Creation of mammalian single- and double-stranded DNA surfaces: a real-time QCM-D study

The quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) is an excellent method for studying the creation of DNA-based surfaces and films. Previous studies have used QCM-D to focus on the construction of DNA surfaces composed of short synthetic DNA oligomers or plasmid DNA. Here, we have used QCM-D to monitor the creation of genomic single- and double-stranded calf thymus DNA surfaces on a polycation adsorbed to a SiO2 support. We have successfully monitored the hybridization between the ssDNA surfaces and their complementary strands in solution and have also shown that DNA multilayer formation can be observed using denatured calf thymus DNA. We have furthermore established that the ssDNA and dsDNA surfaces show different binding characteristics to ethidium bromide, a common dsDNA intercalator, demonstrating the potential use of such surfaces to identify possible DNA ligands.     

The binding of ethidium bromide with DNA: interaction with single- and double-stranded structures

The pH-induced helix-coil transition of DNA and its complexes with EtBr is carried out at acidic pH in a wide interval of change of concentration ratio of EtBr/DNA. The binding isotherms of EtBr on double and single-stranded DNA at pH = 7.0 and pH = 3.0 (t = 25(o)C) are obtained by absorption and fluorimetric methods. Binding constants (K) and number of bases (n), corresponding to one binding site were determined. Non fluorescent "strong" complex with ds-DNA at pH = 7.0 and t = 25(o)C as well as "strong" and "weak" complexes with ss-DNA at pH = 3.0 and t = 25(o)C are revealed.     

The aquation of hexachlorotechnetate(IV)

The photochemical decomposition of (NH₄)₂TcCl₆ in dilute HCl, HClO₄ and H₂SO₄ solutions has been studied. Electrophoresis and spectrophotometry were used to identify TcCl ₆ ^2? , TcCl₅ (H₂O)^?, cationic and uncharged species and TcO ₄ ^? . The yield of each species as a function of the time of uv irradiation was determined. The TcCl ₆ ^2? , yield decreases to zero after 50 h of irradiation. The TcCl₅(H₂O)^?, cationic and uncharged species and TcO ₄ ^? are formed in different proportions in the three acids. After 120 h of irradiation of the HCl solution the principal Tc species was the cationic one (≈70%) followed by the uncharged species (≈24%). In HClO₄ solution the cationic species (≈70%) was followed by TcO ₄ ^? , but in H₂SO₄ solution the uncharged species amounts to ≈90%.     

The nature of bond critical points in dinuclear copper(I) complexes

Closed-shell contacts between two copper(I) ions are expected to be repulsive. However, such contacts are quite frequent and are well documented. Crystallographic characterization of such contacts in unsupported and bridged multinuclear copper(I) complexes has repeatedly invited debates on the existence of cuprophilicity. Recent developments in the application of Bader's theory of atoms-in-molecules (AIM) to systems in which weak hydrogen bonds are involved suggests that the copper(I)-copper(I) contacts would benefit from a similar analysis. Thus the nature of electron-density distributions in copper(I) dimers that are unsupported, and those that are bridged, have been examined. A comparison of complexes that are dimers of symmetrical monomers and those that are dimers of two copper(I) monomers with different coordination spheres has also been made. AIM analysis shows that a bond critical point (BCP) between two Cu atoms is present in most cases. The nature of the BCP in terms of the electron density, ρ, and its Laplacian is quite similar to the nature of critical points observed in hydrogen bonds in the same systems. The ρ is inversely correlated to Cu-Cu distance. It is higher in asymmetrical systems than what is observed in corresponding symmetrical systems. By examining the ratio of the local electron potential-energy density (V(c)) to the kinetic energy density (G(c)), |V(c)|/G(c) at the critical point suggests that these interactions are not perfectly ionic but have some shared nature. Thus an analysis of critical points by using AIM theory points to the presence of an attractive metallophilic interaction similar to other well-documented weak interactions like hydrogen bonding.     

The chemistry of dinuclear analogues of the anticancer drug cisplatin. A DFT/CDM study

The mechanism of the formation of dinuclear platinum(II) mu-hydroxo complexes from cisplatin hydrolysis products, their interconversion, decomposition, and reactions with biomolecules has been explored using a combined DFT/CDM approach. All activation barriers for the formation of [cis-{Pt(NH(3))(2)(X)}-(mu-OH)-cis-{Pt(NH(3))(2)(Y)}](n)()(+) (X, Y = Cl, OH(2), OH) via nucleophilic attack of a hydroxo complex on an aqua complex are lower than the activation barriers for cisplatin hydrolysis. Considering therapeutic Pt(II) concentrations in tumors, however, only the reaction between two molecules of cis-[Pt(NH(3))(2)(OH(2))(OH)](+) (E) yielding [cis-{Pt(NH(3))(2)(OH(2))}-(mu-OH)-cis-{Pt(NH(3))(2)(OH)}](2+) (5) remains kinetically superior to cisplatin hydrolysis. 5 is strongly stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the terminal aqua and hydroxo ligands, resulting in an unusually high pK(a) of 5 and a low pK(a) of its conjugate acid. Unimolecular cyclization of 5 yields the dimers [cis-{Pt(NH(3))(2)}(mu-OH)](2)(2+) (7a with antiperiplanar OH groups and 7b with synperiplanar OH groups). The electronic structure of several diplatinum(II) complexes has been analyzed to clarify whether there are metal-metal interactions. The overall reactivity to guanine (Gua) and dimethyl sulfide (Met, representing the thioether functional group of methionine) increases in the order 5 < 7a approximately 7b < mononuclear complexes, whereas the kinetic selectivity to Gua relative to Met increases in the order 7a approximately 5 < 7b approximately monocationic mononuclear complexes < dicationic mononuclear complex. The results of this work (i) help assess whether dinuclear metabolites play a role in cisplatin chemotherapy, (ii) elucidate the toxicity and pharmacological inactivity of [cis-{Pt(NH(3))(2)}(mu-OH)](2)(2+), and (iii) suggest future investigations of dinuclear anticancer complexes that contain one mu-hydroxo ligand.     

On the stability of single- and double-stranded DNA helices: The application of the PPT-MCF method on large fragments of DNA

The pseudo-polarization tensor mutually consistent field (PPT -MCF ) method recently introduced [1] has been applied to study the stacking interactions between the nucleotide bases in large periodic B-DNA fragments. The effects on the global and local binding properties caused by replacing one base in the periodic sequence by another base are investigated. The increase in the stability for comparable fragments owing to this base substitution is further enforced in the case of periodic alternating helices. The most important results are that the stacking interaction between two bases is slowly converging with the interbase distance and that the average contribution per base to the binding energy is repulsive. Furthermore, the energetical properties of double helix models in B- and Z-DNA configurations, respectively, consisting of up to five base pairs have been compared. It turns out that the G C G C sequence in Z-DNA is significantly more stable than either in periodic or periodic alternating B-DNA. In these cases the average energy contribution of a single Watson–Crick-type base pair is predicted also to be positive. From the calculations it follows that the double helix is not stabilized owing to the hydrogen bonding between the bases belonging to both strands, in contradiction to most other investigations.     

Selective covalent binding of a positively charged water-soluble benzoheterocycle triosmium cluster to single- and double-stranded DNA

The water-soluble triosmium cluster [Os₃(CO)₉(μ-η²-(4-CHO)C₉H₅N)(μ-H)(P(OCH₂CH₂N(CH₃)₃I)₃)] (4) was tested for its reactivity with plasmid DNA. In contrast to the band retardation previously observed with a related series of positively charged clusters, an intensification and retardation of three discrete bands was observed with increasing cluster concentration. In order to further investigate the apparent modification of DNA by 4, its interaction with a 22-oligomer (sequence 5′-AGT TGT GGT GAC TTT CCC AGG C-3′) was examined. Incubation with this oligonucleotide (pH 7.4 in Tris-HCl buffer and 100 mM NaCl) followed by HPLC analysis revealed the formation of three dose dependent products assigned as covalent modifications at three sites of the oligonucleotide. Incubation of 4 with ³²P-ATP labeled oligonucleotide at the 5′-end followed by treatment with piperidine and comparison with the standard Maxam-Gilbert sequencing protocol products revealed only general background cleavage, indicating that the modification products are piperidine labile and suggesting that the modification involved formation of a Schiff base. An alternative approach was then pursued which involved annealing the 4-oligonucleotide products with their complementary strand and treatment of the resulting duplex DNAwith the exonuclease, Exo III. This assay indicated three exonuclease stops, consistent with the three products observed by HPLC whose electrophoretic mobility approximately matched guanine containing fragments when compared with the Maxam-Gilbert sequencing lanes. Reduction of the 4-oligonucleotide products with borohydride reducing agents, followed by treatment with piperidine, resulted in the formation of one product (by HPLC) with the same electrophoretic mobility as the AGTT fragment based on comparison with the Maxam-Gilbert sequencing lanes. This product most likely results from reduction of an initially formed Schiff base adduct (to the corresponding amine) with the guanine of the TGT fragment of the oligonucleotide, and corresponds to the most stable of the three Schiff base adducts detected by HPLC and by incubation with the exonuclease. The other two products are less stable and competitive reduction of the free aldehyde functionality on the cluster in equilibrium with these adducts precludes their detection after treatment with the reducing agents. The formation of the Schiff base adduct is further corroborated by the model reaction of [Os₃(CO)₁₀(μ-η²-(4-CHO)C₉H₅N)(μ-H)] (4′) with acetylated guanine in nonaqueous solvents where disappearance of the aldehyde resonance and the appearance of several new resonances in the 6-9 ppm region of the ¹H NMR of the reaction mixture is noted.     

Substitution behaviour of novel dinuclear Pt(II) complexes with bio-relevant nucleophiles

The novel dinuclear Pt(II) complexes [{trans-Pt(NH(3))(2)Cl}(2)(μ-pyrazine)](ClO(4))(2) (Pt1), [{trans-Pt(NH(3))(2)Cl}(2)(μ-4,4'-bipyridyl)](ClO(4))(2)·DMF (Pt2), and [{trans-Pt(NH(3))(2)Cl}(2)(μ-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane)](ClO(4))(2) (Pt3), were synthesized. Acid-base titrations, and temperature and concentration dependent kinetic measurements of the reactions with biologically relevant ligands such as thiourea (Tu), glutathione (GSH) and guanosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP) were studied at pH 2.5 and 7.2. The reactions were followed under pseudo-first-order conditions by stopped-flow and UV-vis spectrophotometry. (1)H NMR spectroscopy was used to follow the substitution of chloride in the complex [{trans-Pt(NH(3))(2)Cl}(2)(μ-4,4'-bipyridyl)](ClO(4))(2)·DMF by guanosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP) under second-order conditions. The results indicate that the bridging ligand has an influence on the reactivity of the complexes towards nucleophiles. The order of reactivity of the investigated complexes is Pt1 > Pt2 > Pt3.     

Substitution behaviour of amine-bridged dinuclear Pt(II) complexes with bio-relevant nucleophiles

Complexes of the type [Pt2(N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)diamine(HO)2]4+ and [Pt2(N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)diamine(Cl)2]2+ were used to study their reactions with a series of bio-relevant nucleophiles, viz. thiourea, L-methionine and guanosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP2-) as a function of nucleophile concentration and temperature. The reactions with the sulfur containing nucleophiles (thiourea and L-methionine) were followed under pseudo-first-order conditions by stopped-flow and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The reaction with 5'-GMP2- was carried out under second order conditions and studied by NMR spectroscopy. The results indicate that the bridged dinuclear complexes remain intact after coordination of the studied nucleophiles for an extended period of time, which differs significantly from that reported for other multinuclear platinum complexes in the literature.     

Complexation and extraction of PAHs to the aqueous phase with a dinuclear Pt(II) diazapyrenium-based metallacycle

New palladium and platinum metallacycles have been synthesized by reaction between a 2,7-diazapyrenium-based ligand and Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes. The inclusion complexes between the metallacycles and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in CD(3)NO(2) and D(2)O were studied by NMR spectroscopy. The structures of the inclusion complexes of the Pt metallacycle as host with pyrene, phenanthrene, and triphenylene were confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The association constants between the Pt metallacycle and the selected PAHs were determined in CH(3)CN following the characteristic charge-transfer band displayed in their UV/Vis absorption spectrum. Although in aqueous solution all the complexes showed a 1:1 stoichiometry, in CH(3)CN the Job plot indicated a 2:1 stoichiometry for complexes with triphenylene and benzo[a]pyrene. The estimated association constants in water correlate with the hydrophobicity of the PAH, indicating that hydrophobic forces play an important role in the complexation process.     

Investigation relevant to the conformation of the 17-membered Pt(d(GpG)) macrocyclic ring formed by Pt anticancer drugs with DNA: Pt complexes with a Goldilocks carrier ligand

Platinum anticancer drug DNA intrastrand cross-link models, LPt(d(G*pG*)) (G* = N7-platinated G residue, L = R(4)dt = bis-3,3'-(5,6-dialkyl)-1,2,4-triazine), and R = Me or Et), undergo slow Pt-N7 bond rotation. NMR evidence indicated four conformers (HH1, HH2, ΔHT1, and ΛHT2); these have different combinations of guanine base orientation (head-to-head, HH, or head-to-tail, HT) and sugar-phosphodiester backbone propagation relative to the 5'-G* (the same, 1, or opposite, 2, to the direction in B DNA). In previous work on LPt(d(G*pG*)) adducts, Pt-N7 rotation was too rapid to resolve conformers (small L with bulk similar to that in active drugs) or L was too bulky, allowing formation of only two or three conformers; ΛHT2 was not observed under normal conditions. The (R(4)dt)Pt(d(G*pG*)) results support our initial hypothesis that R(4)dt ligands have Goldilocks bulk, sufficient to slow G* rotation but insufficient to prevent formation of the ΛHT2 conformer. Unlike the (R(4)dt)Pt(5'-GMP)(2) adducts, ROESY spectra of (R(4)dt)Pt(d(G*pG*)) adducts showed no EXSY peaks, a result providing clear evidence that the sugar-phosphodiester backbone slows conformer interchange. Indeed, the ΛHT2 conformer formed and converted to other conformers slowly. Bulkier L (Et(4)dt versus Me(4)dt) decreased the abundance of the ΛHT2 conformer, supporting our initial hypothesis that steric crowding disfavors this conformer. The (R(4)dt)Pt(d(G*pG*)) adducts have a low abundance of the ΔHT1 conformer, consistent with the proposal that the ΔHT1 conformer has an energetically unfavorable phosphodiester backbone conformation; its high abundance when L is bulky is attributed to a small d(G*pG*) spatial footprint for the ΔHT1 conformer. Despite the Goldilocks size of the R(4)dt ligands, the bases in the (R(4)dt)Pt(d(G*pG*)) adducts have a low degree of canting, suggesting that the ligand NH groups characteristic of active drugs may facilitate canting, an important aspect of DNA distortions induced by active drugs.     

Reactivity of a cytostatic active N,N-donor-containing dinuclear Pt(II) complex with biological relevant nucleophiles

A dinuclear platinum(II) complex that was recently investigated in our group was tested for its cytostatic activity and found to be active against HeLa S3 cells. The complex consists of a bidentate N,N-donor chelating ligand system in which the two platinum centers are connected by an aliphatic chain of 10 methylene groups. The complex [Pt(2)(N(1),N(10)-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,10-decanediamine)(OH(2))(4)](4+) (10NNpy) is of further special interest, since only little is known about the substitution behavior of such dinuclear platinum complexes that contain a bidentate coordination sphere. The complex was investigated using different biologically relevant nucleophiles, such as thiourea (tu), L-methionine (L-Met), glutathione (GSH), and guanine-5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP), at two different pH values (2 and 7.4). The substitution of coordinated water by these nucleophiles was studied under pseudo-first-order conditions as a function of nucleophile concentration, temperature, and pressure, using stopped-flow techniques and UV-vis spectroscopy. The reactivity of 10NNpy with the selected nucleophiles was found to be tu ? 5'-GMP > L-Met > GSH at pH 2 and GSH > tu > L-Met at pH 7.4. The results for the dinuclear 10NNpy complex were compared to those for the corresponding mononuclear reference complex [Pt(aminomethylpyridine)(OH(2))(2)](2+), Pt(amp), studied before in our group, by which the effect of the addition of an aliphatic chain, an increase in the overall charge, and a shift in the pK(a) values of the coordinated water ligands could be investigated. The reactivity order for Pt(amp) was found to be tu > GSH > L-Met at pH 7.4.     

Kinetic and mechanistic study of the Pt(II) versus Pt(IV) effect in the platinum-mediated nitrile-hydroxylamine coupling

The metal-mediated coupling between coordinated EtCN in the platinum(II) and platinum(IV) complexes cis- and trans-[PtCl(2)(EtCN)(2)], trans-[PtCl(4)(EtCN)(2)], a mixture of cis/trans-[PtCl(4)(EtCN)(2)] or [Ph(3)PCH(2)Ph][PtCl(n)(EtCN)] (n = 3, 5), and dialkyl- and dibenzylhydroxylamines R(2)NOH (R = Me, Et, CH(2)Ph, CH(2)C(6)H(4)Cl-p) proceeds smoothly in CH(2)Cl(2) at 20-25 degrees C and the subsequent workup allowed the isolation of new imino species [PtCl(n){NH=C(Et)ONR(2)}(2)] (n = 2, R = Me, cis-1 and trans-1; Et, cis-2 and trans-2; CH(2)Ph, cis-3 and trans-3; CH(2)C(6)H(4)Cl-p, cis-4 and trans-4; n = 4, R = Me, trans-9; Et, trans-10; CH(2)Ph, trans-11; CH(2)C(6)H(4)Cl-p, trans-12) or [Ph(3)PCH(2)Ph][PtCl(n){NH=C(Et)ONR(2)}] (n = 3, R = Me, 5; Et, 6; CH(2)Ph, 7; CH(2)C(6)H(4)Cl-p, 8; n = 5, R = Me, 13; Et, 14; CH(2)Ph, 15; CH(2)C(6)H(4)Cl-p, 16) in excellent to good (95-80%) isolated yields. The reduction of the Pt(IV) complexes 9-16 with the ylide Ph(3)P=CHCO(2)Me allows the synthesis of Pt(II) species 1-8. The compounds 1-16 were characterized by elemental analyses (C, H, N), FAB-MS, IR, (1)H, (13)C{(1)H}, and (31)P{(1)H} NMR (the latter for the anionic type complexes 5-8 and 13-16) and by X-ray crystallography for the Pt(II) (cis-1, cis-2, and trans-4) and Pt(IV) (15) species. Kinetic studies of addition of R(2)NOH (R = CH(2)C(6)H(4)Cl-p) to complexes [Ph(3)PCH(2)Ph][Pt(II)Cl(3)(EtCN)] and [Ph(3)PCH(2)Ph][Pt(IV)Cl(5)(EtCN)] by the (1)H NMR technique revealed that both reactions are first order in (p-ClC(6)H(4)CH(2))(2)NOH and Pt(II) or Pt(IV) complex, the second-order rate constant k(2) being three orders of magnitude larger for the Pt(IV) complex. The reactions are intermolecular in nature as proved by the independence of k(2) on the concentrations of added EtC triple bond N and Cl(-). These data and the calculated values of Delta H++ and Delta S++ are consistent with the mechanism involving the rate-limiting nucleophilic attack of the oxygen of (p-ClC(6)H(4)CH(2))(2)NOH at the sp-carbon of the C triple bond N bond followed by a fast proton migration.     

Mono- and dinuclear metallacyclic complexes of Pt(II) synthesized from some eugenol derivatives

The complexes K[PtCl₃(Meug)] (1; Meug = methyleugenol), K[PtCl₃(Meteug)] (2; Meteug = methyl eugenoxyacetate), and K[PtCl₃(Eteug)] (3; Eteug = ethyl eugenoxyacetate) reacted with AgNO₃, SnCl₂, KOH, or ethanol–water solutions to lose one aryl proton and form dinuclear metallacyclic complexes Pt₂Cl₂(Meug-1H)₂ (4), Pt₂Cl₂(Meteug-1H)₂ (5), and Pt₂Cl₂(Eteug-1H)₂ (6), respectively. Complexes 4–6 reacted with aliphatic, aromatic, and heterocyclic amines to give various mononuclear metallacyclic platinum complexes 7–15. ¹H NMR spectra showed that in 4–15 Meug, Meteug, and Eteug are bound with Pt(II) both at the benzene carbon and at the ethylenic double bond of the side chain. NOESY spectra and single-crystal X-ray diffraction indicated that in 7–15 the amines are in cis-position with respect to the ethylenic double bond.     

Encapsulation of Pt(iv) prodrugs within a Pt(ii) cage for drug delivery

This report presents a novel strategy that facilitates delivery of multiple, specific payloads of Pt(iv) prodrugs using a well-defined supramolecular system. This delivery system comprises a hexanuclear Pt(ii) cage that can host four Pt(iv) prodrug guest molecules. Relying on host–guest interactions between adamantyl units tethered to the Pt(iv) molecules and the cage, four prodrugs could be encapsulated within one cage. This host–guest complex, exhibiting a diameter of about 3 nm, has been characterized by detailed NMR spectroscopic measurements. Owing to the high positive charge, this nanostructure exhibits high cellular uptake. Upon entering cells and reacting with biological reductants such as ascorbic acid, the host–guest complex releases cisplatin, which leads to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The fully assembled complex displays cytotoxicity comparable to that of cisplatin against a panel of human cancer cell lines, whereas the cage or the Pt(iv) guest alone exhibit lower cytotoxicity. These findings indicate the potential of utilising well-defined supramolecular constructs for the delivery of prodrug molecules.     

Electron spin resonance of Pt(III) in anticancer platinum pyrimidine green

The electron spin resonance (ESR) of Pt(III) in platinum pyrimidine green is investigated. The spectrum shows a typical powder pattern of uniaxial symmetry and g_∥ and g_⊥ are determined to be 1.991 and 2.413, respectively. It is concluded that the spectrum derives essentially from the 5d_z²-like hole state of Pt(III) (5d⁷). The hyperfine structure of the spectrum suggests that the unpaired spin is not localized on one platinum center but has a wide orbital extended over four platinum atoms. The molecular structure is expected to resemble that of α-pyridone blue.     

Synthesis of a new Pt(II) complex containing valganciclovir drug and calf-thymus DNA interaction study using multispectroscopic methods

A new complex, [Pt(valcyte)(DMSO)Cl]Cl, in which valcyte (trade name) served as valganciclovir hydrochloride drug ([2-[(2-amino-6-oxo-3H-purin-9-yl)methoxy]-3-hydroxypropyl](2S)-2-amino-3-methylbutanoate), was synthesized and characterized by different physicochemical methods. Binding interaction of this complex with calf-thymus DNA (ct-DNA) has been investigated by multispectroscopic techniques. The complex displays significant binding properties with ct-DNA. The results of fluorescence and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy indicated that this complex interacted with ct-DNA in a groove-binding mode, and the binding constant was 3.8 × 10⁴ M^?1. Furthermore, the complex induced detectable changes in the CD spectrum of ct-DNA and slightly changed its viscosity which verified the groove-binding mode. Finally, all results indicated that Pt(II) complex interact with DNA via groove-binding mode.     

Influence of ion-background changes on the aquation rate of [CrCl3(H2O)3)]

The influence of change in ion background on the aquation rate constants of [CrCl₃(H₂O)₃)] was studied spectrophotometrically at 25°C over a broad range of ionic strengths (up to several moles/liter). The electrolytes KBr, KCl, NaClO₄, NaCl, NaBr, NaNO₃, HClO₄, HCl, LiClO₄, CaCl₂, LaCl₃, and ethanol were used. It is shown that the rate constant decreases with increasing electrolyte concentration in the electrolytic media (to 0.3 log unit in some of them), while increasing in ethanol media with increasing content of the alcohol.Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2695–2699, December, 1992.     

The study of induced aquation of Rh(III) sulfate complexes

The processes of aquation of Rh(III) complexes in the presence of BaCl₂ and Ba(ClO₄)₂ were studied by the ¹⁰³RH and ¹⁷O NMR methods. In the first case, the final products were found to be the monomeric aqua chloride complexes, while in the second case, aqua hydroxo complexes were formed. The chloride ions present in the system significantly increase the process rate.