Synthesis and characterization of glycoconjugate tin(IV) complexes: In vitro DNA binding studies, cytotoxicity, and cell death

New glycosyl derived ligand and its complexes, with SnCl₄·5H₂O (1) and (CH₃)₂SnCl₂(2) were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic (IR, ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, UV-vis, ESI-MS) and analytical methods. Interaction studies of 1 and 2 with CT DNA were studied by using various biophysical techniques, which showed high binding affinity of 2 with CT DNA. In vitro cytotoxicity of complexes 1 and 2 were evaluated against different human cancer cell lines of different histological origins by employing SRB Assay. The organotin(IV) complex 2 exhibited remarkable activity against DWD (oral cancer) cell lines with GI₅₀ values <10 μg/ml. Complex 2 induced apoptosis of DWD cell line at a very low concentration of 1-4 μg/mL.     

Coordination compounds of N,N′-olefin functionalized imidazolin-2-ylidenes

N-Heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHC) were metalated with Pd(OAc)₂ or [Ni(CH₃CN)₆](BF₄)₂ by in situ deprotonation of imidazolium salts to give the N-olefin functionalized biscarbene complexes [MX₂(NHC)₂] 3-7 (3: M = Pd, X = Br, NHC = 1,3-di(3-butenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene; 4: M = Pd, X = Br, NHC = 1,3-di(4-pentenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene; 5: M = Pd, X = I, NHC = 1,3-diallylimidazolin-2-ylidene; 6: M = Ni, X = I, NHC = 1,3-diallylimidazolin-2-ylidene; 7: M = Ni, X = I, NHC = 1-methyl-3-allylimidazolin-2-ylidene). Molecular structure determinations for 4-7 revealed that square-planar complexes with cis (5) or trans (4, 6, 7) coordination geometry at the metal center had been obtained. Reaction of nickelocene with imidazolium bromides afforded the η⁵-cyclopentadienyl (η⁵-Cp) monocarbene nickel complexes [NiBr(η⁵-Cp)(NHC)] 8 and 9 (8: NHC = 1-methyl-3-allylimidazolin-2-ylidene; 9: NHC = 1,3-diallylimidazolin-2-ylidene). The bromine abstraction in complexes 8 and 9 with silver tetrafluoroborate gave complexes [NiBr(η⁵-Cp)(η³-NHC)] 10 and 11. The X-ray structure analysis of 10 and 11 showed a trigonal-pyramidal coordination geometry at the nickel(II) center and coordination of one N-allyl substituent.     

Synthesis of aluminium complexes bearing a piperazine-based ligand system

Aluminium complexes bearing the N,N-chelating ligand 1,4-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butyl)piperazine (1) have been synthesised. Both monometallic and bimetallic aluminium methyl complexes (2 and 3, respectively) were prepared by treatment of 1 with the appropriate amount of AlMe₃. Complex 2 can be converted to 3 by addition of excess AlMe₃. Bimetallic aluminium-ethyl complex 4 was also prepared. Treatment of 1 with AlEt₂Cl afforded the monometallic chloride complex 5. Treatment of this latter complex with potassium alkoxides (KOR, R = Me, Et, ⁱPr, ^tBu) or AgOTf afforded the corresponding aluminium alkoxide complexes (6, R = Et; 7, R = Me; 8, R = ⁱPr; 9, R = ^tBu; 10, R = OTf) in good yields. Aluminium ethoxide complex 6 was also synthesised by treatment of 1 with AlEt₂OEt. All of these complexes were tested as potential catalysts in the ring-opening polymerisation of rac-lactide and caprolactone with limited success.     

Isolation, structure elucidation and bioactivity of schischkiniin, a unique indole alkaloid from the seeds of Centaurea schischkinii

Reversed-phase HPLC analysis of the methanol extract of the seeds of Centaurea schischkinii afforded a novel indole alkaloid, named schischkiniin (1), together with four lignans, arctiin (2), matairesinoside (3), matairesinol (4), and arctigenin (5), and three flavonoids, astragalin (6), afzelin (7) and apigenin (8). While the structure of schiskiniin (1) was established unequivocally by UV, HRFABMS and a series of 1D and 2D NMR analyses, all known compounds were readily identified by comparison of their spectroscopic data with literature data. The free radical scavenging properties of these compounds were assessed using the DPPH assay, and their general toxicity and cytotoxicity were evaluated, respectively, by brine shrimp lethality and MTT cytotoxicity assays with CaCo-2 colon cancer cell lines. Arctigenin (5) exhibited promising in vitro anticancer activity (IC₅₀=7 μM) while with schischkiniin (1) the activity was of moderate level (IC₅₀=76 μM).     

A “sodium trap” based on benzo-15-crown-5 with an exocyclic N-(thiophosphoryl)thiourea moiety

For N-(thio)phosphorylthioureas of the common formula RC(S)NHP(X)(OiPr)₂HL^I (R = N-(4′-aminobenzo-15-crown-5), X = S), HL^II (R = N-(4′-aminobenzo-15-crown-5), X = O), HL^III (R = PhNH, X = S), HL^IV (R = PhNH, X = O), and (N,N′-bis-[C(S)NHP(S)(OiPr)₂]₂-1,10-diaza-18-crown-6) H₂L^V, salts LiL^I,III,IV, NaL^I–IV, KL^I–IVM₂L^V (M = Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺), Ba(L^I,III,IV)₂, and BaL^V have been synthesized and investigated. Compounds NaL^I,II quantitatively drop out as a deposit in ethanol medium, allowing the separation of Na⁺ and K⁺ cations. This effect is not displayed for the other compounds. The crystal structures of HL^III and the solvate of the composition [K(Me₂CO)L^III] have been investigated by X-ray crystallography.     

Titanium (IV) complexes based on substituted 2-[(2-hydroxyethyl)]aminophenols

Novel substituted 2-[(2-hydroxyethyl)]aminophenols, MeN(CHR¹CR²R³OH)(C₆H₄-o-OH) (2-5), were synthesized by the reaction of 2-methylaminophenol with corresponding oxiranes. Titano-spiro-bis(ocanes) [MeN(CHR¹CR²R³O)(C₆H₄-o-O)]₂Ti 6-9 (2, 6, R¹ = H, R² = R³ = Me; 3, 7, R¹ = R² = Ph (treo-), R³ = H; 4, 8, R¹ = Ph, R² = R³ = H; 5, 9, R¹ = R² = H, R³ = Ph) based on [ONO]-ligands have been synthesized. The obtained compounds were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis data. The complex [Ti(μ²-O){O-o-C₆H₄}{μ²-CMe₂CH₂}NMe]₆ (10) was obtained by controlled hydrolysis of 6. Molecular structure of 10 was determined by X-ray structure analysis.     

Organometallic SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators): Cobaltifens, the (cyclobutadiene)cobalt analogues of hydroxytamoxifen

The McMurry coupling of (tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt(cyclopentadienyl) ketones, (C₄Ph₄)Co[C₅H₄C(O)R], where R = Me, 3a, or Et, 3b, with a range of substituted benzophenones furnished a series of cobaltifens, organometallic analogues of tamoxifen whereby a phenyl ring has been replaced by an organo-cobalt sandwich moiety. These systems of the general formula (η⁴-C₄Ph₄)Co[η⁵-C₅H₄C(R)C(Ar)Ar′], where R = Me or Et, and Ar = Ar′ = p-C₆H₄X where X is OH, 2a and 2b, OMe, 2c and 2d, OBn, 2e and 2f, or O(CH₂)₂NMe₂, 12a and 12b, and where Ar = C₆H₄OH and Ar′ = C₆H₄O(CH₂)₂NMe₂, 2g and 2h, have been characterised by NMR spectroscopy and/or X-ray crystallography. The effect of 2a and 2b, 2g and 2h, and 12a and 12b on the growth of MCF-7 (hormone-dependent) and MDA-MB-231 (hormone-independent breast cancer cells) was studied. The dihydroxycobaltifens 2a and 2b exhibit a strong estrogenic effect on MCF-7 cells while the aminoalkyl-hydroxycobaltifens, 2g and 2h, were found to be only slightly cytotoxic on MDA-MB-231 cells (IC₅₀ = 27.5 and 17 μM); surprisingly, however, the bis-(dimethylaminoethoxy)cobaltifens, 12a and 12b were shown to be highly cytotoxic towards both cell lines (IC₅₀ = 3.8 and 2.5 μM).     

Lissoclibadins 1-3, three new polysulfur alkaloids, from the ascidian Lissoclinum cf. badium

Three new polysulfur alkaloids, lissoclibadins 1 (1)-3 (3), were isolated from the ascidian Lissoclinum sp. (cf. L. badium Monniot, F. and Monniot, C., 1996). The structures of 1-3 were assigned on the basis of their spectral data, and the computational modeling study was utilized for 1. Compound 1 had a trimeric structure of three identical aromatic anime moieties connected through two sulfide and a disulfide bonds. Compounds 2 and 3 were dimeric structures of the same unit as that of 1 connected through a sulfide and disulfide bonds (2) and two sulfide bonds (3). Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited the growth of the marine bacterium Ruegeria atlantica (15.2 mm at 20 μg/disk and 12.2 mm at 5 μg/disk, respectively) and 2 showed antifungal activity to Mucor hiemalis (13.8 mm at 50 μg/disk). Compounds 1-3 were cytotoxic against HL-60 (IC₅₀=0.37, 0.21, and 5.5 μM, respectively).     

Effect of π-accepting substituent on the reactivity and spectroscopic characteristics of triarylbismuthanes and triarylbismuth dihalides

Competitive chlorination of p-substituted triarylbismuthanes 1 [(p-XC₆H₄)₃Bi; a: X = OMe, c: Cl, d: CO₂Et, e: CF₃, f: CN, g: NO₂] and trimesitylbismuthane (2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂)₃Bi 1h by sulfuryl chloride was carried out against 1b (X = H) and the effect of these substituents on the formation of triarylbismuth dichlorides 2 was studied. The relative ratios 2/2b decreased with increasing electron-withdrawing ability of the substituents (2a/2b = 53/47, 2c/2b = 33/67, 2d/2b = 35/65, 2e/2b = 29/71, 2f/2b = 16/84, 2g/2b = 0/100, 2h/2b = 46/54), indicating a lowering of reactivity of the lone pair on the bismuth atom. Pd-Catalyzed degradation of 2a-g and their difluorides 3 giving biaryls 4 was promoted by the electron-withdrawing p-substituents in the equatorial aryl groups but suppressed by the more electronegative fluorine atoms in the apical positions. This is in fairly good accord with the stability of the trigonal bipyramidal geometry. The ¹³C NMR study of 1-3 showed that the signals due to the ipso carbons (C1) attached to the bismuth atom shift downfield with increasing electron-withdrawing nature of the p-substituents. No such tendency was observed in other aromatic ring carbons. The electronic effect on the C1 atoms, similar to that on the chlorination of 1 and degradation of 2 and 3, indicates the significant participation of the C1 atoms in these reactions through the Bi-C1 bonds.     

Organometallic diphenols: The importance of the organometallic moiety on the expression of a cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cells

We have recently reported that the ferrocenyl diphenol compound 1,1-di(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-ferrocenyl-but-1-ene 1 exhibited strong in vitro anti-proliferative effects on both hormone dependent (MCF7, IC₅₀ = 0.7 μM) and hormone independent (MDA-MB231, IC₅₀ = 0.6 μM) breast cancer cells. In order to assess the importance of the ferrocenyl motif, we have prepared a series of analogs using the organometallic fragments (η⁵-C₅H₄)Cp^∗Fe (7), ((η⁵-C₅H₄)(CH₃)₂phospholyl)Fe (9), (η⁵-C₅H₄)CpRu (10), (η⁵-C₅H₄)Re(CO)₃ (11), and (η⁵-C₅H₄)Mn(CO)₃ (12), and the chlorinated ferrocenyl derivative 1,1-di(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-ferrocenyl-4-chloro-but-1-ene (4). The nature of the organometallic moiety had a strong influence on estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) recognition, with relative binding affinity (RBA) values ranging from 0.55% to 10.8%. The second isoform of the estrogen receptor, ERβ, was better able to accommodate these compounds, with RBA values ranging from 8.9% to 17.1%. Molecular modeling studies suggest that the orientation of the compounds and their interactions with the residues of ERα and ERβ binding sites are very similar. A study on the MCF7 hormone dependent breast cancer cell line revealed an anti-proliferative effect for the ferrocenyl phenols 1 and 4, while the other compounds displayed either a proliferative effect (9-12), or no effect (7). The anti-proliferative effect of 1 and 4 is also evident in the MDA-MB231 hormone independent breast cancer cell line (IC₅₀(4) = 1 μM), and can be attributed to the cytotoxicity of these compounds, while the other compounds showed no effect on this cell line. The cytotoxicity of 1 and 4 may arise from electron delocalization in the radical cation in alkaline conditions, possibly resulting in a cytotoxic quinone methide formation, while the other complexes do not undergo the formation of this entity, as evidenced by the electrochemical results.     

Iron(0) and ruthenium(0) complexes with tridentate phosphonite ligands and their potential for ketene formation from methyl iodide, CO and a base

An efficient route to the novel tridentate phosphine ligands RP[CH₂CH₂CH₂P(OR′)₂]₂ (I: R = Ph; R′ = i-Pr; II: R = Cy; R′ = i-Pr; III: R = Ph; R′ = Me and IV: R = Cy; R′ = Me) has been developed. The corresponding ruthenium and iron dicarbonyl complexes M(triphos)(CO)₂ (1: M = Ru; triphos = I; 2: M = Ru; triphos = II; 3: M = Ru; triphos = III; 4: M = Ru; triphos = IV; 5: M = Fe; triphos = I; 6: M = Fe; triphos = II; 7: M = Fe; triphos = III and 8: M = Fe; triphos = IV) have been prepared and fully characterized. The structures of 1, 3 and 5 have been established by X-ray diffraction studies. The oxidative addition of MeI to 1-8 produces a mixture of the corresponding isomeric octahedral cationic complexes mer,trans-(13a-20a) and mer,cis-[M(Me)(triphos)(CO)₂]I (13b-20b) (M = Ru, Fe; triphos = I-IV). The structures of 13a and 20a (as the tetraphenylborate salt (21)) have been verified by X-ray diffraction studies. The oxidative addition of other alkyl iodides (EtI, i-PrI and n-PrI) to 1-8 did not afford the corresponding alkyl metal complexes and rather the cationic octahedral iodo complexes mer,cis-[M(I)(triphos)(CO)₂]I (22-29) (M = Ru, Fe; triphos = I-IV) were produced. Complexes 22-29 could also be obtained by the addition of a stoichiometric amount of I₂ to 1-8. The structure of 22 has been verified by an X-ray diffraction study. Reaction of 13a/b-20a/b with CO afforded the acetyl complexes mer,trans-[M(COMe)(triphos)(CO)₂]I, 30-37, respectively (M = Ru, Fe; triphos = I-IV). The ruthenium acetyl complexes 30-33 reacted slowly with 2-tert-butylimino-2-diethylamino-1,3-dimethylperhydro-1,3,2-diazaphosphorine (BEMP) even in boiling acetonitrile. Under the same conditions, the deprotonation reactions of the iron acetyl complexes 34-37 were completed within 24-40 h to afford the corresponding zero valent complexes 5-8. It was not possible to observe the intermediate ketene complexes. Tracing of the released ketene was attempted by deprotonation studies on the labelled species mer,trans-[Fe(COCD₃)(triphos)(CO)₂]I (38) and mer,trans-[Fe(¹³COMe)(triphos)(CO)₂]I (39).     

Rhenium and technetium tricarbonyl complexes anchored by 5-HT1A receptor-binding ligands containing P,O/N donor atom sets

The (2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine pharmacophore, a part of the WAY 100635 structure, has been functionalized with phosphinoarylbenzylamide or phosphinoarylbenzylamine chelator groups using propylene or hexylene alkyl chains as linkers (L2-L4). These heterofunctionalized phosphines bearing an arylpiperazine moiety have been used to stabilize rhenium tricarbonyl complexes of the type [Re(CO)₃Br(κ²-L)] (4, L = L2; 5, L = L3; 6, L = L4), which have been fully characterized, including by X-ray crystallographic analysis in the case of compounds 4 and 5. These monomeric complexes are six-coordinate, displaying a distorted octahedral coordination geometry with a facial arrangement of the carbonyl groups. The other three remaining positions are occupied by a bromide and by the bidentate heterofunctionalized phosphine, which coordinates through the phosphorus and the oxygen atom or through the phosphorus and the nitrogen atom in 4 and 5, respectively. The ^99mTc complexes (3a-6a) were also prepared and their characterization established by comparative HPLC, using the Re complexes as surrogates. The in vitro binding affinity for the 5HT_1A receptor subtype and the selectivity against the 5HT_2A receptors for the rhenium complexes were determined. Compound 3 is the only one which presents a reasonable affinity and selectively towards 5HT_1A (IC₅₀ = 20 nM) and 5HT_2A (IC₅₀ = 4680 nM) receptors, respectively. When the spacer length between the chelate unit and receptor binding domain increased and/or the amide group in the chelator was replaced by a secondary amine unacceptable affinity values for 5HT_1A receptors (IC₅₀ = 200-1100 nM) and lost of selectivity were observed.     

Triphenylpyrylium salt-sensitized photoreactions of 1,4-diaryl-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes through competitive single electron-transfer pathway and proton-catalyzed pathway

2,4,6-Triphenylpyrylium tetrafluoroborate (TPPBF₄)-sensitized photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) reactions of 1,4-diaryl-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes 5 (a: Ar¹ = Ar² = p-MeOC₆H₄, b: Ar¹ = Ar² = p-MeC₆H₄, c: Ar¹ = Ar² = Ph) underwent novel fragmentation through their radical cations to give 1,4-diarylbutan-1,4-diones 6 accompanied by elimination of ethylene. On the other hand, 4-aryl-cyclohex-3-en-1-ones 7, p-substituted phenols 8, and 4-aryl-4-aryloxycyclohexanones 9 were produced through proton-catalyzed pathways when the PET reactions of 5 were performed in the absence of a certain base such as 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine (DTBP). Particularly, the formation of 9 is consistent with the novel cationic rearrangement involving nucleophilic O-1,2-aryl shifts and C-1,4-aryl shifts.     

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.     

Non-degenerate 1,2-silyl shift in silyl substituted alkyltrimethylcyclopentadienes

The five new silanes C₅Me₃RSiMe_nCl_3 − n (n = 3, R = i-Pr (5); n = 2, R = i-Pr (6); n = 2, R = s-Bu (7); n = 2, R = cyclohexyl (8); and n = 3, R = t-Bu (9)) were synthesized by reaction of 1-alkyl-2,3,4-trimethylcyclopentadienyl lithium salts with appropriate chlorosilane and characterized by NMR, MS, and IR spectra. At elevated temperatures (250-360 K), all the silanes undergo a non-degenerate sigmatropic silyl rearrangement, which generates non-equivalent structures a and b. The presence of minor structure c was observed in compounds 5 and 7 only. The Diels-Alder cycloaddition of 5 with strong dienophiles tetracyanoethylene (TCNE), and dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) provides compounds 10 and 11, which confirmed isomers a and b, respectively. The free energy of activation of b → a isomerization for compounds 5-8 evaluated from variable temperature NMR spectra show only marginal influence of group R on the 1,2-silyl shift rate. Moreover, in compounds 5 and 7, the process b → a was found significantly faster than b → c process in the above-mentioned temperature range.     

Metal β-diketiminates revisited: ansa-CH2-bridged bis(β-diketiminate)s of lithium and aluminium having diverse structures

The metal β-diketiminato ligand-to-metal binding modes are briefly reviewed, with reference particularly to our previous work on metal complexes using the ligands [{N(R¹)C(R²)}₂CH] (R¹ = SiMe₃ = R and R² = Ph; or R¹ = C₆H₃Prⁱ₂-2,6 and R² = Me). The syntheses of the β-diketimines H[{N(R)C(Ar)}₂CH] 1 (Ar = Ph) and 2 (Ar = C₆H₄Me-4) and the ansa-CH₂-bridged bis(β-diketimine)s 3 (Ar = Ph) and 4 (Ar = C₆H₄Me-4) are reported. Thus, from the appropriate compound Li[{N(R)C(Ar)}₂CH] and H₂O, (CH₂Br)₂ or CH₂Br₂ the product was 2, 3 or 4. Compound 1 was prepared from K[{N(R)C(Ph)}₂CH] and (CH₂Br)₂. Each of 3 or 4 with LiBuⁿ surprisingly yielded the bicyclic dilithium compound 5 (Ar = Ph) or 6 (Ar = C₆H₄Me-4) in which each of the β-diketiminato fragments is an N,N′-bridge between the two lithium atoms and the CH₂ moiety joins the two ligands through their central carbon atoms. However, 4 with AlMe₃ yielded the expected ansa-CH₂-bridged-bis[(β-diketiminato)(dimethyl)alane] 7, which was also obtained from 6 and Al(Cl)Me₂. X-ray structures of the known compounds 2 and 3, and of 5, 6 and 7 are presented; the ¹H NMR spectra of 6 in toluene-d₈ show that there is restricted rotation about the NC-C₆H₄Me-4 bond.     

Monomeric and dimeric ruthenium thiooxalate complexes: Structures of CpRu(PPh3)2SCOCO2Me and CpRu(dppe)SCOCO2Et

The hydrosulfido complexes CpRu(L)(L′)SH react with one equivalent of O-alkyl oxalyl chlorides (ROCOCOCl) to form the corresponding O-alkylthiooxalate complexes CpRu(L)(L′)SCOCO₂R (L = L′ = PPh₃ (1), (2); L = PPh₃, L′ = CO (3); R = Me (a), Et (b)). The reactions of the hydrosulfido complexes with half equivalent of oxalyl chloride produce the bimetallic complexes [CpRu(L)(L′)SCO]₂ (L = L′ = PPh₃ (4), (5); L = PPh₃, L′ = CO (6)). The crystal structures of CpRu(PPh₃)₂SCOCO₂Me (1a) and CpRu(dppe)SCOCO₂Et (2b) are reported.     

Swerilactones E-G, three unusual lactones from Swertia mileensis

Swerilactones E (1), F (2), and G (3), three unusual lactones with a phenyl group, were isolated from the traditional Chinese herb of Swertia mileensis. Their structures were determined based on extensive spectroscopic analysis and X-ray single crystal crystallography. Our anti-HBV assay on the Hep G 2.2.15 cell line in vitro showed that compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significant inhibitory activities against the secretion of HBsAg with IC₅₀ of 0.22 and 0.70 mM and HBeAg with IC₅₀ of 0.52 and >6.78 mM, respectively.     

Synthesis, characterization and Schlenk equilibrium studies of methylmagnesium compounds with O- and N-donor ligands - the unexpected behavior of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (pmdta = N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine)

MgMe₂ (1) was found to react with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (dabco) in tetrahydrofuran (thf) yielding a binuclear complex [{MgMe₂(thf)}₂(μ-dabco)] (2). Furthermore, from reactions of MgMeBr with diglyme (diethylene glycol dimethyl ether), NEt₃, and tmeda (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) in etheral solvents compounds MgMeBr(L), (L = diglyme (5); NEt₃ (6); tmeda (7)) were obtained as highly air- and moisture-sensitive white powders. From a thf solution of 7 crystals of [MgMeBr(thf)(tmeda)] (8) were obtained. Reactions of MgMeBr with pmdta (N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) in thf resulted in formation of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9) in nearly quantitative yield. On the other hand, the same reaction in diethyl ether gave MgMeBr(pmdta) · MgBr₂(pmdta) (10) and [{MgMe₂(pmdta)}₇{MgMeBr(pmdta)}] (11) in 24% and 2% yield, respectively, as well as [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) as colorless needle-like crystals in about 26% yield. The synthesized methylmagnesium compounds were characterized by microanalysis and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The coordination-induced shifts of the ¹H and ¹³C nuclei of the ligands are small; the largest ones were found in the tmeda and pmdta complexes. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed in 2 a tetrahedral environment of the Mg atoms with a bridging dabco ligand and in 8 a trigonal-bipyramidal coordination of the Mg atom. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13) showed them to be monomeric with five-coordinate Mg atoms. The square-pyramidal coordination polyhedra are built up of three N and two C atoms in 12 and three N and two Br atoms in 13. The apical positions are occupied by methyl and bromo ligands, respectively. Temperature-dependent ¹H NMR spectroscopic measurements (from 27 to −80 °C) of methylmagnesium bromide complexes MgMeBr(L) (L = thf (4); diglyme (5); NEt₃ (6); tmeda (7)) in thf-d₈ solutions indicated that the deeper the temperature the more the Schlenk equilibria are shifted to the dimethylmagnesium/dibromomagnesium species. Furthermore, at −80 °C the dimethylmagnesium compounds are predominant in the solutions of Grignard compounds 4-6 whereas in the case of the tmeda complex7 the equilibrium constant was roughly estimated to be 0.25. In contrast, [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9) in thf-d₈ revealed no dismutation into [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13) even up to −100 °C. In accordance with this unexpected behavior, 1:1 mixtures of 12 and 13 were found to react in thf at room temperature yielding quantitatively the corresponding Grignard compound 9. Moreover, the structures of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9c), [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12c), and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13c) were calculated on the DFT level of theory. The calculated structures 12c and 13c are in a good agreement with the experimentally observed structures 12 and 13. The equilibrium constant of the Schlenk equilibrium (2 9c ? 12c + 13c) was calculated to be K_gas = 2.0 × 10⁻³ (298 K) in the gas phase. Considering the solvent effects of both thf and diethyl ether using a polarized continuum model (PCM) the corresponding equilibrium constants were calculated to be K_thf = 1.2 × 10⁻³ and K_ether = 3.2 × 10⁻³ (298 K), respectively.     

Polyketides from the mangrove-derived endophytic fungus Acremonium strictum

Five new polyketide derivatives, 6′-hydroxypestalotiopsone C (1), acropyrone (2), bicytosporone D (3), waol acid (4), and pestalotiopene C (5), together with seven known metabolites (6–12), were obtained from extracts of the endophytic fungus Acremonium strictum, isolated from the mangrove tree Rhizophora apiculata. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive NMR and MS analysis. Compounds 6, 7, and 9 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against human cisplatin-sensitive (IC₅₀ values 27.1, 76.2, and 8.3 μM, respectively) and resistant A2780 cell lines (IC₅₀ values 12.6, 30.1, and 19.0 μM, respectively), whereas only 9 exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC value 14.3 μM).