activity of novel 2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)ethan‐1‐one oxime ethers bearing adamantane moiety

With the aim of discovering a lead compound for pyridine‐based fungicide bearing adamantane moiety, a series of novel O‐alkyl/benzyl‐1‐(adamantan‐1‐yl)‐2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)ethan‐1‐one oximes were synthesized from 3‐methylpyridine, ethyl (adamantan‐1‐yl)carboxylate, and alkoxyamine or benzoxyamine hydrochloride. The in vitro antifungal activity against four pathogenic fungi was evaluated, and some compounds exhibited good antifungal activity. Compounds 3d and 3f demonstrated strong activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, with EC₅₀ values of 11.25 and 12.87 μg/mL, respectively; 3b , 3c, and 3k had notable activity against Botrytis cinerea, with EC₅₀ values of 12.78, 12.57, and 11.97 μg/mL, respectively. For Rhizoctonia Solani, 3d and 3g showed sufficient activity with EC₅₀ values of 9.66 and 8.90 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, 3d and 3g demonstrated moderate activity against Colletotrichum orbiculare, with EC₅₀ values of 14.32 and 15.83 μg/mL, respectively.     

Ring‐opening polymerization of benzylated 1,6‐anhydro‐β‐D‐lactose and specific biological activities of sulfated (1→6)‐α‐D‐lactopyranans

A new anhydro disaccharide monomer, 1,6‐anhydro‐2,3‐di‐o‐benzyl‐4‐o‐(2′,3′,4′,6′‐tetra‐o‐benzyl‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranose (benzylated 1,6‐anhydro lactose (LSHBE)), was synthesized from D ‐lactose to investigate the polymerizability and biological activities of the resulting branched polysaccharides. The ring‐opening polymerization of LSHBE was carried out with phosphorus pentafluoride as a catalyst under high vacuum to give a stereoregular benzylated (1 → 6)‐α‐D ‐lactopyranan. The molecular weights of poly(LSHBE)s increased with an increase in the amount of CH₂Cl₂ solvent, and polymerization temperatures were affected in both molecular weights and yields of the polymers. The copolymerization of LSHBE with benzylated 1,6‐anhydro‐β‐D ‐glucopyranose (LGTBE) gave the corresponding copolysacchrides having different proportions of lactose and glucose units in good yields. After debenzylation to recover hydroxyl groups and then sulfation, sulfated homopoly(lactose)s and copoly(lactose and glucose)s were obtained. Sulfated homopoly(lactose)s had moderate anti‐HIV (EC₅₀ = 5.9 and 1.3 μg/mL) and blood anticoagulant activities (AA = 18 and 13 unit/mg), respectively. Sulfated copoly(lactose and glucose) having 15 mol % lactose units gave high anti‐HIV and blood anticoagulant activities of 0.3 μg/mL and 54 unit/mg, respectively. These biological results suggest that the distance between branched units on the main chain plays an important role in the anti‐HIV and blood anticoagulant activities. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 913–924, 2009     

Design,Synthesis and In Vitro Anti‐mycobacterial Activity of Propylene‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐4‐methylene‐tethered Isatin‐moxifloxacin Hybrids

Ten propylene‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐4‐methylene‐tethered isatin‐moxifloxacin hybrids 5a–j were synthesized via Cu‐promoted azide‐alkyne cycloaddition reaction, and screened for their in vitro anti‐mycobacterial activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv and multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis. The results showed that all the synthesized hybrids [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 0.25–4.0 μg/mL] displayed considerable activities against the tested two strains, but all less active than the parent moxifloxacin (MIC: 0.10 and 0.12 μg/mL). The resistance index of the most targets was around 1, suggesting this kind of hybrids could reduce the cross–resistance to some extent. Among them, hybrid 5 g was found most active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv with MIC of 0.39 μg/mL, which was comparable with rifampicin (MIC: 0.39 μg/mL), while conjugate 5a (MIC: 0.25 μg/mL) was 128– > 512 times more active than rifampicin (MIC: 32 μg/mL) and isoniazid (MIC: >128 μg/mL) against multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis.     

Synthesis,characterization and cytotoxicity of Pt(II), Pd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes with 4’‐substituted terpyridine

Eight novel Pt(II), Pd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes with 4’‐substituted terpyridine were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, UV, IR, NMR, electron paramagnetic resonance, high‐resolution mass spectrometry and molar conductivity measurements. The cytotoxicity of these complexes against HL‐60, BGC‐823, KB and Bel‐7402 cell lines was evaluated by MTT assay. All the complexes displayed cytotoxicity with low IC₅₀ values (<20 μm ) and showed selectivity. Complexes 3 , 5 , 7 and 8 exerted 9‐, 5‐, 12‐ and 7‐fold higher cytotoxicity than cisplatin against Bel‐7402 cell line. The cytotoxicity of complexes 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 and 8 was higher than that of cisplatin against BGC‐823 cell line. Complexes 3 , 7 and 8 showed similar cytotoxicity to cisplatin against KB cell line. Complex 7 exhibited higher cytotoxicity than cisplatin against HL‐60 cell line. Among these complexes, complex 7 demonstrated the highest in vitro cytotoxicity, with IC₅₀ values of 1.62, 3.59, 2.28 and 0.63 μm against HL‐60, BGC‐823, Bel‐7402 and KB cells lines, respectively. The results suggest that the cytotoxicity of these complexes is related to the nature of the terminal group of the ligand, the metal center and the leaving groups. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design,Synthesis, and Antifungal Activity of 3‐(Thiophen‐2‐yl)‐1,5‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrrol‐2‐one Derivatives Bearing a Carbonic Ester Group

A series of 3‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐1,5‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrrol‐2‐one derivatives bearing a carbonic ester group were designed and synthesized by integrating a thiophene nucleus and a pyrroline‐2‐one scaffold in a single molecular architecture. Their structures were confirmed by IR, ¹H‐NMR, EI‐MS, and elemental analyses, and their antifungal activities against Fusarium graminearum (Fg), Rhizoctorzia solani (Rs), and Botrytis cinerea (Bc) were evaluated. The antifungal bioassays indicated that some title compounds exhibited desirable antifungal effects against the tested fungi. Strikingly, the title compounds 4i , 4k , 4n , and 4o showed obvious antifungal activities against Rs, with corresponding EC₅₀ values of 35.26, 33.56, 23.90, and 30.48 μg/mL, respectively, which are better than that of hymexazol (37.86 μg/mL). These results indicated that 3‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐1,5‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrrol‐2‐one derivatives bearing a carbonic ester group can serve as potential structural templates in the search for novel high‐efficient fungicides.     

Design,Synthesis, and in vitro Anti‐mycobacterial Evaluation of Propylene‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐4‐methylene‐tethered (Thio)semicarbazone‐isatin‐moxifloxacin Hybrids

A new class of propylene‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐4‐methylene‐tethered (thio)semicarbazone‐isatin‐moxifloxacin hybrids 6a – h was designed, synthesized, and screened for their in vitro anti‐mycobacterial activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) H₃₇Rv and MDR‐TB as well as cytotoxicity in VERO cell line. All the synthesized hybrids (MIC: 0.05–2.0 μg/mL) exhibited excellent activities against M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv and MDR‐TB; in particular, conjugate 6c (MIC: 0.05 and 0.12 μg/mL) was no inferior to the three references MXFX (MIC: 0.10 and 0.12 μg/mL), RIF (MIC: 0.39 and 32 μg/mL), and INH (MIC: 0.05 and >128 μg/mL) against the tested two strains. All hybrids (CC₅₀: 2–8 μg/mL) were much more cytotoxic than the parent MXFX (CC₅₀: 128 μg/mL) should be further optimized.     

Synthesis and anti‐HIV activity of new chiral 1,2,4‐triazoles and 1,3,4‐thiadiazoles

5‐substituted 4‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐thiones 3 and 2‐substituted 5‐(4‐chlorophenylamino)‐1,3,4‐thiadiazoles 4 were prepared from the intermediate thiosemicarbazides 2 under basic and acidic conditions, respectively. The thiosemicarbazides, in turn, were prepared by the reaction of hydrazides 1 with 4‐chlorophenylisothiocyanate in MeOH. Some of the new synthesized compounds were assayed against HIV‐1 and HIV‐2 in MT‐4 cells. All the compounds were inactive except 3f , which showed an EC₅₀ value of 23.9 μg/mL and 9.9 μg/mL against HIV‐1 and HIV‐2 with a therapeutic index of 3 and 7, respectively. It means that compound 3f was cytotoxic to MT‐4 cells at CC₅₀ of 72.7 μg/mL in both strains. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:316–322, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20282     

cis‐Bis(3,6‐di­hydro‐2H‐1,2‐oxazine‐N)­di­iodo­platinum(II) and cis‐bis(3,4,5,6‐tetra­hydro‐2H‐1,2‐oxazine‐N)­di­iodo­platinum(II)

The title complexes, [Pt(C₄H₇NO)₂I₂], (I), and [Pt(C₄H₉NO)₂I₂], (II), possess similar square‐planar coordination geometries with modest distortions from ideality. For (I), the cis‐L—Pt—L angles are in the range 87.0 (4)–94.2 (3)°, while the trans angles are 174.4 (3) and 176.4 (3)°. For (II), cis‐L—Pt—L are 86.1 (8)–94.2 (6)° and trans‐L—Pt—L are 174.4 (6) and 177.4 (5)°. One 3,6‐di­hydro‐2H‐1,2‐oxazine ligand in (I) is rotated so that the N—O bond is out of the square plane by approximately 70°, while the N—C bond is only ca 20° out of the plane. The other oxazine ligand is rotated so that the N—C bond is about 80° out of the plane, while the N—O bond is out of the plane by approximately 24°. In (II), the 3,4,5,6‐tetra­hydro‐2H‐1,2‐oxazine ligands are also positioned with one having the N—O bond further out of the plane and the other having the N—C bond positioned in that fashion. Both ligands, however, are rotated approximately 90° compared with their positions in (I). In both complexes, this results in an unsymmetrical distortion of the I—Pt—N bond angles in which one is expanded and the other contracted. These features are compared to those of reported cis‐di­amine­di­iodo­platinum(II) complexes.     

Bis(β‐ketoamino)copper(II)/methylaluminoxane systems for homo‐ and copolymerizations of methyl acrylate and 1‐hexene

Two bis(β‐ketoamino)copper [ArNC(CH₃)CHC(CH₃)O]₂Cu ( 1 , Ar = 2,6‐dimethylphenyl; 2 , Ar = 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl) complexes were synthesized and characterized. Homo‐ and copolymerizations of methyl acrylate (MA) and 1‐hexene with bis(β‐ketoamino)copper(II) complexes activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO) were investigated in detail. MA was polymerized in high conversion (>72%) to produce the syndio‐rich atactic poly(methyl acrylate), but 1‐hexene was not polymerized with copper complexes/MAO. Copolymerizations of MA and 1‐hexene with 1 , 2 /MAO produced acrylate‐enriched copolymers (MA > 80%) with isolated hexenes in the backbone. The calculation of reactivity ratios showed that r(MA) is 8.47 and r(hexene) is near to 0 determined by a Fineman‐Ross method. The polymerization mechanism was discussed, and an insertion‐triggered radical mechanism was also proposed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1113–1121, 2010     

Synthesis and Bioactivities of Novel N‐(4‐(2‐Aryloxythiazol‐5‐yl)but‐3‐yn‐2‐yl)benzamides

A series of novel N‐(4‐(2‐aryloxythiazol‐5‐yl)but‐3‐yn‐2‐yl)benzamide derivatives were designed and synthesized. Their structures were identified by ¹H NMR and elemental analyses. Preliminary bioassays indicated that some title compounds provided >80% control of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum at 50 µg/mL and >70% herbicidal activities against B. campestris at 100 µg/mL. Their structure‐activities relationships were also discussed.     

Platinum and Palladium Complexes Bearing New (1R,2R)‐(–)‐1,2‐Diaminocyclohexane (DACH)‐Based Nitrogen Ligands: Evaluation of the Complexes Against L1210 Leukemia

The reaction of (1R,2R)‐(–)‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane ( 1 ) [DACH] with the aldehyde (1R)‐(–)‐myrtenal ( 2 ) in MeOH afforded the bidentate diimine ligand, (1R,2R)‐(–)‐N¹,N²‐bis{(1R)‐(–)myrtenylidene}‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane ( 3 ) in a high yield. Reduction of 3 using LiAlH₄ led to the formation of the desired ligand ( 4 ) (1R,2R)‐(–)‐N¹,N²‐bis{(1R)‐(–)myrtenyl}‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane. Treatment of compound 4 with K₂PtCl₄ or K₂PdCl₄ yielded the corresponding platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes, Pt‐5 and Pd‐6 , respectively. The reaction of compound 3 with K₂PtCl₄ gave the diimine complex Pt‐7 . The cytotoxic activity of the complexes Pt‐5 , Pd‐6 and Pt‐7 was tested and compared to the approved drugs, cisplatin ( Cis ‐Pt ) and oxaliplatin ( Ox‐Pt ). The complexes ( Pt‐5 , Pd‐6 and Pt‐7 ) inhibit L1210 cell line proliferation with an IC₅₀ of 0.6, 4.2, and 0.7 μL, respectively as evidenced by measuring thymidine incorporation.     

Crystallization experiments with the dinuclear chelate ring complex di‐μ‐chlorido‐bis[(η2‐2‐allyl‐4‐methoxy‐5‐{[(propan‐2‐yloxy)carbonyl]methoxy}phenyl‐κC1)platinum(II)]

Crystallization experiments with the dinuclear chelate ring complex di‐μ‐chlorido‐bis[(η²‐2‐allyl‐4‐methoxy‐5‐{[(propan‐2‐yloxy)carbonyl]methoxy}phenyl‐κC¹)platinum(II)], [Pt₂(C₁₅H₁₉O₄)₂Cl₂], containing a derivative of the natural compound eugenol as ligand, have been performed. Using five different sets of crystallization conditions resulted in four different complexes which can be further used as starting compounds for the synthesis of Pt complexes with promising anticancer activities. In the case of vapour diffusion with the binary chloroform–diethyl ether or methylene chloride–diethyl ether systems, no change of the molecular structure was observed. Using evaporation from acetonitrile (at room temperature), dimethylformamide (DMF, at 313 K) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, at 313 K), however, resulted in the displacement of a chloride ligand by the solvent, giving, respectively, the mononuclear complexes (acetonitrile‐κN)(η²‐2‐allyl‐4‐methoxy‐5‐{[(propan‐2‐yloxy)carbonyl]methoxy}phenyl‐κC¹)chloridoplatinum(II) monohydrate, [Pt(C₁₅H₁₉O₄)Cl(CH₃CN)]·H₂O, (η²‐2‐allyl‐4‐methoxy‐5‐{[(propan‐2‐yloxy)carbonyl]methoxy}phenyl‐κC¹)chlorido(dimethylformamide‐κO)platinum(II), [Pt(C₁₅H₁₉O₄)Cl(C₂H₇NO)], and (η²‐2‐allyl‐4‐methoxy‐5‐{[(propan‐2‐yloxy)carbonyl]methoxy}phenyl‐κC¹)chlorido(dimethyl sulfoxide‐κS)platinum(II), determined as the analogue {η²‐2‐allyl‐4‐methoxy‐5‐[(ethoxycarbonyl)methoxy]phenyl‐κC¹}chlorido(dimethyl sulfoxide‐κS)platinum(II), [Pt(C₁₄H₁₇O₄)Cl(C₂H₆OS)]. The crystal structures confirm that acetonitrile interacts with the Pt^II atom via its N atom, while for DMSO, the S atom is the coordinating atom. For the replacement, the longest of the two Pt—Cl bonds is cleaved, leading to a cis position of the solvent ligand with respect to the allyl group. The crystal packing of the complexes is characterized by dimer formation via C—H…O and C—H…π interactions, but no π–π interactions are observed despite the presence of the aromatic ring.     

DNA interaction and cleavage studies of ancillary chiral ligand and N,N‐donor ligands coordinated platinum(II) complexes

Four new platinum(II) complexes [Pt(dpen)(bpy)](ClO₄)₂ ( 1 ) , [Pt(dpen)(phen)](ClO₄)₂ ( 2 ), [Pt(dpen)(dpq)](ClO₄)₂ ( 3 ) and [Pt(dpen)(dppz)](ClO₄)₂ ( 4 ) comprising of different N,N‐donor ligands, viz., 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy), 1,l0‐phenanthroline (phen), dipyridoquinoxaline (dpq), dipyrido‐[3,2‐d:2¢,3¢‐f –phenazine] (dppz), and chiral ancillary ligand 1R,2R ‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine (dpen) have been synthesized and characterized. The interaction of these complexes 1–4 with calf‐thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) has been explored using absorption, circular dichroism spectral and cyclic voltammetric studies. The absorption spectrum of complex 4 with dppz ligand exhibits a major red shift with an overall hypochromic as well as a hyperchromic effect in the presence of DNA, other complexes ( 1 – 3 ) show only hypochromism. From these absorption spectral studies, the intercalative ability of the complexes follows the order as, 4  >  3  >  2  >  1 , which is further confirmed by CD and cyclic voltammetry measurements. CD spectral studies show that DNA becomes more A ‐like upon interaction with the complexes 1 & 2 but the complexes 3 & 4 bring about B ‐form to Z ‐ form DNA conformational transition. The DNA cleavage study of these Pt(II) complexes 1–4 carried out by gel electrophoresis revealed that complexes 1–4 can cleave super coiled (SC) pUC18 DNA efficiently into open circular form (form II) under hydrolytic and oxidative conditions.     

Some divalent metal(II) complexes of novel potentially tetradentate Schiff base N,N′‐bis(2‐carboxyphenylimine)‐2,5‐thiophenedicarboxaldhyde: Synthesis,spectroscopic characterization and bioactivities

A novel tetradentate dianionic Schiff base ligand, N ,N ′‐bis(2‐carboxyphenylimine)‐2,5‐thiophenedicarboxaldhyde (H₂L) and some first row d‐transition metal chelates (Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II)) were synthesized and characterized using various physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The spectroscopic data suggested that the parent Schiff base ligand coordinates through both deprotonated carboxylic oxygen and imine nitrogen atoms. The free Schiff base and its metal chelates were screened for their antimicrobial activities for various pathogenic bacteria and fungi using the agar well diffusion method. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of all the newly synthesized compounds are significant compared to the standard drugs ciprofloxacin and nystatin. The antioxidant activities of the compounds were determined by reduction of 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl and compared with that of vitamin C as a standard. DNA binding ability of the novel Schiff base and its complexes was investigated using absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, viscosity measurements and thermal denaturation. The obtained results clearly demonstrate that the binding affinity with calf thymus DNA follows the order: Cu(II) complex > Ni(II) complex > Zn(II) complex > Co(II) complex >H₂L. Furthermore, the DNA cleavage activity of the newly synthesized ligand and its metal complexes was investigated using supercoiled plasmid DNA (pUC18) gel electrophoresis.     

2,5‐Dimethyl‐6,7‐dihydrobenzo[h]pyrazolo[1,5‐a]quinazoline and 2‐tert‐butyl‐5‐methyl‐6,7‐dihydrobenzo[h]pyrazolo[1,5‐a]quinazoline

In both 2,5‐dimethyl‐6,7‐dihydrobenzo[h]pyrazolo[1,5‐a]quinazoline, C₁₆H₁₅N₃, (I), and 2‐tert‐butyl‐5‐methyl‐6,7‐dihydrobenzo[h]pyrazolo[1,5‐a]quinazoline, C₁₉H₂₁N₃, (II), which crystallizes with Z′ = 2 in the space group P, the non‐aromatic carbocyclic rings adopt screw‐boat conformations. The molecules of (I) are linked into chains of rings by a combination of C—H...N and C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds, while in (II) there are no hydrogen bonds of any kind.     

Synthesis,structure, characterization and biological evaluation of 3‐substituted 1‐pyridin‐2‐ylimidazo[1,5‐a]pyridine‐based copper(I)–phosphine complexes for anticancer drug screening

Copper(I) complexes of the types [Cu(N–N)(PPh₃)₂]NO₃ (LC41–LC44) and [Cu(N–N)(PPh₃)(NO₃)] (LC45) carrying 3‐substituted 1‐pyridine‐2‐ylimidazo[1,5‐a]pyridine (N–N) derivatives and triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) ligands have been prepared. The synthesized copper(I)–phosphine complexes were fully characterized by NMR, IR, ESI‐MS and UV–visible spectroscopy as well as by cyclic voltammetry. Selected structures such as LC42, LC43 and LC45 were additionally analysed by single‐crystal X‐ray method, which show that copper(I) centre adopts a highly distorted tetrahedral geometry. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral data of the complexes throw light on the nature of metal–ligand bonding. They display dπ–π* metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transition and show quasireversible Cu^I/Cu^II metal oxidation. Among the copper(I)–phosphine complexes, LC41–LC44 exhibit moderate cytotoxicity (IC₅₀: 24 h, 67–74 μM; 48 h, 58–70 μM) against human lung epithelial adenocarcinoma A549 cells, whereas LC45 displays the best activity (IC₅₀: 24 h, 42 μM; 48 h, 34 μM) for A549 cancer cell line, which is better than that of the commercial antitumor drug cisplatin. All the complexes also displayed excellent selectivity by being relatively inactive against the human lung epithelial L132 normal cell line with selectivity index (SI) values ranging from 3.4 to 7.4. The complexes block cell cycle progression of A549 cells in G₀/G₁ phase. FACSVerse analyses are suggestive of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and apoptotic cell death induced by the LC41, LC43 and LC45. The induction of apoptosis in A549 cells was shown by Annexin V with propidium iodide (PI) and 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (DAPI) staining methods and established the ability of LC41, LC43 and LC45 to accumulate in the cell nuclei.