A Dinuclear Mercury(II)‐Mediated Base Pair in DNA

The first dinuclear metal‐mediated base pair containing divalent metal ions has been prepared. A combination of the neutral bis(monodentate) purine derivative 1,N⁶‐ethenoadenine (ϵA), which preferentially binds two metal ions with a parallel alignment of the N−M bonds, and the canonical nucleobase thymine (T), which readily deprotonates in the presence of Hg^II and thereby partially compensates the charge accumulation due to the two closely spaced divalent metal ions, yields the dinuclear T‐Hg^II₂‐ϵA base pair. This metal‐mediated base pair stabilizes the DNA oligonucleotide duplex as shown by an increase of 8 °C in its melting temperature. Formation of the base pair was demonstrated by temperature‐dependent UV spectroscopy as well as by titration experiments monitored by UV and CD spectroscopy.     

Metal‐Ion‐Mediated Tuning of Duplex DNA Binding by Bis(2‐(2‐pyridyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole)

Studies of double‐stranded‐DNA binding have been performed with three isomeric bis(2‐(n‐pyridyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole)s (n=2, 3, 4). Like the well‐known Hoechst 33258, which is a bisbenzimidazole compound, these three isomers bind to the minor groove of duplex DNA. DNA binding by the three isomers was investigated in the presence of the divalent metal ions Mg²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺. Ligand–DNA interactions were probed with fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy. These studies revealed that the binding of the 2‐pyridyl derivative to DNA is dramatically reduced in the presence of Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cu²⁺ ions and is abolished completely at a ligand/metal‐cation ratio of 1:1. Control experiments done with the isomeric 3‐ and 4‐pyridyl derivatives showed that their binding to DNA is unaffected by the aforementioned transition‐metal ions. The ability of 2‐(2‐pyridyl)benzimidazole to chelate metal ions and the conformational changes of the ligand associated with ion chelation probably led to such unusual binding results for the ortho isomer. The addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) reversed the effects completely.     

Binding of metal ions by polyethylenimine and its derivatives

Measurements have been made of the binding of divalent metal ions, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, and Zn²⁺ ions, by polyethylenimine (PEI) and its acetyl or alkyl derivatives by the equilibriumdialysis technique. These metal ions, in particular the Cu²⁺ ion, exhibited tremendously remarkable binding affinity toward PEI. The extent of complexation of the polymer with the metal ions was decreased markedly by acetylation or alkylation of the polymer. PEI with no primary amine showed an appreciable decrease in its affinity for the metal ion. These results indicate the participation of the primary amine of the polymer in the formation of the complex. A cooperative binding isotherm was observed in PEI–metal ion complex formation, suggesting swelling or conformational change of the polymer induced by this coordination process. Binding of the Cu²⁺ ion by PEI was found to be essentially independent of temperature over the range 5–35°C.     

Can Cyclen Bind Alkali Metal Azides? A DFT Study as a Precursor to Synthesis

Can cyclen (1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane) bind alkali metal azides? This question is addressed by studying the geometric and electronic structures of the alkali metal azide‐cyclen [M(cyclen)N₃] complexes using density functional theory (DFT). The effects of adding a second cyclen ring to form the sandwich alkali metal azide‐cyclen [M(cyclen)₂N₃] complexes are also investigated. N₃^? is found to bind to a M⁺(cyclen) template to give both end‐on and side‐on structures. In the end‐on structures, the terminal nitrogen atom of the azide group (N1) bonds to the metal as well as to a hydrogen atom of the cyclen ring through a hydrogen bond in an end‐on configuration to the cyclen ring. In the side‐on structures, the N₃ unit is bonded (in a side‐on configuration to the cyclen ring) to the metal through the terminal nitrogen atom of the azide group (N1), and through the other terminal nitrogen atom (N3) of the azide group by a hydrogen bond to a hydrogen atom of the cyclen ring. For all the alkali metals, the N₃‐side‐on structure is lowest in energy. Addition of a second cyclen unit to [M(cyclen)N₃] to form the sandwich compounds [M(cyclen)₂N₃] causes the bond strength between the metal and the N₃ unit to decrease. It is hoped that this computational study will be a precursor to the synthesis and experimental study of these new macrocyclic compounds; structural parameters and infrared spectra were computed, which will assist future experimental work.     

Syntheses,crystal structures,and metal ion complexation studies of novel diaza‐18‐crown‐6 ligands containing aromatic thiol‐derived side arms

The Mannich aminomethylation reaction of aromatic thiols has been used to produce diaza‐18‐crown‐6 ligands containing thiol‐derived side arms. Thiophenols were attached to the azacrown through N‐CH₂‐S linkages even in the presence of hydroxy or acetamido groups. Heteroaromatic thiols containing N=C‐SH (or NH‐C=S) structural fragments were attached to diaza‐18‐crown‐6 by N‐CH₂‐N linkages with the thiol becoming a thione function. X‐ray crystal structural analyses show the N‐CH₂‐S and N‐CH₂‐N linkages for some of the new macrocyclic compounds. Interactions of four of the new diaza‐18‐crown‐6 ligands with Na⁺, K⁺, Ba²⁺, Ag⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cu²⁺ were evaluated by calorimetric titration at 25° in methanol. The results show that these ligands form stable complexes with many of the metal ions studied.     

A transient product of DNA alkylation can be stabilized by binding localization

A 9-aminoacridine conjugate of a silyl-protected bis(acetoxymethyl)phenol (bisQMP) was synthesized and evaluated as an inducible cross-linking agent of DNA to test our ability to harness the chemistry of reactive quinone methide intermediates (QM). The acridine component was chosen for its ability to delivery an appendage to the major groove of DNA, and the silyl-protected component was chosen for its ability to generate two quinone methide equivalents in tandem upon addition of fluoride. This design created competition between reaction of (1) the 2-amino group of guanine that reacts irreversibly to form a stable QM adduct and (2) the more nucleophilic N7 group of guanine that reacts more efficiently but reversibly to form a labile QM adduct. This lability was apparently compensated by co-localization of the N7 group and QM in the major groove since the N7 adduct appeared to dominate the profile of products formed by duplex DNA. The controlling influence of acridine was also expressed in the sensitivity of the conjugate to ionic strength. High salt concentration inhibited covalent reaction just as it inhibits intercalation of the cationic acridine. As expected for QM formation, the presence of fluoride was indeed necessary for initiating reaction, and no direct benzylic substitution was observed. The conjugate also cross-linked DNA with high efficiency, forming one cross-link for every four alkylation events. Both alkylation and cross-linking products formed by duplex DNA were labile to hot piperidine treatment which led to approximately 40% strand scission and approximately 50% reversion to a material with an electrophoretic mobility equivalent to the parent DNA. All guanines exhibited at least some reactivity including those which were recalcitrant to cross-linking by an oligonucleotide-bisQMP conjugate designed for triplex formation [Zhou, G.; Pande, P.; Johnson, A. E.; Rokita, S. E. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2001, 9, 2347-2354].     

Metal‐Ion‐Promoted Electron Transfer between Tetrathiafulvalene and Quinone Units Within a Calix[4]arene Framework and Tuning through Coordination of the Neighboring Crown Ether with a Sodium Cation

A new calix[4]arene 1 with tetrathiafulvalene (TTF), quinone, and crown ether units in the lower rim was designed and synthesized with the aim to investigate the possibility to tune the metal‐ion promoted electron transfer by coordination of the crown ether unit with additional metal ions. Both absorption and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopic studies clearly indicate that electron transfer occurs efficiently from TTF to the quinone units in the presence of Sc³⁺/Pb²⁺/Zn²⁺. Moreover, the intramolecular electron transfer within 1 induced by Zn²⁺ can be switched off by addition of Na⁺ and further turned on by addition of either Sc³⁺ or Pb²⁺.     

Chirality Transfer in Propeller‐Shaped Cyclen?Calcium(II) Complexes: Metal‐Coordinating and Ion‐Pairing Anion Procedures

A series of quadruple‐stranded Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ complexes with octadentate cyclen ligands was synthesized to produce complexes that contained four different side‐arm combinations (one triazole? coumarin group and three pyridine groups ( 1 ), four pyridine groups ( 2 ), one triazole? coumarin group and three quinoline groups ( 3 ), and four quinoline groups ( 4 )). X‐ray crystallographic analysis revealed that no significant changes occurred in the stereostructure of these complexes upon replacing one pyridine group with a triazole? coumarin moiety, or by replacing Na⁺ ions with Ca²⁺ ions, although the coordination number of the complexes in the solid state decreased when pyridine groups were replaced by quinoline groups. In solution, all of the side arms were arranged in a propeller‐like pattern to yield an enantiomer pair of Δ and Λ forms in each metal complex. The addition of a tert‐butoxycarbonyl (Boc)‐protected amino acid anion, that is, a coordinative chiral carboxylate anion, to the cyclen? Ca²⁺ complex induced circular dichroism (CD) signals in the aromatic region by forming a 1:1 mixture of diastereomeric ternary complexes with opposite complex chirality, whilst the corresponding Na⁺ complexes rarely showed any response. In complexes 1 ‐Ca²⁺ and 3 ‐Ca²⁺, this chirality‐transfer process was efficiently followed by considering the induction of the CD signals at two different wavelengths, that is, the coumarin‐chromophore region and the aza‐aromatic region. The sign and intensity of the CD signal were significantly dependent on both the nature of the aza‐aromatic moiety and the enantiomeric purity of the external anion. These Ca²⁺ complexes worked as effective probes for the determination of the enantiomeric excess of the chiral anion. The cyclen? Ca²⁺ complexes also interacted with the non‐coordinative Δ‐TRISPHAT anion through an ion‐pairing mechanism to achieve chirality transfer from the anion to the metal complex; both complexes 1 ‐Ca²⁺ and 3 ‐Ca²⁺ clearly showed induced CD signals in the coumarin‐chromophore region, owing to ion‐paring interactions with the Δ‐TRISPHAT anion. Thus, the proper combination of an octadentate cyclen ligand and a metal center demonstrated effective chirality transfer.     

Uptake of Divalent Metal Ions (Cu2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+) by Polysiloxane Immobilized Glycinate Ligand System

ABSTRACT

Porous solid siloxane polymer carrying glycinate functional group of formula –(CH₂)₃NHCH₂COOH has been prepared by the sol-gel process. Treatment of aqueous solutions of divalent metal ions with the polysiloxane glycinate ligand system demonstrates that this material exhibits high potential for preconcentration of metal ions (Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺). The ligand system chemisorbs these divalent metal ions, at optimum conditions, in the order: Cd²⁺ < Zn²⁺ < Cu²⁺. The uptake of copper ions is concentration dependent but it is independent on the presence of other competing ions. Treatment of the glycinate ligand system with acidic solution results in leaching of bound ligands. The highest leaching occurs in presence of copper ions at low pH     

NMR study of the coordinating behavior of 2,6‐bis(benzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine

The coordination sites of 2,6‐bis(benzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine ( 1 ) toward protons and the diamagnetic metal ions Li⁺, Na⁺, and Co³⁺ were investigated by NMR spectroscopy. Variable temperature ¹H and ¹³C NMR experiments were performed on 1 in order to evaluate the tautomeric equilibrium and hydrogen bonding. Imidazole dicoordinated aromatic nitrogen atoms were protonated by trichloroacetic acid and the three N‐dicoordinated atoms by fuming H₂SO₄. Reactions of the ligand 1 and benzimidazole 2 with metallic sodium or LiH afforded anionic species; the alkali metal ions appeared solvated by THF, but not by the ligands 1 or 2 . In contrast, reaction of 1 with Co(III) produces the stable cation [Co( 1 ‐H)₂]⁺ with cobalt ion coordinated by two molecules of the monodeprotonated ligand. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 11:392–398, 2000     

Catalytic Asymmetric Intramolecular [4+2] Cycloaddition of In Situ Generated ortho‐Quinone Methides

Herein, we describe the first catalytic asymmetric intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of in situ generated ortho‐quinone methides. In the presence of a confined chiral imidodiphosphoric acid catalyst, various salicylaldehydes react with dienyl alcohols to give transient ortho ‐quinone methide intermediates, which undergo an intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition to provide highly functionalized furanochromanes and pyranochromanes in excellent diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity.     

Excimer‐Based On‐Off Bis(pyreneamide) Macrocyclic Chemosensors

A series of bis(pyreneamide) macrocycles, synthesized in two steps from THF, THP, oxepane and 1,4‐dioxane, are tested as chemosensors for a large range of mono‐, di‐ and trivalent cations. In their native states, these macrocycles exhibit a strong excimer fluorescence that is quenched upon the addition of the metal ions (alkaline, alkaline earth, p‐, d‐, and f‐block metals). UV‐Vis spectrophotometric titrations, cyclic voltammetry, excimer fluorescence quenching, and transient absorption spectroscopy experiments helped characterize the On‐Off changes occurring upon binding and demonstrate that the highest stability constants are obtained with divalent cations Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺ specifically.     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Macrocyclic vic‐Dioxime and Some of its Mono and Trinuclear Complexes

The (E, E)‐dioxime containing a dithia‐dioxa‐diaza macrocyclic moiety 5,6 : 11,12 : 17,18‐tribenzo‐2,3‐bis(hydroxyimino)‐1,4‐diaza‐7,16‐dithia‐10,12‐dioxacyclooctadecane ( H₂L ) has been synthesized in high yield by a 1 + 1 addition of cyanogendi‐N‐oxide with 2,3 : 8,9 : 14,15‐tribenzo‐1,16‐diamino‐4,13‐dithia‐7,10‐dioxahexadecane ( 3 ) which was obtained from condensation reaction with 2‐amino thiophenol and 1,2‐bis(2‐bromoethoxy)benzene, in dichloromethane at –10 °C. Two vic‐Dioxime ligands coordinate with Ni(II), Cu(II) and Co(III) through its hydroxyimino nitrogen donor atoms by the loss of the oxime protons. Homo and heterotrinuclear Cu^II₃ and Co^IIIPd^II₂ complexes of this ligand have been prepared; their two ligand molecules are connected via hydroxyimino or BF₂⁺‐bridging groups and two of the metal ions are coordinated by a diaza‐dithia mixed donor macrocyclic moiety. The macrocyclic ligand and its transition metal complexes have been characterized on the basis of ¹H‐, ¹³C‐NMR, IR and MS spectroscopy and elemental analysis data.     

Circular Polarized Light Activated Chiral Satellite Nanoprobes for the Imaging and Analysis of Multiple Metal Ions in Living Cells

Here, we construct a handedness‐dependent circular polarized light (CPL)‐activated chiral satellite assemblies formed from DNAzymes and spiny platinum modified with gold nanorods and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), enabling the simultaneous quantitative analysis of multiple divalent metal ions in living cells. The chiral nanoprobes, in coordination with their corresponding divalent metal ions under 980 nm left circular polarized (LCP) light illumination, served as an in situ confocal bioimaging platform for the quantitation of the given intracellular metal ions. The limit of detection (LOD) of the chiral probes in living cells is 1.1 nmol/10⁶ cells, 1.02 nmol/10⁶ cells and 0.45 nmol/10⁶ cells for Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Cu²⁺, respectively.     

Density Functional Theory Mechanistic Study of Boron‐Catalyzed N‐Alkylation of Amines with Formic Acid: Formic Acid Activation by Silylation Reaction

New methodology for the alkylation of amines is an intriguing issue in both academia and industry. Recently, several groups reported the metal‐free B(C₆F₅)₃‐catalyzed N‐alkylation of amines, but the mechanistic details of these important reactions are unclear. Herein, a computational study was performed to elucidate the mechanism of the N‐alkylation of amines with formic acid catalyzed by the Lewis acid B(C₆F₅)₃ in the presence of hydrosilane. We found that the reaction started with the activation of formic acid through a novel model. Then, the high electrophilicity of the C center of the formic acid unit and the nucleophilic character of the amine resulted in a C?N coupling reaction. Finally, two sequential silyl‐group and H^? transfer steps occurred to generate the final product. Upon comparing the reaction barrier and the hydrogenation of indole, our mechanism is more favorable than that proposed by the group of Yu and Fu.     

Quantum yields and quantitative spectra of firefly bioluminescence with various bivalent metal ions

We measured quantitative spectra of firefly (Photinus pyralis) bioluminescence in the presence of Zn²⁺ and other bivalent metal ions to investigate the effects of these metal ions on luciferin‐luciferase reaction. We studied the dependence of the quantum yield and spectrum on quantity and kind of bivalent metal ions. Adding various amounts of Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Ca²⁺ produced virtually no change in the quantum yields or the spectra of bioluminescence. In contrast, increasing amounts of ions such as Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ decreased quantum yields and changed the bioluminescence color from yellow‐green to red. Quantitative analysis showed that the sensitivities of the quantum yield and color to various metal ions were in the order of Hg²⁺>Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺>Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Fe²⁺≫Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺. We propose that the changes in quantum yield and spectrum caused by the metal ions are due to their effect on luciferase that surrounds oxyluciferin during its radioactive decay. We also found that having more metal ions accelerated bioluminescence reactions. The sensitivity of the reaction rate had no correlation with those of the quantum yield and spectrum.     

Molecular Assembly Directed by Metal–Aromatic Interactions: Control of the Aggregation and Photophysical Properties of Zn–Salen Complexes by Aromatic Mercuration

There is widespread interest in non‐covalent bonding and weak interactions, such as electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, solvophobic/hydrophobic interactions, metal–metal interactions, and π–π stacking, to tune the molecular assembly of planar π‐conjugated organic and inorganic molecules. Inspired by the roles of metal–aromatic interaction in biological systems, such as in ion channels and metalloproteins, herein, we report the first example of the use of Hg²⁺–aromatic interactions to selectively control the assembly and disassembly of zinc–salen complexes in aqueous media; moreover, this process exhibited significant “turn on” fluorescent properties. UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopic analysis of the titration of Hg²⁺ ions versus complex ZnL¹ revealed that the higher binding affinity of Hg²⁺ ions (compared to 13 other metal ions) was ascribed to specific interactions between the Hg²⁺ ions and the phenyl rings of ZnL¹ ; this result was also confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and HRMS (ESI). Further evidence for this type of interaction was obtained from the reaction of small‐molecule analogue L¹ with Hg²⁺ ions, which demonstrates the proximity of the N‐alkyl group to the aromatic protons during Hg²⁺‐ion binding, which led to the consequential H/D exchange reaction with D₂O. DFT modeling of such interactions between the Hg²⁺ ions and the phenyl rings afforded calculated distances between the C and Hg atoms (2.29 Å) that were indicative of C? Hg bond‐formation, under the direction of the N atom of the morpholine ring. The unusual coordination of Hg²⁺ ions to the phenyl ring of the metallosalen complexes not only strengthened the binding ability but also increased the steric effect to promote the disassembly of ZnL¹ in aqueous media.     

BODIPY Immobilized MCM-41 Based Multianalyte Sensor: Application in Detection and Removal of Trivalent (Al3+, Cr3+) and Divalent (Cu2+, Hg2+) Metal Ions in Aqueous Media

In the present study, a novel p-phenylcarboxylic acid BODIPY ( L ) immobilized MCM-41 based solid chemosensor material L-propylsilyl@MCM-41 ( MS4 ) was developed to detect multiple metal ions in a pure aqueous medium. The synthesized solid chemosensor material MS4 shows high sensitivity and removal ability towards trivalent (Al³⁺, Cr³⁺) and divalent (Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺) metal ions. The emission intensity of MS4 enhanced multifold selectively in the presence of trivalent (Al³⁺, Cr³⁺) metal ions and shows quenching in the presence of divalent (Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺) metal ions. The limit of detection was calculated to be in the nanomolar range with Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺_, and Hg²⁺ metal ions in the aqueous medium. The spectroscopic and analytical results suggest that MS4 selectively binds with Al³⁺ and Cr³⁺ through −NH functionality and with Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ through −COOH functionality of p-phenylcarboxylic acid BODIPY ( L ). Further, MS4 selectively removes Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, and Hg²⁺ metal ions from the aqueous media with removal efficiency of 97.28 %, 96.34 %, 87.19 %, and 95.63 %, respectively. No noticeable change in the concentration was observed for other metal ions. The recycling potential of MS4 was evaluated using EDTA for up to seven cycles with no significant reduction in sensing capability.     

Synthesis and Chelating Properties of Polystyrene Supported Schiff Base (N,N′-disalicylidenepropylenetriamine) Resin Toward Some Divalent Metal Ions

A new polystyrene-supported Schiff base resin, N,N-bis(salicylidenepropylenetriamine)- aminomethyl polystyrene, has been synthesized through a reaction between the commercially available 4-chloromethyl polystyrene polymer and the Schiff base, N,N′-disalicylidenepropylenetriamine. The chelation behavior of this resin toward the divalent metal ions Cu^{2 +}, Ni^{2 +}, Zn^{2 +}, and Pb^{2 +} in aqueous solutions was investigated. Batch equilibration experiments were carried out as a function of contact time, pH, amount of metal-ion, polymer mass, and temperature. The amount of metal-ion uptake of the polymers was determined by using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Results of the study revealed that the resin exhibited higher capacities and a more pronounced adsorption toward Cu^{2 +} and that the metal-ion uptake follows the order: Cu^{2 +} > Zn ^{2 +} > Ni^{2 +} > Pb²⁺. The adsorption and binding capacity of the resin toward the various metal ions investigated are discussed.     

N‐Heterocyclic‐Carbene‐Catalyzed Synthesis of 2‐Aryl Indoles

A convergent and efficient transition‐metal‐free catalytic synthesis of 2‐aryl‐indoles has been developed. The interception of a highly reactive and transient aza‐ortho‐quinone methide by an acyl anion equivalent generated through N‐hetereocyclic carbene catalysis is central to this successful strategy. High yields and a wide scope as well as the streamlined synthesis of a kinase inhibitor are reported.