Spontaneous CO Release from RuII(CO)2–Protein Complexes in Aqueous Solution,Cells, and Mice

We demonstrate that Ru^II(CO)₂–protein complexes, formed by the reaction of the hydrolytic decomposition products of [fac‐RuCl(κ²‐H₂NCH₂CO₂)(CO)₃] (CORM‐3) with histidine residues exposed on the surface of proteins, spontaneously release CO in aqueous solution, cells, and mice. CO release was detected by mass spectrometry (MS) and confocal microscopy using a CO‐responsive turn‐on fluorescent probe. These findings support our hypothesis that plasma proteins act as CO carriers after in vivo administration of CORM‐3. CO released from a synthetic bovine serum albumin (BSA)–Ru^II(CO)₂ complex leads to downregulation of the cytokines interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α in cancer cells. Finally, administration of BSA–Ru^II(CO)₂ in mice bearing a colon carcinoma tumor results in enhanced CO accumulation at the tumor. Our data suggest the use of Ru^II(CO)₂–protein complexes as viable alternatives for the safe and spatially controlled delivery of therapeutic CO in vivo.     

Hydrogen‐Atom Abstraction Reactions by Manganese(V)– and Manganese(IV)–Oxo Porphyrin Complexes in Aqueous Solution

High‐valent manganese(IV or V)–oxo porphyrins are considered as reactive intermediates in the oxidation of organic substrates by manganese porphyrin catalysts. We have generated Mn^V– and Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins in basic aqueous solution and investigated their reactivities in C? H bond activation of hydrocarbons. We now report that Mn^V– and Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins are capable of activating C? H bonds of alkylaromatics, with the reactivity order of Mn^V–oxo>Mn^IV–oxo; the reactivity of a Mn^V–oxo complex is 150 times greater than that of a Mn^IV–oxo complex in the oxidation of xanthene. The C? H bond activation of alkylaromatics by the Mn^V– and Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins is proposed to occur through a hydrogen‐atom abstraction, based on the observations of a good linear correlation between the reaction rates and the C? H bond dissociation energy (BDE) of substrates and high kinetic isotope effect (KIE) values in the oxidation of xanthene and dihydroanthracene (DHA). We have demonstrated that the disproportionation of Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins to Mn^V–oxo and Mn^III porphyrins is not a feasible pathway in basic aqueous solution and that Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins are able to abstract hydrogen atoms from alkylaromatics. The C? H bond activation of alkylaromatics by Mn^V– and Mn^IV–oxo species proceeds through a one‐electron process, in which a Mn^IV–‐oxo porphyrin is formed as a product in the C? H bond activation by a Mn^V–oxo porphyrin, followed by a further reaction of the Mn^IV–oxo porphyrin with substrates that results in the formation of a Mn^III porphyrin complex. This result is in contrast to the oxidation of sulfides by the Mn^V–oxo porphyrin, in which the oxidation of thioanisole by the Mn^V–oxo complex produces the starting Mn^III porphyrin and thioanisole oxide. This result indicates that the oxidation of sulfides by the Mn^V–oxo species occurs by means of a two‐electron oxidation process. In contrast, a Mn^IV–oxo porphyrin complex is not capable of oxidizing sulfides due to a low oxidizing power in basic aqueous solution.     

Properties of the Magnesium(II) and Calcium(II) Complexes of 5‐ and 6‐Uracilmethylphosphonate (5 Umpa2– and 6 Umpa2–) in Aqueous Solution

The stability constants of the 1 : 1 complexes formed between Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺ and 5 Umpa^2– or 6 Umpa^2– were determined by potentiometric pH titrations in aqueous solution (25 °C; I = 0.1 M, NaNO₃). Based on previously established log K^M_M(R‐PO3) versus pK^H_H(R‐PO3) straight‐line plots (M²⁺ = Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺; R‐PO₃^2– = simple phosphate monoester or phosphonate ligands where R is a non‐interacting residue), it is shown that the Mg(5 Umpa), Ca(5 Umpa), Mg(6 Umpa) and Ca(6 Umpa) complexes have the stability expected on the basis of the basicity of the phosphonate group in 5 Umpa^2– and 6 Umpa^2–. This means, these ligands may be considered as simple analogues of nucleotides, e. g. of uridine 5′‐monophosphate. In the higher pH range deprotonation of the uracil residue in the M(5 Umpa) and M(6 Umpa) complexes occurs and this leads to the negatively charged M(5 Umpa–H)^– and M(6 Umpa–H)^– species. Based on the comparison of various acidity constants it is shown that the M(5 Umpa) complexes are especially acidic; or to say it differently, the M(5 Umpa–H)^– species are especially stable. This increased stability is attributed to the formation of a seven‐membered chelate involving next to the phosphonate group also the carbonyl oxygen atom at C4 (after deprotonation of the (N3)H site). The formation degree of this chelated isomer reaches about 45% for the Mg(5 Umpa–H)^– and Ca(5 Umpa–H)^– species. No indication for chelate formation was observed for the M(6 Umpa–H)^– complexes.     

Insertion Reactions of [ReH(CO)5–n(PMe3)n] Complexes (n = 2–4) with aldehydes,CO2, and activated acetylenes

The complexes of the type [ReH(CO)_5–n(PMe₃)_n] (n = 4, 3) were reacted with aldehydes, CO₂, and RC?CCOOMe (R = H, Me) to establish a phosphine-substitutional effect on the reactivity of the Re–H bond. In the series 1–3 , benzaldehyde showed conversion with only 3 to afford a (benzyloxy)carbonyltetrakis(trimethylphosphine)rhenium complex 4 . Pyridine-2-carbaldehyde allowed reaction with all hydrides 1–3 . With 1 and 2 , the same dicarbonyl[(pyridin-2-yl)methoxy-O, N]bis(trimethylphosphine)rhenium 5b was formed with the intermediacy of a [(pyridin-2-yl)methoxy-O]-ligated species and extrusion of CO or PMe₃, respectively. The analogous conversion of 3 afforded the carbonyl[(pyridin-2-yl)methoxy-O,N]tris(trimethylphosphine)rhenium ( 1 ) 7b . While 1 did not react with CO₂, 2 and 3 yielded under relatively mild conditions the formato-ligated [Re(HCO₂)(CO)(L)(PMe₃)₃] species ( 8 (L = CO) and 9 (L = PMe₃)). Methyl propiolate and methyl butynoate were transformed, in the presence of 1 , to [Re{C(CO₂Me)?CHR}(CO)₃(PMe₃)₂] systems ( 10a (R = H), and 10b (R = Me)), with prevailing α-metallation and trans-insertion stereochemistry. Similarly, HC≡CCO₂Me afforded with 2 and 3 , the α-metallation products [Re{C(CO₂Me)?CH₂}(CO)(L)(PMe₃)₃] 11 (L = CO) and 12 (L = PMe₃). The methyl butyonate insertion into 2 resulted in formation of a mixture of the (Z)- and (E)-isomers of [Re{C(CO₂Me)?CHMe} (CO)₂(PMe₃)₃] ( 13a , b ). In the case of the conversion of 3 with MeC?CCO₂Me, a Re–H cis-addition product [Re{(E)-C(CO₂Me)?CHMe}(CO)(PMe₃)₄] ( 14 ) was selectively obtained. Complex 11 was characterized by an X-ray crystal-structure analysis.     

Preparation,Spectroscopic Properties,and Crystal Structures of Fe2(CO)6(μ‐CO)(μ‐CF2)2, Fe2(CO)6(μ‐CO)2(μ‐CF2), and Fe2(CO)6(μ‐CF2)(PPh3)2 – Theoretical Studies of Methylenic vs. Carbonyl Bridges in Diiron Complexes

The reaction of Na₂[Fe(CO)₄] with Br₂CF₂ in n‐pentane generates a mixture of the compounds (CO)₃Fe(μ‐CO)_3–n(μ‐CF₂)_nFe(CO)₃ ( 2 , n = 2; 3 , n = 1) in low yields with 3 as the main product. 3 is obtained free from 2 by reacting Br₂CF₂ with Na₂[Fe₂(CO)₈]. The non‐isolable monomeric complex (CO)₄Fe=CF₂ ( 1 ) can probably considered as the precursor for 2 . 3 reacts with PPh₃ with replacement of two CO ligands to form Fe₂(CO)₆(μ‐CF₂)(PPh₃)₂ ( 4 ). The complexes 2 – 4 were characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. While the structure of 2 is strictly similar to that of Fe₂(CO)₉, the structure of 3 can better be described as a resulting from superposition of the two enantiomers 3 a and 3 b with two semibridging CO groups. Quantum chemical DFT calculations for the series (CO)₃Fe(μCO)_3–n(μ‐CF₂)_nFe(CO)₃ (n = 0, 1, 2, 3) as well as for the corresponding (μ‐CH₂) derivatives indicate that the progressively larger σ donor and π acceptor properties for the bridging ligands, in the order CO < CF₂ < CH₂, favor a stronger Fe–Fe bond.     

Direct Spectroscopic Evidence for 1ΔgO2 Production from the Photolysis of Vanadium(V)-Peroxo Complexes in Aqueous Solution

The chemiluminescence of ¹DL_gO₂ expelled from the UV photolysis of vanadium(V)-peroxo (VP) complexes in aqueous solution was observed for the first time. Using phenalenone photosensitization as a standard reference, the ¹O₂ quantum yields from the photolysis of 12 VP complexes were measured. No good correlation was found between the relative DNA-photocleavage activities and the ¹O₂ quantum yields of these complexes. This lack of correlation underscores the significant contribution of the complex-DNA binding interaction in determining the observed DNA-photocleavage activity of the complex. The small ¹O₂ quantum yields observed in these complexes were interpreted in terms of the minor ¹O₂ pho-toelimination channel relative to other more efficient relaxation processes.     

Mapping the Transformation [{RuII(CO)3Cl2}2]→[RuI2(CO)4]2+: Implications in Binuclear Water–Gas Shift Chemistry

The complete sequence of reactions in the base‐promoted reduction of [{Ru^II(CO)₃Cl₂}₂] to [Ru^I₂(CO)₄]²⁺ has been unraveled. Several μ‐OH, μ:κ²‐CO₂H‐bridged diruthenium(II) complexes have been synthesized; they are the direct results of the nucleophilic activation of metal‐coordinated carbonyls by hydroxides. The isolated compounds are [Ru₂(CO)₄(μ:κ²‐C,O‐CO₂H)₂(μ‐OH)(NP^F‐Am)₂][PF₆] ( 1 ; NP^F‐Am=2‐amino‐5,7‐trifluoromethyl‐1,8‐naphthyridine) and [Ru₂(CO)₄(μ:κ²‐C,O‐CO₂H)(μ‐OH)(NP‐Me₂)₂][BF₄]₂ ( 2 ), secured by the applications of naphthyridine derivatives. In the absence of any capping ligand, a tetranuclear complex [Ru₄(CO)₈(H₂O)₂(μ³‐OH)₂(μ:κ²‐C,O‐CO₂H)₄][CF₃SO₃]₂ ( 3 ) is isolated. The bridging hydroxido ligand in 1 is readily replaced by a π‐donor chlorido ligand, which results in [Ru₂(CO)₄(μ:κ²‐C,O‐CO₂H)₂(μ‐Cl)(NP‐PhOMe)₂][BF₄] ( 4 ). The production of [Ru₂(CO)₄]²⁺ has been attributed to the thermally induced decarboxylation of a bis(hydroxycarbonyl)–diruthenium(II) complex to a dihydrido–diruthenium(II) species, followed by dinuclear reductive elimination of molecular hydrogen with the concomitant formation of the Ru^I? Ru^I single bond. This work was originally instituted to find a reliable synthetic protocol for the [Ru₂(CO)₄(CH₃CN)₆]²⁺ precursor. It is herein prescribed that at least four equivalents of base, complete removal of chlorido ligands by Tl^I salts, and heating at reflux in acetonitrile for a period of four hours are the conditions for the optimal conversion. Premature quenching of the reaction resulted in the isolation of a trinuclear Ru^I₂Ru^II complex [{Ru(NP‐Am)₂(CO)}{Ru₂(NP‐Am)₂(CO)₂(μ‐CO)₂}(μ₃:κ³‐C,O,O′‐CO₂)][BF₄]₂ ( 6 ). These unprecedented diruthenium compounds are the dinuclear congeners of the water–gas shift (WGS) intermediates. The possibility of a dinuclear pathway eliminates the inherent contradiction of pH demands in the WGS catalytic cycle in an alkaline medium. A cooperative binuclear elimination could be a viable route for hydrogen production in WGS chemistry.     

Copper(II) Complexes of N,N′-Bis-βCarbamoylethyl) Ethylenediamine in Aqueous Solution

The interactions of the ligand N, N -bis-(β-carbamoylethyl)-ethylenediamine (BCEN) with copper (II) in aqueous solution have been investigated by potentiometric and spectrophotometric techniques. The two protonation constants of the ligand at 25° in 0.2 M NaNO₃are 10^5-51and 10^5-44 The quantitative equilibrium studies of the stepwise reactions which precede the formation of CuBCEN²⁺ and the Cu-O to Cu-N bond rearrangements at the two amide sites are described in detail. Electronic spectra of the copper (II) chelates formed are measured and discussed.     

Preparation and Characterization of Uranium–Iron Triple‐Bonded UFe(CO)3− and OUFe(CO)3− Complexes

We report the preparation of UFe(CO)₃⁻ and OUFe(CO)₃⁻ complexes using a laser‐vaporization supersonic ion source in the gas phase. These compounds were mass‐selected and characterized by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and state‐of‐the‐art quantum chemical studies. There are unprecedented triple bonds between U 6d/5f and Fe 3d orbitals, featuring one covalent σ bond and two Fe‐to‐U dative π bonds in both complexes. The uranium and iron elements are found to exist in unique formal U(I or III) and Fe(−II) oxidation states, respectively. These findings suggest that there may exist a whole family of stable df–d multiple‐bonded f‐element‐transition‐metal compounds that have not been fully recognized to date.     

An Efficient RuII–RhIII–RuII Polypyridyl Photocatalyst for Visible‐Light‐Driven Hydrogen Production in Aqueous Solution

The development of multicomponent molecular systems for the photocatalytic reduction of water to hydrogen has experienced considerable growth since the end of the 1970s. Recently, with the aim of improving the efficiency of the catalysis, single‐component photocatalysts have been developed in which the photosensitizer is chemically coupled to the hydrogen‐evolving catalyst in the same molecule through a bridging ligand. Until now, none of these photocatalysts has operated efficiently in pure aqueous solution: a highly desirable medium for energy‐conversion applications. Herein, we introduce a new ruthenium–rhodium polypyridyl complex as the first efficient homogeneous photocatalyst for H₂ production in water with turnover numbers of several hundred. This study also demonstrates unambiguously that the catalytic performance of such systems linked through a nonconjugated bridge is significantly improved as compared to that of a mixture of the separate components.     

Gold Nanoparticles Carrying Diatomic Molecules (O2 and CO) in Aqueous Solution

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) prepared by citrate reduction of aurochloric acid (HAuCl₄) were functionalized by tris(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphinatoiron(III) (Fe^IIIP2) and poly(ethylene glycol) with thiolated arms (PEG‐SH). Fe^IIIP2 on the AuNP surface existed as its μ‐oxo dimer, which was reduced by Na₂S₂O₄ to yield monomeric Fe^IIP2. Fe^IIP2‐bearing AuNPs were further functionalized through inclusion of two sulfonatophenyl groups of Fe^IIP2 by a per‐O‐methylated β‐cyclodextrin dimer with a pyridine linker (Py3CD) to obtain AuNPs capable of carrying diatomic molecules in the body. The resulting AuNPs (hemoCD‐AuNPs) bound O₂ as well as CO in an aqueous solution. Although a noncolloidal 1:1 complex of 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphinatoiron(II) and Py3CD injected into the femoral vein of a rat was rapidly excreted in the urine, no excretion was observed with ferric hemoCD‐AuNPs, which were gradually accumulated in the spleen and liver of a rat. These results suggest that hemoCD‐AuNPs can be used as a carrier of diatomic molecules such as O₂ and CO in vivo.     

Synthesis,IR Spectra,Thermal Analysis and Crystal Structures of Bis(saccharinato)mercury(II) Complexes with 2–Aminomethylpyridine and 2–Aminoethylpyridine

Two bis(saccharinato) (sac) complexes of mercury(II) with 2–aminomethylpyridine (ampy) and 2–aminoethylpyridine (aepy) were synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analysis, FT–IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis and single crystal X–ray diffraction. trans–[Hg(sac)₂(ampy)₂] ( 1 ) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c [a = 10.8274(4), b = 16.4903(6), c = 7.7889(3) Å; β = 99.500(1)°] and [Hg(sac)₂(aepy)] ( 2 ) also crystallizes monoclinic in space group P2₁/n [a = 9.0423(4), b = 14.0594(6), c = 18.0146(8) Å; ß = 98.806(1)°]. Both 1 and 2 consist of neutral monomeric units. The mercury(II) ion in 1 lies on an inversion centre and exhibit distorted octahedral coordination by two sac anions and two ampy ligands, whereas the mercury(II) ion in 2 is tetrahedrally coordinated by an aepy and two sac ligands. The sac ligands in both complexes are N–coordinated, while the ampy and aepy ligands act as a bidentate ligand forming two symmetrically chelate rings around the mercury(II) ion.     

Syntheses,Structures, and Polymorphism of β‐Diketonato Complexes – Co(thd)3

Oxidation of Co(thd)₂ dissolved in different solvents has been investigated in air and oxygen atmosphere. In oxygen atmosphere and at the boiling point of the solvents this treatment leads to oxidation of Co^II to Co^III, but also to degradation of some of the thd ligands and formation of a new mixed‐ligand complex. Three pure‐cultivated crystalline Co(thd)₃ phases are reported: 1 (room‐temperature phase), 2 (low‐temperature phase), and 3 (metastable phase) and in addition there exists an amorphous Co(thd)₃ phase ( 4 ) with approximate composition Co(thd)₃·xH(thd); x = 0.06. Reaction of metal(II) oxides (MO, M = Mn, Fe, and Co) with H(thd) under air or O₂ atmosphere is an easy direct route to M(thd)₃ complexes. Structure determinations are reported for Co(thd)₃ ( 1 – 3 ) based on single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. Modification 1 crystallizes in space group with a = b = 18.8100(10), c = 18.815(2) Å at 295 K; R(wR2) = 0.180, modification 2 in space group C2/c with a = 28.007(12), b = 18.482(8), c = 21.356(9) Å, β = 97.999(5)° at 100 K; R(wR2) =0.211, and modification 3 in space group Pnma with a = 19.2394(15), b = 18.8795(15), c = 10.7808(8) Å at 100 K; R(wR2) = 0.193. The molecular structures of 1 – 3 all comprise a central Co atom octahedrally co‐ordinated by the ketonato O atoms of three thd ligands. The transformation between modifications 1 and 2 is of a fully reversible second‐order character. Modifications 1 and 3 are, on the other hand, related by a quasi‐reversible cycle. Heat treatment (specifically sublimation) of 1 leads to 3 whereas re‐crystallization or prolonged storage at room temperature is required to regenerate 1 . Co(thd)₃ has sufficient thermal stability to permit sublimation without degradation. The various forms of Co(thd)₃ are all diamagnetic, viz. a confirmation of the Co^III valence state.     

N–H(N)…S Bonding in Tetrahedral [Zn(NCS)2L]0 Complexes (L = MexH2–xN(CH2)2NH2–yMey,x, y = 0 – 2)

The crystal structures of uncharged tetrahedral dithiocyanato zinc complexes with N-methylated ethylenediamines have been determined with a view to a study of intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions in these compounds. It is found that the H(N) hydrogen atoms are exhaustively engaged in N–H(N) … S bonds. The majority of these bonds are branched (bifurcated or trifurcated), and the hydrogen-bond systems they form all contain one of the two characteristic primitive core motifs: either a discrete centrosymmetric […S…H…]₂ dimer or an infinite […S…H…]_∞ helix about a 2₁ or pseudo-2₁ axis. The hydrogen bonding is analyzed in detail, with particular attention to the existence of correlations between the N–H(N)–S angles and the H(N) … S distances as well as between the corresponding N–H(N)–S/H(N)…S pairs in the bifurcated N–H(N)…2 S bonds.