Synthesis and photophysical properties of new Ln(III) (Ln = Eu(III), Gd(III), or Tb(III)) complexes of 1-amidino-O-methylurea

Three new solid lanthanide(III) complexes, [Ln(1-AMUH)₃] · (NO₃)₃ (1-AMUH = 1-amidino-O-methylurea; Ln = Eu(III), Gd(III), or Tb(III)) were synthesised and characterised by elemental analysis, infrared spectra, magnetic moment measurement, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra for Gd(III) complex. The formation of lanthanide(III) complexes is confirmed by the spectroscopic studies. The photophysical properties of Gd(III), Eu(III), and Tb(III) complexes in solid state were investigated. The Tb(III) complex exhibits the strongest green emission at 543 nm and the Eu(III) complex shows a red emission at 615 nm while the Gd(III) complex shows a weak emission band at 303 nm. Under excitation with UV light, these complexes exhibited an emission characteristic of central metal ions. The powder EPR spectrum of the Gd(III) complex at 300 K exhibits a single broad band with g = 2.025. The bi-exponential nature of the decay lifetime curve is observed in the Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes. The results reveal them to have potential as luminescent materials.     

Investigation of 5-chloro-2-methoxybenzoates of La(III), Gd(III) and Lu(III) Complexes

5-Chloro-2-methoxybenzoates of La(III), Gd(III) and Lu(III) were synthesized as penta-, mono- and tetrahydrates with a metal to ligand ratio of 1:3 and with white colour typical of La(III), Gd(III) and Lu(III) ions. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and FIR spectra, thermogravimetric and diffractometric studies. The carboxylate group appears to be a symmetrical, bidentate, chelating ligand. The complexes are polycrystalline compounds. Their thermal stabilities were studied in air and inert atmospheres. When heated they dehydrate to form anhydrous salts which next in air are decomposed through oxychlorides to the oxides of the respective metals while in inert atmosphere to the mixture of oxides, oxychlorides of lanthanides and carbon. The most thermally stable in air, nitrogen and argon atmospheres is 5-chloro-2-methoxybenzoate of Gd(III). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Columinescence effect in macromolecular complexes of Eu(III) and Tb(III)

The effect of Y(III) and Gd(III) coactivator ions on the intensity of Eu(III) and Tb(III) luminescence in monomer and polymer mixed-metal complexes was studied. Isomorphic replacement of Eu(III) and Tb(III) ions by Y(III) and Gd(III) ions in macromolecular complexes led to sensitization of Eu(III) and Tb(III) ion luminescence. A mechanism of columinescence was suggested. It involves a charge transfer and the ligand orbitals and the vacant orbitals of Eu(III) and Tb(III) ions and coactivators.     

Computer Simulation of Gd(III) Speciation in Human Interstitial Fluid

The study on biological effects of rare earths is of great importance because more and more rare earths enter into the environment and human body via food chain etc.1, 2 The research on rare earth speciation is a key to understand distribution, metabolism and biological effects of rare earths. As a continuation of our research on rare earth speciation in human body3,soluble and insoluble speciations of Gd(III) in human interstitial fluid were studied in this work. Almost all the stability …     

Synthesis and relaxivity of Gd(III), Fe(III) and Mn(II) complexes with dihydropyridine derivative of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid

A novel ligand of DTPA-dihydropyridine derivative was synthesized by reaction of DTPA-dianhydride with 4-aniline-1,4-dihydropyridine. Its complexes of gadolinium, manganese and iron were prepared. Their spin-lattice relaxivities (T₁) were investigated. The results show that the NMR T₁ relaxivitives (R₁) for complexes of Fe(III), Mn(II) are less than that of Gd(III) complex, which has a high relaxivity (R₁) on the surrounding water protons, indicating that the Gd(III) complex possesses the precondition to be contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging.     

Synthesis,characterization and cytotoxic/cytostatic activity of Sm(III) and Gd(III) complexes

New Sm(III) and Gd(III) complexes of deprotonated 4-hydroxy-3[1-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-oxobutyl]-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (Acenocoumarol) were synthesized and characterized using FT-IR, FT-Raman, NMR spectra, and elemental analyses. The vibrational study gave evidence for the coordination of ligand to lanthanide ions. The ligand and its lanthanide(III) complexes were tested for their cytotoxic/cytostatic activity against two tumor cell lines and peritoneal mouse macrophages. The Sm(III) and Gd(III) complexes exhibit good activity against melanoma B16 and fibrosarcoma L929 and are stronger inhibitors of tumor cell proliferation than the ligand. Besides their cytotoxicity to tumor cells, Acenocoumarol and its gadolinium(III) and samarium(III) complexes modulate NO generation in activated macrophages.     

Complexes of Oxamic Acid with La(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), Er(III), Tm(III) and Lu(III)

The preparation, for the first time, of the deprotonated complexes of oxamic acid with La(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), Er(III), Tm(III) and Lu(III) is reported. Analytical results, conductometric measurements, magnetic moments and spectral data (IR and diffuse reflectance spectra) are discussed in terms of possible structural types. The oxamate anion acts as a N, O bidentate non-bridging ligand.     

Unequivocal synthetic pathway to heterodinuclear (4f,4f') complexes: magnetic study of relevant (Ln(III), Gd(III)) and (Gd(III), Ln(III)) complexes

The tripodal ligand tris[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-aza-3-buten]amine (LH(3)) is capable of coordinating to two different lanthanide ions to give complexes formulated as [LLnLn'(NO(3))(3)].x H(2)O. The stepwise synthetic procedure consists of introducing first a Ln(III) ion in the inner N(4)O(3) coordination site. The isolated neutral complex LLn is then allowed to react with a second and different Ln' ion that occupies the outer O(6) site, thus yielding a [LLnLn'(NO(3))(3)].x H(2)O complex. A FAB(+) study has confirmed the existence of (Ln, Ln') entities as genuine, when the Ln' ion in the outer site has a larger ionic radius than the Ln ion in the inner site. The qualitative magnetic study of the (Gd, Ln) and (Ln, Gd) complexes, based on the comparison of the magnetic properties of (Gd, Ln) (or (Ln, Gd)) pairs and (Y, Ln) (or (Ln, La)) pairs, is very informative. Indeed, these former complexes are governed by the thermal population of the Ln(III) Stark levels and the Ln-Gd interaction, while the latter are influenced by the thermal population of the Ln(III) Stark levels. We have been able to show that a ferromagnetic interaction exists at low temperature in the (Gd, Nd), (Gd, Ce), and (Yb, Gd) complexes. In contrast, an antiferromagnetic interaction occurs in the (Dy, Gd) and (Er, Gd) complexes. Although we cannot give a quantitative value to these interactions, we can affirm that their magnitudes are weak since they are only perceptible at very low temperature.     

Sparkle model for the calculation of lanthanide complexes: AM1 parameters for Eu(III), Gd(III), and Tb(III)

Our previously defined Sparkle model (Inorg. Chem. 2004, 43, 2346) has been reparameterized for Eu(III) as well as newly parameterized for Gd(III) and Tb(III). The parameterizations have been carried out in a much more extensive manner, aimed at producing a new, more accurate model called Sparkle/AM1, mainly for the vast majority of all Eu(III), Gd(III), and Tb(III) complexes, which possess oxygen or nitrogen as coordinating atoms. All such complexes, which comprise 80% of all geometries present in the Cambridge Structural Database for each of the three ions, were classified into seven groups. These were regarded as a "basis" of chemical ambiance around a lanthanide, which could span the various types of ligand environments the lanthanide ion could be subjected to in any arbitrary complex where the lanthanide ion is coordinated to nitrogen or oxygen atoms. From these seven groups, 15 complexes were selected, which were defined as the parameterization set and then were used with a numerical multidimensional nonlinear optimization to find the best parameter set for reproducing chemical properties. The new parameterizations yielded an unsigned mean error for all interatomic distances between the Eu(III) ion and the ligand atoms of the first sphere of coordination (for the 96 complexes considered in the present paper) of 0.09 A, an improvement over the value of 0.28 A for the previous model and the value of 0.68 A for the first model (Chem. Phys. Lett. 1994, 227, 349). Similar accuracies have been achieved for Gd(III) (0.07 A, 70 complexes) and Tb(III) (0.07 A, 42 complexes). Qualitative improvements have been obtained as well; nitrates now coordinate correctly as bidentate ligands. The results, therefore, indicate that Eu(III), Gd(III), and Tb(III) Sparkle/AM1 calculations possess geometry prediction accuracies for lanthanide complexes with oxygen or nitrogen atoms in the coordination polyhedron that are competitive with present day ab initio/effective core potential calculations, while being hundreds of times faster.     

Characterization of a soluble molecular magnet: unusual magnetic behavior of cyano-bridged Gd(III)-Cr(III) complexes with one-dimensional and nanoscaled square structures

Two cyano-bridged Gd(III)-Cr(III) complexes [Gd(urea)(4)(H(2)O)(2)](2)[Cr(CN)(6)](2) (1) and ([Gd(capro)(2)(H(2)O)(4)Cr(CN)(6)].H(2)O)(n)(2) (capro represents caprolactam) have been synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. Complex 1 has a tetranuclear Gd(2)Cr(2) square structure, in which two cis-CN(-) ligands of each [Cr(CN)(6)] link two [Gd(urea)(4)(H(2)O)(2)] groups and in turn, two [Gd(urea)(4)(H(2)O)(2)] link two [Cr(CN)(6)] in a cis fashion. Complex 2 is composed of 1D chains with alternating [Gd(capro)(2)(H(2)O)(4)] and [Cr(CN)(6)] moieties connected by the trans-CN(-) ligands of [Cr(CN)(6)]. The dehydration of 2 at 120 degrees C generates a new complex, [Gd(capro)(2)(H(2)O)(2)Cr(CN)(6)] (2'). Magnetic studies show the existence of antiferromagnetic Gd(III)-Cr(III) interaction in these complexes. On the basis of the tetranuclear model, the magnetic susceptibilities of 1 have been analyzed giving the intermetallic magnetic coupling constant of -0.36 cm(-1). Complex 2' exhibits a ferrimagnetic order below 2.1 K. Interestingly, 2' is quite soluble in water, and slow evaporation of the solution gives the hydrated complex 2. Therefore, 2' is a soluble molecular magnet, and this significant behavior implies potential applications. Isothermal magnetization measurements of 2' and other cyano-bridged Gd(III)-Cr(III) molecular magnets show unusual field-induced metamagnetic behavior from the ferrimagnetic ground state to the ferromagnetic state. Field dependence of magnetization of the cyano-bridged Gd(III)-Cr(III) complexes shows unusual field-induced metamagnetic behavior from the ferrimagnetic ground state to the ferromagnetic state.     

Tris(pyrone) chelates of Gd(III) as high solubility MRI-CA

Two tripodal, hexadentate pyrone-based chelators have been prepared. These ligands form stable, soluble complexes with gadolinium(III). The complexes show aqueous stability comparable to that of [Gd(DTPA)]2- at pH 7.4. Evaluation by relaxometry shows that these complexes have two inner-sphere water molecules and a very fast water exchange rate. The solution behavior of these complexes suggests that they may be attractive as high relaxivity, next-generation magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents.     

Fine-tuning water exchange on Gd(III) poly(amino carboxylates) by modulation of steric crowding

In the objective of optimizing water exchange rate on stable, nine-coordinate, monohydrated Gd(III) poly(amino carboxylate) complexes, we have prepared monopropionate derivatives of DOTA4- (DO3A-Nprop4-) and DTPA5- (DTTA-Nprop5-). A novel ligand, EPTPA-BAA(3-), the bisamylamide derivative of ethylenepropylenetriamine-pentaacetate (EPTPA5-) was also synthesized. A variable temperature 17O NMR study has been performed on their Gd(III) complexes, which, for [Gd(DTTA-Nprop)(H2O)]2- and [Gd(EPTPA-BAA)(H2O)] has been combined with multiple field EPR and NMRD measurements. The water exchange rates, k(ex)(298), are 8.0 x 10(7) s(-1), 6.1 x 10(7) s(-1) and 5.7 x 10(7) s(-1) for [Gd(DTTA-Nprop)(H2O)]2-, [Gd(DO3A-Nprop)(H2O)]- and [Gd(EPTPA-BAA)(H2O)], respectively, all in the narrow optimal range to attain maximum proton relaxivities, provided the other parameters (electronic relaxation and rotation) are also optimized. The substitution of an acetate with a propionate arm in DTPA5- or DOTA4- induces increased steric compression around the water binding site and thus leads to an accelerated water exchange on the Gd(III) complex. The k(ex) values on the propionate complexes are, however, lower than those obtained for [Gd(EPTPA)(H2O)]2- and [Gd(TRITA)(H2O)]- which contain one additional CH(2) unit in the amine backbone as compared to the parent [Gd(DTPA)(H2O)]2- and [Gd(DOTA)(H2O)]-. In addition to their optimal water exchange rate, [Gd(DTTA-Nprop)(H2O)]2- has, and [Gd(DO3A-Nprop)(H2O)]- is expected to have sufficient thermodynamic stability. These properties together make them prime candidates for the development of high relaxivity, macromolecular MRI contrast agents.     

Investigations into the synthesis and fluorescence properties of Eu(III), Tb(III), Sm(III) and Gd(III) complexes of a novel bis-beta-diketone-type ligand

A novel bis-beta-diketon ligand, 1,1'-(2,6-bispyridyl)bis-3-phenyl-1,3-propane-dione (L), was designed and synthesized and its complexes with Eu(III), Tb(III), Sm(III) and Gd(III) ions were successfully prepared. The ligand and the corresponding metal complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, and infrared, mass and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Analysis of the IR spectra suggested that each of the lanthanide metal ions coordinated to the ligand via the carbonyl oxygen atoms and the nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring. The fluorescence properties of these complexes in solid state were investigated and it was discovered that all of the lanthanide ions could be sensitized by the ligand (L) to some extent. In particular, the Tb(III) complex was an excellent green-emitter and would be a potential candidate material for applications in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) and medical diagnosis.     

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of a novel family of heterometallic nonanuclear Na(I)2Mn(III)6Ln(III) (Ln = Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy) complexes

The structures and magnetic properties of four isomorphous nonanuclear heterometallic complexes [Na(2){Mn(3)(III)(μ(3)-O(2-))}(2)Ln(III)(hmmp)(6)(O(2)CPh)(4)(N(3))(2)]OH·0.5 CH(3)CN·1.5H(2)O are reported, where Ln(III) = Eu (1), Gd (2), Tb (3) and Dy (4), H(2)hmmp = 2-[(2-hydroxyethylimino)methyl]-6-methoxyphenol. Complexes 1-4 were prepared by the reactions of hmmpH(2) with a manganese salt and the respective lanthanide salt together with NaO(2)CPh and NaN(3). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that the six Mn(III) and one Ln(III) metal topology in the aggregate can be described as a bitetrahedron. The two peripheral [Mn(III)(3)(μ(3)-O(2-))](7+) triangles are each bonded to a central Ln(III) ion with rare distorted octahedral geometry. The magnetic properties of all the complexes were investigated using variable temperature magnetic susceptibility and both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions exist in the [Mn(III)(3)(μ(3)-O(2-))](7+) triangle. Weak ferromagnetic exchange between the Ln(III) and Mn(III) ions has been established for the corresponding Gd derivative. The Gd, Tb and Dy complexes show no evidence of slow relaxation behaviour above 2.0 K.     

Sparkle/AM1 modeling of holmium (III) complexes

The sparkle/AM1 model, recently defined for Eu(III), Gd(III) and Tb(III), is now extended to Ho(III). A set of 15 complexes with various representative ligands was chosen by cluster analysis from the set formed by the 27 Ho(III) complexes structures of high crystallographic quality (R factor < 0.05 Å) available in the Cambridge Structural Database and which possess oxygen or nitrogen as coordinating atoms. In the validation procedure, we included the remaining 12 Ho(III) complexes. For these 27 complexes, the Sparkle/AM1 unsigned mean error for all interatomic distances between the Ho(III) ion and the ligand atoms of the first sphere of coordination is 0.05 Å. Sparkle/AM1 constitutes the only semiempirical model for the quantum chemical calculation of Ho(III) coordination compounds available, with geometry prediction accuracies comparable to present day rare earth complex ab initio/ECP calculations, while being hundreds of times faster.     

Cloud point extraction: an alternative to traditional liquid-liquid extraction for lanthanides(III) separation

Cloud point extraction (CPE) was used to extract and separate lanthanum(III) and gadolinium(III) nitrate from an aqueous solution. The methodology used is based on the formation of lanthanide(III)-8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) complexes soluble in a micellar phase of non-ionic surfactant. The lanthanide(III) complexes are then extracted into the surfactant-rich phase at a temperature above the cloud point temperature (CPT). The structure of the non-ionic surfactant, and the chelating agent-metal molar ratio are identified as factors determining the extraction efficiency and selectivity. In an aqueous solution containing equimolar concentrations of La(III) and Gd(III), extraction efficiency for Gd(III) can reach 96% with a Gd(III)/La(III) selectivity higher than 30 using Triton X-114. Under those conditions, a Gd(III) decontamination factor of 50 is obtained.     

Substituent effects on Gd(III)-based MRI contrast agents: optimizing the stability and selectivity of the complex and the number of coordinated water molecules

Hydroxypyridinone (HOPO)-based Gd(III) complexes have previously been shown to exhibit high relaxivity, especially at the high magnetic fields that are clinically relevant for present and future clinical use. This is due to more than one coordinated water molecule exchanging rapidly with bulk solvent. These complexes, however, present poor water solubility. Heteropodal complexes which include a terephthalamide (TAM) moiety maintain the high relaxivity characteristics of the HOPO family and have been functionalized with solubilizing substituents of various charges. The charge of the substituent significantly affects the stability of the Gd(III) complex, with the most stable complex presenting a neutral charge. The solubilizing substituent also moderately affects the affinity of the complex for physiological anions, with the highest affinity observed for the positively charged complex. In any case, only two anions, phosphate and oxalate, measureably bind the Gd(III) complex with weak affinities that are comparable to other q = 1 complexes and much weaker than DO3A, q = 2 based complexes. Furthermore, unlike poly(amino-carboxylate)-based complexes, HOPO-based Gd(III) complexes do not show any noticeable interaction with carbonates. The nature of the substituent can also favorably stabilize the coordination of a third water molecule on the Gd(III) center and lead to a nine-coordinate ground state. Such complexes that attain q = 3 incorporate a substituent beta to the terminal amide of the TAM podand that is a hydrogen-bond acceptor, suggesting that the third water molecule is coordinated to the metal center through a hydrogen-bond network. These substituents include alcohols, primary amines, and acids. Moreover, the coordination of a third water molecule has been achieved without destabilizing the complex.     

Molecular simulation of langmuir monolayer formation by Gd(III) stearate complexes

Clusters simulating the formation of Gd(III) stearate complex monolayers on the surface of an aqueous phase are studied by means of molecular mechanics. From a comparison of the calculated and experimental data, it concluded that Langmuir monolayers are produced by Gd(III) aqua complexes with one and two stearate anions.     

Molecular Mechanics Investigation of Gadolinium(III) Complexes

Parameters for the commercially available modeling package SYBYL have been developed for Gd(3+) complexes allowing these to be studied with molecular mechanics. With these parameters and a technique termed the "coordination scan", the coordination numbers of Gd(III) based complexes can be predicted, and thus the hydration number q determined. Knowledge of q has allowed the prediction of molar relaxivities based on correlations to literature values. In addition, the calculated value DeltaE(coord) was found to successfully predict the thermodynamic stability constants for polyamino carboxylate ligands with Gd(3+). Gadolinium complexes are commonly utilized as MRI contrast agents, and thus the techniques utilized in this work should aid in the development of new contrast agents.     

Relaxivity and water exchange studies of a cationic macrocyclic gadolinium(III) complex

We conducted relaxometric and water exchange studies of the cationic [Gd((S,S,S,S)-THP)(H2O)]3+ complex (THP 1,4,7,10-tetrakis(2-hydroxy-propyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane). While the NMRD profiles obtained are typical for DOTA-like complexes (DOTA = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetate), variable-temperature 7O NMR investigations revealed a relatively high water exchange rate (k(298)(ex) = 1.89 x 10(7) s(-1)). These results differ from those reported for other cationic tetraamide macrocyclic Gd(III) complexes, which exhibit characteristically low exchange rates. Since the low exchange rates are attributed partially to the geometry of the M isomer (square antiprismatic) in the tetraamide derivatives, the atypical water exchange rate observed in [Gd((S,S,S,S)-THP-(H2O)]3+ may result from a twisted square antiprismatic structure in this complex and from the relatively high steric strain at the water coordination site as a result of the presence of methyl groups at the alpha-position with respect to the Gd(III)-bound O atoms of THP.