Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of new dimethylamino-functionalised and heteroaryl-substituted titanocene anti-cancer drugs

From the carbolithiation of N,N-dimethylamino fulvene (3a) and different ortho-lithiated heterocycles (furan, thiophene and N-methylpyrrole), the corresponding lithium cyclopentadienide intermediate (4a-c) was formed. These three lithiated intermediates underwent a transmetallation reaction with TiCl₄ resulting in dimethylamino-functionalised titanocenes 5a-c. When these titanocenes were tested against LLC-PK cells, the IC₅₀ values obtained were of 240, and 28 μM for titanocenes 5a and 5b, respectively. The most cytotoxic titanocene 5c with an IC₅₀ value of 5.5 μM is found to be almost as cytotoxic as cis-platin, which showed an IC₅₀ value of 3.3 μM, when tested on the LLC-PK cell line, and titanocene 5c is approximately 400 times better than titanocene dichloride itself.     

Proliferative and antiproliferative effects in substituted titanocene anticancer drugs

Substituted titanocenes like ansa-titanocenes, diarylmethyl-substituted and benzyl-substituted titanocenes, are known for their cytotoxic potential and they can be synthesised using 6-arylfulvenes. Nevertheless, in the case of using 6-(4-morpholin-4yl-phenyl) fulvene (5a) or 6-{[bis-(2-methoxyethyl)amino]phenyl} fulvene (5b) the synthetic possibilities seem to be limited, but the morpholino and the bis-(2-methoxyethyl)amino substituent are in terms of an improved water solubility and drug availability in the cell very interesting groups. The corresponding benzaldehydes, which are the starting material for the synthesis of these fulvenes, were not commercially available and therefore, a modified synthetic approach had to be introduced. Nevertheless, the reactivity of the obtained fulvenes was unexpected and only the ansa-titanocene bis-[{[bis-(2-methoxyethyl)amino]phenyl}cyclopentadienyl] titanium(IV) dichloride (6b) and the benzyl-substituted titanocene [1,2-di(cyclopentadienyl)-1,2-di(4-morpholin-4yl-phenyl)-ethanediyl] titanium dichloride (8a) could be obtained and characterised. When the benzyl-substituted titanocene (8a) was tested against pig kidney cells (LLC-PK) an anti-proliferative effect, resulting in an IC₅₀ value of 25 μM, was observed. This IC₅₀ value is in the lower range of the cytotoxicities evaluated for titanocenes up to now. The ansa-titanocene (6b) showed surprisingly, when tested on the same cell line, a proliferative effect.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of methoxy benzyl substituted titanocenes

From the reaction of 6(2-methoxy-phenyl)fulvene (1a), 6(3-methoxy-phenyl)fulvene (1b), 6(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)fulvene (1c) and 6(3,4,5-trimethoxy-phenyl)fulvene (1d) with LiBEt₃H, lithiated cyclopentadienide intermediates 2a-d were synthesised. These intermediates were then transmetallated to titanium with TiCl₄ to give benzyl substituted titanocenes bis-[(2-methoxy-benzyl)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (3a), bis-[(3-methoxy-benzyl)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (3b), bis-[(3,4-dimethoxy-benzyl)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (3c) and bis-[(3,4,5-trimethoxy-benzyl)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (3d). The three titanocenes 3a-c were characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction, while the structure of the fourth titanocene 3d was elucidated through a DFT calculation. All four titanocenes had their cytotoxicity investigated through preliminary in vitro testing on the LLC-PK (pig kidney epithelial) cell line in order to determine their IC₅₀ values. Titanocenes 3a-d were found to have IC₅₀ values of 97, 159, 88 and 253 μM, respectively. All four titanocene derivatives show significant cytotoxicity improvement when compared to unsubstituted titanocene dichloride.     

Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Studies of New (Dimethylamino)‐Functionalised and 7‐Azaindole‐Substituted ‘Titanocene’ Anticancer Agents (7‐Azaindole=1H‐Pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridine)

From the carbolithiation of 1‐(cyclopenta‐2,4‐dien‐1‐ylidene)‐N,N‐dimethylmethanamine (=6‐(dimethylamino)fulvene; 3 ) and different lithiated azaindoles 2 (1‐methyl‐7‐azaindol‐2‐yl, 1‐[(diethylamino)methyl]‐7‐azaindol‐2‐yl, and 1‐(methoxymethyl)‐7‐azaindol‐2‐yl), the corresponding lithium cyclopentadienide intermediates 4a – 4c were formed (7‐azaindole=1H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridine). The latter underwent a transmetallation reaction with TiCl₄ resulting in the (dimethylamino)‐functionalised ‘titanocenes’ 5a – 5c . When the ‘titanocenes’ 5a – 5c were tested against LLC‐PK cells, the IC₅₀ values obtained were of 8.8, 12, and 87 μM , respectively. The most cytotoxic ‘titanocene’, 5a , with an IC₅₀ value of 8.8 μM is nearly as cytotoxic as cis‐platin, which showed an IC₅₀ value of 3.3 μM when tested on the epithelial pig kidney LLC‐PK cell line, and ca. 200 times better than ‘titanocene dichloride’ itself.     

Morpholino‐Functionalized and Heteroaryl‐Substituted Titanocene Anti‐Cancer Drugs: Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Studies

From the carbolithiation of 6‐morpholino fulvene ( 3a ) and different ortho‐lithiated heterocycles (furan, thiophene and N‐methylpyrrole), the corresponding lithium cyclopentadienide intermediate ( 4a – c ) was formed. These three lithiated intermediates underwent a transmetallation reaction with TiCl₄ resulting in morpholino‐functionalised titanocenes 5a – c . When these titanocenes were tested against LLC‐PK cells, the IC₅₀ values obtained were of 58, 63 and 115 μM for titanocenes 5a – c respectively. The most cytotoxic titanocene 5a with an IC₅₀ value of 58 μM is found to be approximately 20 times less cytotoxic than cis‐platin, which showed an IC₅₀ value of 3.3 μM, when tested on the LLC‐PK cell line, and 10 times less cytotoxic than its dimethylamino‐functionalised analogue (Titanocene C , IC₅₀ = 5.5 μM).     

The synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of a series of benzodioxole substituted titanocenes

Using 6‐benzo[1,3]dioxolefulvene ( 1a ), a series of benzodioxole substituted titanocenes was synthesized. The benzyl‐substituted titanocene bis[(benzo[1,3]dioxole)‐5‐methylcyclopentadienyl] titanium (IV) dichloride ( 2a ) was synthesized from the reaction of Super Hydride with 1a . An X‐ray determined crystal structure was obtained for 2a . The ansa‐titanocene {1,2‐di(cyclopentadienyl)‐1,2‐di‐(benzo[1,3]dioxole)‐ethanediyl} titanium(IV) dichloride ( 2b ) was synthesized by reductive dimerisation of 1a with titanium dichloride. The diarylmethyl substituted titanocene bis(di‐(benzo[1,3]dioxole)‐5‐methylcyclopentadienyl) titanium(IV) dichloride ( 2c ) was synthesized by reacting 1a with the para‐lithiated benzodioxole followed by transmetallation with titanium tetrachloride. When titanocenes 2a–c were tested against pig kidney (LLC‐PK) cells inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of 2.8 × 10^?4, 1.6 × 10^?4 and 7.6 × 10^?5 M , respectively, were observed. These values represent improved cytotoxicity against LLC‐PK, when compared with unsubstituted titanocene dichloride, but are not as impressive as values obtained for titanocenes previously synthesized using the above methods. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Benzyl-substituted titanocene dichloride anticancer drugs: From lead to hit

Through the reaction of Super Hydride (LiBEt₃H) with 6-phenyl-substituted fulvenes followed by transmetallation to TiCl₄ ten novel benzyl-substituted titanocene dichloride derivatives were synthesised. 6(4-morpholinomethyl-phenyl) fulvene (6g) and (bis-[(4-methoxymethyl-benzyl)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride) (8a) were characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction. All of the titanocenes had their cytotoxicity investigated through preliminary in vitro testing on the LLC-PK (pig kidney epithelial) cell line and CAKI-1 human kidney cell human carcinoma cell line in an MTT based assay in order to determine their IC50 values. The titanocenes synthesised were found to have IC50 values ranging from 2.3 (±0.3) μM (comparable to cisplatin) to others which show no anti-proliferative activity on this cell line in standard DMSO formulations on LLC-PK cell line. Eight of the titanocenes were found to be completely water-soluble and had IC50 values of 6.5 (±0.7) μM to no activity when using medium only for formulation. On the CAKI-1 cell line, IC50 values of 7.8 (±1.4) μM to no activity were found using DMSO formulation, while IC50 values of 0.55 (±0.32) μM to no activity were measured using just medium as the formulation reagent. Some of the titanocenes show significant cytotoxicity improvement when compared directly to the lead compound Titanocene Y (bis-[(p-methoxybenzyl)cyclopentadienyl] titanium(IV) dichloride) and are more cytotoxic than cisplatin. Bis-[(4-diethylaminomethyl-benzyl)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (8d) at this preliminary stage seems to be the most promising of the ten compounds prepared and exhibits nanomolar activity against CAKI-1.     

Toward the synthesis and biological evaluation of hirsutide

Abstract  The present investigation deals with the synthesis of a N-methylated cyclotetrapeptide, hirsutide (2), by coupling of the dipeptide units Boc-l-phenylalanyl-l-N-methylphenylalanine-OH and l-valyl-l-N-methylphenylalanine-OMe followed by cyclization of the linear tetrapeptide fragment. The chemical structure was established on the basis of analytical as well as spectroscopic data. The newly synthesized cyclic peptide was subjected to pharmacological screening and found to be highly potent against the gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae at 6 μg cm⁻³. In addition, potent antihelmintic activity against the earthworms Megascoplex konkanensis and Pontoscotex corethruses at 1 and 2 mg cm⁻³, and potent cytotoxic activity against Dalton’s lymphoma ascites and Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 14 and 22 μM were also observed. Studies revealed that the pentafluorophenyl ester method employing a catalytic amount of N-methylmorpholine proved to be better for cyclization of the linear tetrapeptide unit. Graphical abstract        

Novel titanocene anti-cancer drugs derived from fulvenes and titanium dichloride

Starting from 6-(p−N,N-dimethylanilinyl)fulvene (1a) or 6-(pentamethylphenyl)fulvene (1b) [1,2-di(cyclopentadienyl)-1,2-di(p−N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)ethanediyl] titanium dichloride (2a) and [1,2-di(cyclopentadienyl)-1,2-bis(pentamethylphenyl)ethanediyl] titanium dichloride (2b) and their corresponding dithiocyanato complexes (3a, 3b) were synthesized. Titanocene 2b did not show a cytotoxic effect, but when 2a was tested against pig kidney carcinoma cells (LLC-PK) or human ovarian carcinoma cells (A2780/cp70) inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of 2.7 × 10⁻⁴ and 1.9 ×  10⁻⁴ M, respectively, were observed.     

Novel zirconocene anticancer drugs?

From the reaction of Super Hydride (LiBEt₃H) with 6-(4-methoxyphenyl) fulvene (1a), 6-(2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl) fulvene (1b), and 6-(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl) fulvene (1c) lithiated cyclopentadienide intermediates (2a-c) were synthesised. These intermediates were then transmetallated to zirconium with ZrCl₄ to give benzyl-substituted zirconocenes bis-[(4-methoxybenzyl)cyclopentadienyl] zirconium(IV) dichloride (3a), bis-[(2-fluoro-4-methoxybenzyl)cyclopentadienyl] zirconium(IV) dichloride (3b) and bis-[(4-N,N-dimethylaminobenzyl)cyclopentadienyl] zirconium(IV) dichloride (3c). All three zirconocenes were characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction and preliminary in vitro cell tests were performed with the zirconocene derivatives on the LLC-PK cell line in order to determine their cytotoxicity. Zirconocenes 3b and 3c did not show cytotoxicity up to a concentration of 170 μM, while 3a exhibited an IC50 value of 57 μM against LLC-PK.     

Novel organotin antibacterial and anticancer drugs

From the reaction of 6-(p-methoxyphenyl) fulvene (1a), 6-(p-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl) fulvene (1b) and 6-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) fulvene (1c) with LiBEt₃H, lithiated cyclopentadienide intermediates (2a–c) were synthesised. These intermediates were then transmetallated to tin with SnCl₄ to yield tetra-substituted bis(cyclopentadienyl)tin dichloride complexes (3a–c). Further reaction with tin tetrachloride yielded the benzyl-substituted derivatives bis-[(p-methoxybenzyl)cyclopentadienyl] tin(IV) dichloride (4a), bis-[(p-N,N-dimethylaminobenzyl)cyclopentadienyl] tin(IV) dichloride (4b), and bis-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)cyclopentadienyl] tin(IV) dichloride (4c). Preliminary antibacterial tests were carried out using the Kirby–Bauer disk-diffusion method, in which 4a–c showed little to no activity against the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, but medium activity against Gram-positive bacteria (MRSA, MSSA). In addition, the organotin complexes had their cytotoxicity investigated through preliminary in vitro testing on the LLC-PK (pig kidney epithelial) cell line in order to determine their IC50 values. Compound 4c showed no cytotoxic activity, while 4a and 4b were found to have IC50 values of 15 and 205 μM, respectively.     

Synthesis, Characterization and the Antioxidative Activity of Copper(II), Zinc(II) and Nickel(II) Complexes with Naringenin

New complexes of Cu^(II), Zn^(II) and Ni^(II) with naringenin have been synthesized and characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, molar conductivities, ¹H-n.m.r., i.r. spectra, u.v. spectra, thermal analyses, and fluorescence spectra. In addition, the suppression ratio for O₂⁻· (a) and OH· (b) of the complexes were studied by spectrophotometric methods. The results show that the effect of the Cu^(II)-complex IC₅₀ (a) = 0.003 μm, IC₅₀ (b) = 0.06 μm is the most remarkable, and the average scavenger ability of the complexes (IC₅₀=0.06–2.67μm) against OH· is higher than that of the ligand (IC₅₀ = 28.5 μm). Taken together, these results indicate that the scavenger effect can be enhanced by the formation of metal-ligand coordination complexes, and the transition-metal ions may have differential and selective roles.     

Potentiometric study of the formation of hydroxo complexes of [Cu(terpy)]2+. Synthesis and crystal structure of [Cu(terpy) (H2O)](CF3SO3)2

Two complexes of formula [Cu(terpy)(H₂O)](CF₃SO₃)₂ (1) and [Cu(terpy)(OH)]BPh₄ (2) (terpy=2,2′∶6′,2″-terpyridine and BPh₄=tetraphenylborate anion) have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The x-ray crystal structure of (1) has been determined by x-ray diffraction. The structure is made up of [Cu(terpy)(H₂O)]²⁺ mononuclear cations plus semi-coordinated CF₃SO₃ ⁻ anions. The coordination geometry around the copper atom is approximately elongated tetragonal octahedral. The oxygen atom of water and the three nitrogen atoms of terpy occupy the equatorial sites whereas the apical ones are filled by trifluoromethanesulphonate oxygen atoms. The formation of hydroxo complexes of [Cu(terpy)(H₂O)]²⁺ has been investigated by potentiometry in aqueous solutions and the constants of the Equilibria (1) and (2)      

Photochemical reactions of bis(η5-cyclopentadienyl)- titanium dichloride

Irradiation of benzene solutions 10^?3M in both titanocene-d₁₀ dichloride and titanocene dichloride with light of wavelengths 313, 360, 400, and 520 nm leads to the formation of titanocene-d₅ dichloride with quantum yields of 0.02, 0.005, 0.01 and 0.007 mol Ei^?1, respectively. Photodecomposition of titanocene dichloride is negligible even at much longer photolysis times than those required for isotopic equilibration. Photolysis of benzene solutions 10^?2M in titanocene dichloride and 1.0 M in methanol leads to the formation of cyclopentadienyl(methoxo)titanium dichloride with a quantum yield of about 0.08 mol Ei^?1 when the irradiating wavelength is 313 nm.     

Binuclear cobalt(II/II) and cobalt(II/III) chelates with O<Subscript>2</Subscript>N<Subscript>2</Subscript> ligands: synthesis,structure and magnetic studies

Abstract  The title complexes and have been synthesized in excellent yields by reacting Co(OAc)₂·4H₂O with H₂L¹ and H₂L², respectively, in acetonitrile solution. Here, [L¹]²⁻ and [L²]²⁻ are the deprotonated forms of N,N-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)-N′,N′-dimethylethylenediamine and N,N-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)-2-picolylamine, respectively. The crystal structures of and were determined by x-ray crystallography. In , each cobalt atom has distorted trigonal bipyramid geometry, while in , each cobalt atom has distorted octahedral geometry. Variable temperature magnetic moment measurements show weak antiferromagnetic interaction in . The magnetic characterization for is in agreement with the presence of Co(II) and Co(III) centers. Graphical Abstract  The title complexes and have been synthesized in excellent yields by reacting Co(OAc)₂·4H₂O with dianionic N₂O₂ coordinating ligands. In complex 1, each cobalt atom has distorted trigonal bipyramid geometry, while in complex 2, each cobalt atom has distorted octahedral geometry. Variable temperature magnetic moment measurements show weak antiferromagnetic interaction in complex 1. The magnetic characterization for complex 2 is in agreement with the presence of Co(II) and Co(III) centers. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Novel benzyl-substituted vanadocene anticancer drugs

From the reaction of 6-(p-methoxyphenyl) fulvene (1a), 6-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) fulvene (1b) and 6-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) fulvene (1c) with LiBEt₃H, lithiated cyclopentadienide intermediates (2a–c) were synthesised. These intermediates were then transmetallated to vanadium with VCl₄ to yield the benzyl-substituted vanadocenes bis-[(p-methoxybenzyl)cyclopentadienyl] vanadium(IV) dichloride (3a), bis-[(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)cyclopentadienyl] vanadium(IV) dichloride (3b), and bis-[(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)cyclopentadienyl] vanadium(IV) dichloride (3c). The two vanadocenes 3a and 3c were characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction. All three vanadocenes had their cytotoxicity investigated through MTT based preliminary in vitro testing on the LLC-PK (pig kidney epithelial) cell line in order to determine their IC50 values and compare them with the corresponding titanocene dichloride derivatives. Vanadocenes 3b–c were found to have IC50 values of 9.1 and 8.3 μM, while 3a showed a superior value of 3.0 μM, respectively.     

Kinetic study of reaction of [ReN(H2O)(CN)4]2− with quinoline-2-carboxylate and pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylate anions

The kinetics of the reaction between [ReN(H₂O)-(CN)₄]²⁻ with different κ² N,O-donor ligands (quin⁻ and 2,3-dipic⁻, respectively) have been studied in the pH 4–12 range in aqueous solution. Two consecutive reaction steps with the formation of the [ReN(η¹-quin)(CN)₄]³⁻ and [ReN(μ²-quin) (CN)₃]²⁻ complexes, respectively, were spectrophotometrically observed and kinetically investigated. The same reaction mechanism is proposed for these two ligands. The first fast reaction (for quin⁻) is attributed to the aqua substitution of [ReN(H₂O)(CN)₄]²⁻ with forward and reverse rate constants of 1.96(5) × 10⁻¹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 5.6(3) × 10⁻² s⁻¹, while a rate of 2.64(3) M⁻¹ s⁻¹ was observed for the reaction between the conjugate base [ReN(OH)(CN)₄]³⁻ and quin⁻ at 40.2 °C. Due to small absorbance changes, it was difficult to obtain any good quality data for the fast reactions for 2,3-dipic⁻. The second, slower reaction is attributed to cyano substitution with rate constants (k ₃ K ₁) of 4.17(4) × 10⁻³ for quin⁻ and 4.68(7) × 10⁻³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for 2,3-dipic⁻, at 80.02 °C, respectively. The acid dissociation constant for the aqua complex was spectrophotometrically determined as 11.58(3) and 11.54(2) and kinetically as 11.51(8) and 11.41(1), at 80.4 °C, respectively. Negative values of −83.5(2) and −144.1(2) J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ as well as the of 71.4(3) and 47.3(3) kJ mol⁻¹, for the slow quin⁻ and 2,3-dipic⁻ reactions, respectively, point to an ordered transition state where bond formation is responsible for the major driving force of the reaction. The and for the fast forward reaction of quin⁻ is indicative of expected associative activation in the transition state. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Nickel(II) salophen-type complexes characterization and their thermodynamic studies with diorganotin(IV) dichlorides in chloroform

A u.v.–vis spectrophotometric study of the adduct formation of the nickel(II) Schiff base complexes,([NiL]) where L = [3-methoxysalophen, N,N′-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediimine] (1), [4-methoxysalophen, N,N′-bis(4-methoxysalicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediimine] (2), [5-methoxysalophen, N,N′-bis(5-methoxysalicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediimine] (3) and [Salophen, [N,N′-bis(salicylaldehydo)-1,2-phenylenediimine] (4) as donors with R₂SnCl₂ (R = methyl, phenyl and n-butyl) as acceptors have been investigated in chloroform, as solvent. Adducts have been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, IR and electronic spectroscopy and CHN elemental microanalysis. The formation constants and the thermodynamic free energies were measured using u.v.–vis spectrophotometry titration for 1:1 adduct formation at various temperatures (T = 278 to 308 K). The trend of the adduct formation of the nickel Schiff base complexes with a given tin acceptor decreases as follows:

Toward the synthesis and biological evaluation of hirsutide

Abstract  

The present investigation deals with the synthesis of a N-methylated cyclotetrapeptide, hirsutide (2), by coupling of the dipeptide units Boc-l-phenylalanyl-l-N-methylphenylalanine-OH and l-valyl-l-N-methylphenylalanine-OMe followed by cyclization of the linear tetrapeptide fragment. The chemical structure was established on the basis of analytical as well as spectroscopic data. The newly synthesized cyclic peptide was subjected to pharmacological screening and found to be highly potent against the gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae at 6 μg cm⁻³. In addition, potent antihelmintic activity against the earthworms Megascoplex konkanensis and Pontoscotex corethruses at 1 and 2 mg cm⁻³, and potent cytotoxic activity against Dalton’s lymphoma ascites and Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 14 and 22 μM were also observed. Studies revealed that the pentafluorophenyl ester method employing a catalytic amount of N-methylmorpholine proved to be better for cyclization of the linear tetrapeptide unit.     

Spectral and electrochemical characterization of bimetallic complexes of a novel 32-membered unsymmetrical [N<Subscript>12</Subscript>] macrocycle

Reactions of a 32-membered [N₁₂] macrocyclic ligand, L.2HClO₄ with metal salts MCl₃ (M=Cr or Fe) and MCl₂ (M=Co, Ni or Cu) have produced complexes of stoichiometries M₂LCl₄(ClO₄)₂ and M₂LCl₂(ClO₄)₂, respectively. However, reactions with [M(Ph₃P)₂Cl₂] (M=Co or Ni) and [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ni(Ph₃P)I] follow a ligand substitution path resulting in products with stoichiometries M₂LCl₂(ClO₄)₂ and [(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Ni₂L(ClO₄)₂], respectively. The mode of bonding and geometry of the complexes have been derived on the basis of i.r., ligand field spectral and magnetic susceptibility measurements. EPR of Cu^II complex shows anisotropy with , G < 4.0 and orbital reduction factor . Thermodynamic first ionic association constants (K₁) and the corresponding free energy change (ΔG) of complexes in DMSO have been determined and discussed. Cyclic voltammetric studies indicate the presence of a quasi-reversible redox couples Cr^III/II, Co^II/I, Ni^II/I, Ni^II/III and Cu^II/I in solutions suggesting flexible nature of the macrocyclic cavity.