Functionalized bis(thiosemicarbazonato) complexes of zinc and copper: synthetic platforms toward site-specific radiopharmaceuticals

Two new types of unsymmetrical bis(thiosemicarbazone) proligands and their neutral zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes have been synthesized. These bifunctional ligands both chelate the metal ions and provide pendent amino groups that can be readily functionalized with biologically active molecules. Functionalization has been demonstrated by the synthesis of three water-soluble glucose conjugates of the new zinc(II) bis(thiosemicarbazonato) complexes, and their copper(II) analogues have been prepared in aqueous solution via transmetalation. A range of techniques including NMR, electron paramagnetic resonance, cyclic voltammetry, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), UV/vis, and fluorescence emission spectroscopy have been used to characterize the complexes. Four compounds, including two zinc(II) complexes, have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. The connectivity and conformation of the glucose conjugates have been assigned by NMR spectroscopy. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations have been used to assign the electronic transitions of the copper(II) bis(thiosemicarbazonato) chromophore. Two copper-64-radiolabeled complexes, including one glucose conjugate, have been prepared and characterized using radio-HPLC, and transmetalation is shown to be a viable method for radiolabeling compounds with copper radionuclides. Preliminary cell washout studies have been performed under normoxic conditions, and the uptake and intracellular distribution have been studied using confocal fluorescence microscopy.     

Cellular confocal fluorescence studies and cytotoxic activity of new Zn(II) bis(thiosemicarbazonato) complexes

We report the synthesis and characterisation of new, highly fluorescent, zinc complexes of bis(thiosemicarbazone) ligands incorporating extended aromatic backbones which are cytotoxic at levels comparable to cisplatin; cellular fluorescence imaging studies suggest these cause cell death by disruption of mitochondria.     

New bimetallic compounds based on the bis(thiosemicarbazonato) motif

Zinc and copper bis(thiosemicarbazonato) complexes containing more than one metal centre have been prepared with a view to examining their application for molecular imaging. The zinc complexes are fluorescent with excitation and emission at relatively long wavelengths. The dinuclear copper complex undergoes two sequential, quasi-reversible reductions.     

Probing the mechanism of hypoxia selectivity of copper bis(thiosemicarbazonato) complexes: DFT calculation of redox potentials and absolute acidities in solution

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed using the uB3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) model to calculate the solution phase one-electron reduction potentials (E(calc)) and absolute pKa values of a series of copper bis(thiosemicarbazonato) complexes. The effects of solvation in water and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) are incorporated as a self-consistent reaction field (SCRF) using the integral equation formalism polarisable continuum model (IEFPCM) and are found to be essential for quantitative agreement with an average error in E(calc) of -0.02 V compared to experiment. The bonding and spin densities are examined through the use of Natural Bond Order analysis and the results used to rationalise the calculated and observed reduction potentials. Calculated estimates of pKa values of several copper(II) species are presented and their implications for the mechanisms of transport and trapping within hypoxic cells are considered. Reduction is found to be a prerequisite for protonation of the complexes which suggests their transport in the blood stream as neutral species, and the mechanistic sequence is identified as a sequential electrochemical-chemical (EC) process. The complex equilibria of protonation, reoxidation and dissociation are discussed and the copper(I) diprotonated, cationic complex of diacetyl bis(4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazonato)copper(II), Cu(I)ATSMH2(+), is identified as a possible candidate for the initial species trapped in hypoxic cells.     

EPR study on ligand-exchange reaction between bis(diethyldiselenocarbamato)copper(II) and some bis(acetylacetonato)copper(II) complexes

The paper is a study on the formation and properties of mixed-chelate copper(II) complexes, in which one ligand is strongly covalently bound diselenocarbamate (dsc), and the other belongs to a series of differently substituted acetylacetonates (acac), all forming weak covalent bonds. Thenoyltrifluoro- and trifluoro- substituted acetylacetonates only partly form mixed-chelate complexes, stable in toluene, benzene or dichloromethane, but gradually decomposing in chloroform or carbontetrachloride by analogy with Cu(Et(2)dsc)(2) behavior in these solvents. Hexafluoro-acetylacetonato copper(II) completely turns into a mixed-chelate Cu(dsc)(hfacac), which remains unchanged for more than 8 months of monitoring in all solvents used. The stability of Cu(dsc)(hfacac) is attributed to the reduced remaining negative charge on selenium atom embarrassing the formation of weak D-A complex with haloalkanes. The obtained EPR parameters suggest significant lowering of the contribution of the 4s AO of copper(II) in the mixed-chelate complexes. It is shown that Cu(acac)(2) does not react with Cu(Et(2)dsc)(2).     

The spectrochemical properties of bis(amino hydroxamato)copper(II) complexes

The d-d absorption spectra of CuL₂, where L = glycinehydroxamic acid (Glyha), l-α-alaninehydroxamic acid (Alaha), l-α-leucinehydroxamic acid (Leuha), l-histidinehydroxamic acid (Hisha) and sarcosinehydroxamic acid (Sarha), in aqueous solutions have been treated by the Angular Overlap Model (AOM) in C_2h symmetry. Low symmetry splittings of absorption bands of the measured spectra were found by Gaussian analysis. The ligand field parameters were estimated by the Powell optimize algorithm.     

Binuclear copper(II) complexes of xylyl-bridged bis(1,4,7-triazacyclononane) ligands

Copper(II) complexes of three bis(tacn) ligands, [Cu(2)(T(2)-o-X)Cl(4)] (1), [Cu(2)(T(2)-m-X)(H(2)O)(4)](ClO(4))(4).H(2)O.NaClO(4) (2), and [Cu(2)(T(2)-p-X)Cl(4)] (3), were prepared by reacting a Cu(II) salt and L.6HCl (2:1 ratio) in neutral aqueous solution [T(2)-o-X = 1,2-bis(1,4,7-triazacyclonon-1-ylmethyl)benzene; T(2)-m-X = 1,3-bis(1,4,7-triazacyclonon-1-ylmethyl)benzene; T(2)-p-X = 1,4-bis(1,4,7-triazacyclonon-1-ylmethyl)benzene]. Crystals of [Cu(2)(T(2)-m-X)(NPP)(mu-OH)](ClO(4)).H(2)O (4) formed at pH = 7.4 in a solution containing 2 and disodium 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (Na(2)NPP). The binuclear complexes [Cu(2)(T(2)-o-XAc(2))(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2).4H(2)O (5) and [Cu(2)(T(2)-m-XAc(2))(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2).4H(2)O (6) were obtained on addition of Cu(ClO(4))(2).6H(2)O to aqueous solutions of the bis(tetradentate) ligands T(2)-o-XAc(2) (1,2-bis((4-(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclonon-1-yl)methyl)benzene and T(2)-m-XAc(2) (1,3-bis((4-(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclonon-1-yl)methyl)benzene), respectively. In the binuclear complex, 3, three N donors from one macrocycle and two chlorides occupy the distorted square pyramidal Cu(II) coordination sphere. The complex features a long Cu...Cu separation (11.81 A) and intermolecular interactions that give rise to weak intermolecular antiferromagnetic coupling between Cu(II) centers. Complex 4 contains binuclear cations with a single hydroxo and p-nitrophenyl phosphate bridging two Cu(II) centers (Cu...Cu = 3.565(2) A). Magnetic susceptibility studies indicated the presence of strong antiferromagnetic interactions between the metal centers (J = -275 cm(-1)). Measurements of the rate of BNPP (bis(p-nitrophenyl) phosphate) hydrolysis by a number of these metal complexes revealed the greatest rate of cleavage for [Cu(2)(T(2)-o-X)(OH(2))(4)](4+) (k = 5 x 10(-6) s(-1) at pH = 7.4 and T = 50 degrees C). Notably, the mononuclear [Cu(Me(3)tacn)(OH(2))(2)](2+) complex induces a much faster rate of cleavage (k = 6 x 10(-5) s(-1) under the same conditions).     

Mesopore immobilised copper bis(oxazoline) complexes for enantioselective catalysis

New supported heterogeneous catalysts have been synthesised through the tethering of copper bis(oxazoline) complexes to the surfaces of MCM-41 and MCM-48 mesoporous materials, and the prepared catalysts shown to be highly active in the enantioselective cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate.     

The first bis(phosphine) monoxide (BPMO) complexes of copper(I)

Copper(I) complexes of bis(phosphine) monoxide ligands, bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane monoxide (dppeo) and bis(diphenylphosphino)methane monoxide (dppmo) have been prepared and characterized. One of the complexes with dppeo was characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis confirming Cu(I) coordination to hard and soft donors. The stability of these complexes in solution was probed via spectroscopic and electrochemical studies. Copper(I) is more readily oxidized in the presence of the hard O donor ligands. In solution, they readily exchange the hard donor O, for soft ligands. Although copper(I) prefers soft ligands and is more stable towards oxidation in their presence, it coordinates to hard donors when there is electrostatic or an entropy driven advantage.     

Thermal decomposition kinetics of bis(thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazonato) cobalt(II)

The thermal decomposition kinetics of thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone complex of cobalt(II) has been studied using TG, DTG and DTA techniques. Its decomposition was subjected to critical evaluation using the equations of Freeman-Carroll, Horowitz-Metzger and Coats-Redfern and the kinetic parameters have been evaluated for each step of decomposition by the method of weighted least squares.

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Co(II) -2- , . -, - -. .

     

Acetylacetonate bis(thiosemicarbazone) complexes of copper and nickel: towards new copper radiopharmaceuticals

A series of copper(II) and nickel(II) 1,3-bis(thiosemicarbazonato) complexes have been synthesised by the reaction of the metal acetates with pyrazoline proligands. In each case the complexes have an overall neutral charge with a dianionic ligand. The copper 1,3-bis(4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazonato complex has been characterised by X-ray crystallography, which shows the copper is in an essentially square-planar symmetric N(2)S(2) environment. The nickel 1,3-bis(4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazonato) and nickel 1,3-bis(4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazonato) complexes have been characterised by X-ray crystallography and show that in these cases the nickel is in a distorted square-planar environment, but the bonding mode of the ligands is unusual; the nickel binds to one of the aza-methinic nitrogen atoms and one hydrazinic nitrogen, creating one five-membered N-N-C-S-Ni chelate ring and one four-membered N-C-S-Ni chelate ring. Interestingly, the X-ray structure of the ethyl analogue [1,3-bis(4-ethyl-3-thiosemicarbazonato)nickel(II)] shows that in this case the nickel is symmetrically coordinated in the usual manner. The nickel complexes are diamagnetic and the different coordination modes are confirmed in solution by NMR spectroscopy. The complexes are susceptible to oxidation in air and a nickel complex, in which the central methylene carbon has been oxidised, has been characterised by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. Electrochemical measurements show that the copper complexes undergo a reversible one-electron reduction at biologically accessible potentials.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of copper(II) bis(phenylsulphinyl)ethane complexes

Summary Two Cu^II complexes, [Cu₂(-L)Cl₄·H₂O (1) and Cu₂(-L)Cl₄ (2) [-L and -L = meso- and rac-PhS(O)(CH₂)₂S(O)Ph, respectively], were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, i.r. spectra and molar conductances. In each case, the Cu^II ion bonds to the 557-01 moiety through oxygen, and may be bridged by the ligand (-L or -L). From magnetic moment measurements at room temperature and variable temperature magnetic susceptibilities, we suggest that complexes (1) and (2) exhibit weak ferromagnetic behaviour.     

Infrared spectra and normal coordinate analysis of bis(ethylenediamine) and bis(trimethylenediamine) complexes with copper(II)

The i.r. spectra of bis(ethylenediamine) and bis(trimethylenediamine) complexes of Cu(II) have been measured in the wave number region of 4000-250 cm⁻¹. Vibrational assignments have been made regarding the individual rings in both complexes. A normal coordinate analysis was performed using a modified general valence force field in order to check the empirical assignments. The agreement between the observed and calculated frequencies is satisfactory in view of the approximation used. A set of reliable force constants concerning most of the in-plane normal modes is obtained for the first time.     

Asymmetric cyclopropanation catalyzed by fluorous bis(oxazolines)–copper complexes

Fluorous bis(oxazoline)–copper(I) complexes generated in situ were tested as catalysts in the metal-catalyzed cyclopropanation of styrene with various α-diazoacetates. Under optimized conditions in CH₂Cl₂, quite good yields were obtained. Diastereoselectivities were found to be substrate and, to a lesser extent, ligand dependent, with trans/cis ratios ranging from 62/38 (cyclopropanation with α-ethyldiazoacetate 2a using ligand 1a) to 98/2 (cyclopropanation with methyl phenyldiazoacetate 2c using ligand 1b). Enantioselectivities up to 84% ee for the trans-isomer and 81% ee for the cis-isomer were observed using ligand 1b. Fluorous bis(oxazoline)–copper(I) complexes could be very easily separated from the products by simple precipitation using hexane, and recycled without loss of stereo- as well as enantioselectivities.     

Tripodal bis(imidazole) thioether copper(I) complexes: mimics of the Cu(M) site of copper hydroxylase enzymes

Tripodal bis(imidazole) thioether ligands, (N-methyl-4,5-diphenyl-2-imidazolyl)2C(OR)C(CH3)2SR' (BIT(OR,SR'); R = H, CH3; R' = CH3, C(CH3)3, C(C6H5)3), have been prepared, offering the same N2S donor atom set as the CuM binding site of the hydroxylase enzymes, dopamine beta hydroxylase and peptidylglycine hydroxylating monooxygenase. Isolable copper(I) complexes of the type [(BIT(OR,SMe))Cu(CO)]PF6 (3a and 3b) are produced in reactions of the respective tripodal ligands 1a (R = H) and 1b (R = Me) with [Cu(CH3CN)4]PF6 in CH2Cl2 under CO (1 atm); the pyramidal structure of 3a has been determined crystallographically. The infrared (IR) nu(CO)'s of 3a and 3b (L = CO) are comparable to those of the Cu(M)-carbonylated enzymes, indicating similar electronic character at the copper centers. The reaction of [(BIT(OH,SMe))Cu(CH3CN)]PF6 (2a) with dioxygen produces [(BIT(O,SOMe))2Cu2(DMF)2](PF6)2 (4), whose X-ray structure revealed the presence of bridging BIT-alkoxo ligands and terminal -SOMe groups. In contrast, oxygenation of 2b (R = Me) affords crystallographically defined [(BIT(OMe,SMe))2Cu2(mu-OH)2](OTf)2 (5), in which the copper centers are oxygenated without accompanying sulfur oxidation. Complex 5 in DMF is transformed into five-coordinate, mononuclear [CuII(BIT(OMe,SMe))(DMF)2](PF6)2 (6). The sterically hindered BIT(OR,SR') ligands 9 and 10 (R' = t-Bu; R = H, Me) and 11 and 12 (R' = CPh3; R = H, Me) were also prepared and examined for copper coordination/oxygenation. Oxygenation of copper(I) complex 13b derived from the BIT(OMe,SBu-t) ligand is slow, relative to 2b, producing a mixture of (BIT(OMe,SBu-t))2Cu2(mu-OH)2-type complexes 14b and 15b in which the -SBu-t group is uncoordinated; one of these complexes (15b) has been ortho-oxygenated on a neighboring aryl group according to the X-ray analysis and characterization of the free ligand. Oxygenation of the copper(I) complex derived from BIT(OMe,SCPh3) ligand 12 produces a novel dinuclear disulfide complex, [(BIT(OMe,S)2Cu2(mu-OH)2](PF6)2 (17), which is structurally characterized. Reactivity studies under anaerobic conditions in the presence of t-BuNC indicate that 17 is the result of copper(I)-induced detritylation followed by oxygenation of a highly reactive copper(I)-thiolate complex.     

Preparation and characterisation of copper(II) complexes with bis(1-pyrazolyl)propane

Summary The synthesis and characterisation of the coordination compounds of some copper(II) salts with bis (1-pyrazolyl)propane, Me₂Cpz₂, are reported. Coloured stable solid complexes of the type Cu(Me₂Cpz₂) X₂(X = Cl^–, Br^– or AcO^–), Cu(Me₂Cpz₂)(ClO₄)₂ · H₂O, [Cu(Me₂Cpz₂)SO₄ · 2 H₂O] · H₂O and [Cu(Me₂Cpz₂)₂X]X (X = NO ₃ ^– or ClO ₄ ^– ) have been isolated and characterised by elemental analysis, electronic, i.r. and magnetic measurements. Probable structures of the complexes are discussed on the basis of their spectral data.     

EPR and electronic spectral properties of aryl-substituted bis(dithiophosphato)copper(II) complexes

The spectral properties of bis(diaryl-dithiophosphato)copper(II) complexes, [Cu(S(2)P(OR)(2))(2)], with R = o-cresyl (complex I) and 2,6-dimethylphenyl (complex II) are studied by EPR- and vis spectroscopy. In solid (powder) state both complexes exhibit dark brown colour and are paramagnetic. Room temperature EPR spectra of the complexes dissolved in non-coordinating (C(6)H(5)CH(3), C(5)H(12), C(6)H(14)), acceptor (CHCl(3), CCl(4)) or donor (DMFA, DMSO) solvents have typical features of the chromophore CuS(4). In non-coordinating and acceptor solvents their isotropic EPR parameters are: g(iso)=2.047+/-0.003, (Cu)A(iso) = 7.2+/-0.1 mT and (P)A = 0.95+/-0.1 mT. An absorption band characterizes the vis spectra in these solvents with a maximum at 427 nm, due to a ligand-to-metal charge-transfer transition. One hour after dissolution the absorbance at 427 nm follows Beer's law with molar absorptivity (epsilon) about 11000, which does not change significantly after 24 h staying at room temperature or after 30 min heating at 50 degrees C. Both DMFA and DMSO exhibit specific solute-solvent interaction with the acceptor centre of copper complex yielding an axial adduct, with increased g-factor and decreased (hf)A compared to the initial complex. An additional EPR signal with unresolved hyperfine structure is also detected in DMSO. EPR and vis intensities of both bis(diaryl-dtp)Cu(II) complexes decrease after dissolution in both solvents. Moreover, they are EPR silent in pyridine and do not show any absorption in the vis spectra.     

Copper(II) complexes of peptide-group-containing amino acids bis(N-acetyl-l-alaninate)copper(II) complexes and their amine adducts

The bis(N-acetyl-l-alanine)copper(II) monohydrate for which magnetic data and electronic and IR spectra suggest a copper-acetate monohydrate type structure, was prepared. Substitution of the water molecule by some amines was made to investigate their effect on the amino acid coordination and on the geometry around the copper ion. For the adducts of monodentate heterocyclic amines such as N-methylpiperazine, piperidine, morpholine, pyridine, 3- and 4-methylpyridine (CuL₂B₂) and of bidentate amines such as piperazine, ethylenediamine, 2,2′- and 4,4′-bipyridine (CuL₂B) in the solid state or chloroform solution, magnetism, electronic spectra (one d-d band in the 14,500–18,700 cm⁻¹ spectral region, depending on the bascity or steric interference of the amines) and IR spectra suggest a square-planar or strongly distorted tetragonal arrangement around the copper ion with a CuN₂O₂ or CuN₄ chromophore. For the Cu(N-acll-ala)₂B₂ (B  N-methylpiperazine, piperidine and morpholine) adducts in chloroform solution in the presence of excess amine, electronic (two d-d bands) and IR spectra indicate tetragonal arrangement around the copper ion with CuN₄O₂ chromophore, while for the Cu(N-ac-l-ala)₂ · o-phen adduct in the solid state and chloroform solution they suggest the presence of 6-coordinate cis-octahedral species, with CuN₂O₄ chromophores. In all the adducts studied the IR spectra exclude any interaction between the peptide group and the metal ion.