On the Stability of PtIV Pro‐Drugs with Haloacetato Ligands in the Axial Positions

The design of Pt^IV pro‐drugs as anticancer agents is predicated on the assumption that they will not undergo substitution reactions before entering the cancer cell. Attempts to improve the cytotoxic properties of Pt^IV pro‐drugs included the use of haloacetato axial ligands. Herein, we demonstrate that Pt^IV complexes with trifluoroacetato (TFA) or dichloroacetato (DCA) ligands can be unstable under biologically relevant conditions and readily undergo hydrolysis, which results in the loss of the axial TFA or DCA ligands. The half‐lives for Pt^IV complexes with two TFA or DCA ligands at pH 7 and 37 °C range from 6 to 800 min, which is short relative to the duration of cytotoxicity experiments that last 24–96 h. However, complexes with two monochloroacetato (MCA) or acetato axial ligands are stable under biologically relevant conditions. The loss of the axial ligands depends primarily on the electron‐withdrawing strength of the axial ligands, but also upon the nature of the equatorial ligands. We were unable to find obvious correlations between the structures of the Pt^IV complexes and the rates of decay of the parent compounds. The X‐ray crystal structures of the bis‐DCA and bis‐MCA Pt^IV derivatives of oxaliplatin did not reveal any significant structural differences that could explain the observed differences in stability.     

Cytotoxic Titanium Salan Complexes: Surprising Interaction of Salan and Alkoxy Ligands

The synthesis, biochemical evaluation, and hydrolysis studies of a wide selection of alkyl‐ and halogen‐substituted titanium salan alkoxides are presented herein. A systematic change in the employed alkoxides revealed that both the bulk of the salan ligands and the steric demand of the labile ligands are of great importance for the obtained biological activity. Surprisingly, these two factors are not independent from each other; lowering the steric demand of the alkoxide of a hitherto nontoxic complex renders it cytotoxic. Therefore, our data suggest that the overall size of the complex exerts a strong influence on its biological activity. To decide whether the correlation between the cytotoxicity and the steric demand of the whole complex is merely based on an altered hydrolysis or on the interaction with biomolecules, the behavior of selected complexes under hydrolytic conditions and the influence of transferrin were investigated. Complexes differing only in their labile alkoxy ligands gave the same hydrolysis products with similar hydrolysis rates but displayed cytotoxicities that differed in the range of one order of magnitude. Thus, it seems that the hydrolysis product is not the active species but rather that the unhydrolysed complex is important for the first interaction with a biomolecule. This promoted the idea of hydrolysis being a detoxification pathway. In accordance with the above conclusion, chloro‐substituted complex [Ti(Ph^ClN^Me)₂(O^iPr)₂] displayed a high cytotoxicity (IC₅₀≈5 μM ) and surprisingly high hydrolytic stability (t_1/2=108 h). These findings, together with the observed cytotoxicity in a cisplatin‐resistant cell line, make halo‐substituted salan complexes an interesting target for further studies.     

The Prodrug Platin‐A: Simultaneous Release of Cisplatin and Aspirin

Cancer‐associated inflammation induces tumor progression to the metastatic stage, thus indicating that a chemo‐anti‐inflammatory strategy is of interest for the management of aggressive cancers. The platinum(IV) prodrug Platin‐A was designed to release cisplatin and aspirin to ameliorate the nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity caused by cisplatin. Platin‐A exhibited anticancer and anti‐inflammatory properties which are better than a combination of cisplatin and aspirin. These findings highlight the advantages of combining anti‐inflammatory treatment with chemotherapy when both the drugs are delivered in the form of a single prodrug.     

Near‐Infrared Light‐Mediated Photoactivation of a Platinum Antitumor Prodrug and Simultaneous Cellular Apoptosis Imaging by Upconversion‐Luminescent Nanoparticles

Platinum‐based drugs are among the most active antitumor reagents in clinical practice; their application is limited by side effects and drug resistance. A novel and personalized near‐infrared (NIR) light‐activated nanoplatform is obtained by combining a photoactivatable platinum(IV) prodrug and a caspase imaging peptide conjugated with silica‐coated upconversion‐luminescent nanoparticles (UCNPs) for the remote control of antitumor platinum prodrug activation, and simultaneously for real‐time imaging of apoptosis induced by activated cytotoxicity. Upon NIR light illumination, the Pt^IV prodrug complex is activated at the surface of the nanoparticle and active components are selectively released which display cytotoxicity against human ovarian carcinoma A2780 cells and its cisplatin‐resistant variant A2780cis cells. More importantly, the caspases enzymes triggered by cytotoxicity would effectively cleave the probe peptide, thereby allowing the direct imaging of apoptosis in living cells.     

A Multi-action PtIV Conjugate with Oleate and Cinnamate Ligands Targets Human Epithelial Growth Factor Receptor HER2 in Aggressive Breast Cancer Cells

HER2-positive breast cancer is an aggressive subtype that typically responds poorly to standard chemotherapy. To design an anticancer drug selective for HER2-expressing breast cancer, a Pt^IV prodrug with axial oleate and cinnamate ligands was synthesized. We demonstrate its superior antiproliferative activity in monolayer and 3D spheroid models; the antiproliferative efficiency increases gradually with increasing expression of HER2. The results also suggest that the released Pt^II compound inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells by a DNA-damage-mediated mechanism. Simultaneously, the released oleic and cinnamic acid can effectively inhibit HER2 expression. To our knowledge, this is the first platinum-based complex inhibiting HER2 expression that does not contain protein or peptide. Moreover, this Pt^IV prodrug is capable of overcoming the resistance of cancer stem cells (CSCs), inducing death in both CSCs and differentiated cancer cells. Thus, the results substantiate our design strategy and demonstrate the potential of this approach for the development of new, therapeutically relevant compounds.     

Novel Bioactive Thio- and Semicarbazide Ligands and Their Organosilicon (IV) Complexes

Ligational behavior of thiosemicarbazones and semicarbazones derived from 1-phenyl-3-arylpyrazole-4-carboxaldehydes towards triphenylchlorosilane has been investigated by elemental analysis, molar conductivity measurements, and IR, ¹H, ¹³C, and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopic studies. The ligands and their organosilicon complexes have also been evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial activity against some pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the free supplemental file.     

The Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of Heterobimetallic Bu2Sn(IV) Complexes Derived from Some Chelating Ligands

The interaction of Bu₂Sn(OPrⁱ)₂ with a trifunctional tetradentate Schiff base (LH₃) (where H₃L = HOC₆H₄CH═NCH₃C(CH₂OH)₂) yields the precursor complex Bu₂Sn(LH) 1, which, on equimolar reactions with different metal alkoxides [Al(OPrⁱ)₃, Bu₃Sn(OPrⁱ), Ge(OEt)₄]; Al(Medea)(OPrⁱ) (where Medea = CH₃N- (CH₂CH₂O)₂); and Me₃SiCl in the presence of Et₃N], affords, respectively, the complexes Bu₂Sn(L)Al(OPrⁱ)₂ 2, Bu₂Sn(L)Al(Medea) 3, Bu₂Sn(L)Bu₃Sn 4, Bu₂Sn(L)Ge(OEt)₃ 5, and Bu₂Sn(L)SiMe₃ 6. The reactions of 2 with 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexanediol in a 1:1 ratio and with acetylacetone (acacH) in a 1:2 molar ratio afforded derivatives Bu₂Sn(L)Al(OC(CH₃)₂CH₂CH₂C(CH₃)₂ O) 7 and Bu₂Sn(L)Al(acac)₂ 8, respectively. All of the derivatives 1– 8 have been characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight measurements, and spectroscopic [IR and NMR (¹H, ¹¹⁹Sn, ²⁹Si, and ²⁷Al)] studies.     

Synthesis,Characterization, Cytotoxicity,and Hydrolytic Behavior of C2‐ and C1‐Symmetrical TiIV Complexes of Tetradentate Diamine Bis(Phenolato) Ligands: A New Class of Antitumor Agents

Carefully design your ligand! A new family of highly cytotoxic Ti^IV complexes demonstrates strong dependence of activity on the particular ligand employed, in which small structural modifications dramatically affect both hydrolytic behavior and biological activity (see picture). Different structure‐dependence patterns are observed for hydrolysis and cytotoxicity, which are, nonetheless, strongly related.

     

Design of Luminescent,Heteroleptic, Cyclometalated PtII and PtIV Complexes: Photophysics and Effects of the Cyclometalated Ligands

Neutral pentafluorophenyl benzoquinolinyl Pt^II [Pt(bzq)(HC^N−κN)(C₆F₅)] ( 1 a – g ) complexes, bearing nonmetalated N-heterocyclic HC^N ligands [HC^N=2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (Hoxd) a , 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine (dfppy) b , 2-phenylbenzo[d]thiazole (pbt) c , 2-(4-bromophenyl)benzo[d]thiazole (Br-pbt) d , 2-phenylquinoline (pq) e , 2-thienylpyridine (thpy) f , 1-(2-pyridyl)pyrene (pypy) g ], and heteroleptic bis(cyclometalated) Pt^IV fac-[Pt(bzq)(C^N)(C₆F₅)Cl] ( 2 b – g , bzq: benzo[h]quinolinyl) derivatives, generated by oxidation of 1 b – g with PhICl₂, are reported. The oxidation reaction of 1 a evolved with formation of the bimetallic Pt^IV complex syn-[Pt(bzq)(C₆F₅)Cl(μ-OH)]₂ 3 . The crystal structures of 1 a,d,f , 2 b,d,e and 3 were corroborated by X-ray crystallography. A comparative study of the absorption and photoluminescence properties of the two series of complexes Pt^II ( 1 ) and Pt^IV ( 2 ), supported by time-dependent DFT calculations (TD-DFT), is presented. The low-lying transitions (absorption and emission) of Pt^II complexes 1 a – e [solution and polystyrene (PS) films] were assigned to the IL/MLCT mixture located on the cyclometalated Pt(bzq) unit, with minor IL′/ML′CT/LL′CT contributions involving the non-metalated ligand. Complex 1 g , bearing the more delocalized pyridyl pyrene (Hpypy) as an ancillary ligand, shows dual ¹ππ* and ³ππ* (Hpypy) emission in fluid CH₂Cl₂ and dual ³IL/³MLCT [Pt(bzq)] and [³ππ*, Hpypy] phosphorescence at 77 K. Upon oxidation, Pt^IV complexes 2 b – f display (solution, PS) ligand-based phosphorescence that arises from the bzq in 2 b (³LC) or from the second C^N ligand in 2 c – f (³L′C) with some ³LL′CT in 2 f . Despite metalation of the pyrenyl group, 2 g exhibits dual emission ¹ππ*/³ππ* located on the pypy chromophore.     

Uncharged Co(lll) Complexes: Transfer Chemical Potentials and Base Hydrolysis in Water-Methanol Mixtures

Solubilities are reported for three Co(III) complexes of 2-aminophenol, 2-amino-4-nitrophenol and 6-amino-2,4-dimethylphenol. Transfer chemical potentials have been derived from appropriate solubility measurements in aqueous methanol. The trends in transfer chemical potentials are discussed in terms of the nature of the coordinated ligands and are compared with those for selected of other inorganic Co(III) complex ions. The kinetics of base hydrolysis of Co(III) complexes in aqueous methanol solutions are described and the change in the activation barrier δ_mΔG^≠ is determined. Solvent effects on reactivity trends are analysed into initial state and transition state components. The small decrease in the rate constant, with increasing proportion of methanol, is ascribed to a greater effect of solvent on the initial state.     

Studies on PNPP Hydrolysis Catalyzed by Divalent Metal Ion Macrocyclic Schiff Base Complexes in Micellar Solution

Two transitional metal ion macrocyclic Schiff base complexes, NiL and CuL were synthesized and characterized, and the metallomicelles made up of the nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes and surfactants(LSS, Brij35, CTAB), as mimic hydrolytic metalloenzyme, were used in catalytic hydrolysis of carboxylic ester (PNPP). The analysis of specific absorption spectrums of the hydrolytic reaction systems indicates that key intermediates, made up of PNPP and Ni(II) or Cu(II) complexes, have formed in the reaction processes of the PNPP catalytic hydrolysis. In this, based on the analytic result of specific absorption spectrum, the mechanism of PNPP catalytic hydrolysis has been proposed; a kinetic mathematical model, applied to the calculation of the kinetic parameter of PNPP catalytic hydrolysis has been established on the foundation of the mechanism proposed; the acid effect of reaction system, structure effect of the complexes, effect of temperature and effects of micelle on the rate of PNPP hydrolysis catalyzed by the complexes also have been discussed.     

Hydrolysis of cis- and trans-Diammineplatinum(II) Complexes: Hydration, Equilibrium, and Kinetics Properties

We have used a combination of ultrasound and density techniques to measure the hydration parameters, apparent molar volume, and apparent molar adiabatic compressibility, of the antitumor drug cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II), cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂], and its inactive isomer trans-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II), trans-[Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂], in 10 mM NaNO₃, pH 5.6 at 37°C. The data have been interpreted in terms of the overall hydration of each isomer, the actual hydration contribution to the adiabatic compressibility, K _h, ranges from –56.4 × 10^–4 to –20.3 × 10^–4 cm³-mol^–1-bar^–1, and the volume contribution, V _h, ranges from –16.3 to –6.4 cm³-mol^–1. The negative signs of these hydration contributions indicate that the volume and compressibility of the water immobilized by the platinum complexes is smaller than the volume and compressibility of bulk water. The V _h and K _h parameters for all platinum complexes investigated are linearly dependent on the relative amount of hydrolyzed chlorides. The values of each parameter become more negative with increasing hydrolysis, and show that the degree of hydration increases. The similar dependence of the amount of hydrolyzed chloride ligands reveals similar hydration properties for these two complexes. Thus, the symmetry of the complexes, which is of crucial importance for anticancer activity, has no influence on their hydration properties. Under our experimental conditions, the equilibrium constants for the hydrolysis of cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂] are K ₁ = 2.52 mM and K ₂ = 0.04 mM. The equilibrium constant for the first step of hydrolysis of trans-[Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂] is 0.03 mM, while the second chloride ligand cannot be substituted by water, even in the irreversible reaction with AgNO₃. Furthermore, continuous measurements of the ultrasonic velocity during hydrolysis permits the accurate evaluation of the pseudo-first-order rate constant k ₁ for the hydrolysis of the first chloride ligand of cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂], which is 16±1×10^–5 s^–1.     

NMR Characterization of Lanthanide(3+) Complexes of Tetraazatetrakisphosphinato and Tetraazatetra­kisphosphonato Ligands

The three‐dimensional structures in aqueous solution of the entire series of the Ln³⁺ complexes [Ln(DOTP*‐Et)]^? (formed from the free ligand P,P′,P″,P′′′‐[1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetrayltetrakis(methylene)]tetrakis[P‐ethylphosphinic acid] (H₄DOTP*‐Et) were studied by NMR techniques to rationalize the parameters governing the relaxivity of the Gd³⁺ complex and evaluate its potential as MRI contrast agent. From the ¹H‐ and ³¹P‐NMR lanthanide‐induced‐shift (LIS) values, especially of the [Yb(DOTP*‐Et)]^? complex, it was concluded that the [Ln(DOTP*‐Et)]^? complexes adopt in solution twisted square antiprismatic coordination geometries which change gradually their coordination‐cage structure along the lanthanide series. These complexes have no inner‐sphere‐H₂O coordination, and preferentially have the (R,R,R,R) configuration of the P‐atoms in the pendant arms. Self‐association was observed in aqueous solution for the tetraazatetrakisphosphonic acid ester complexes [Ln(DOTP*‐OEt)]^? (=[Ln(DOTP‐Et)]^?) and [Ln(DOTP*‐OBu)]^? (=[Ln(DOTP‐Bu)]^?) at and above 5 mM concentration, through analysis of ³¹P‐NMR, EPR, vapor‐pressure‐osmometry, and luminescence‐spectroscopic data. The presence of the cationic detergent cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC; but not of neutral surfactants) shifts the isomer equilibrium of [Eu(DOTP*‐OBu)]^? to the (S,S,S,S) form which selectively binds to the cationic micelle surface.     

A Series of New Molybdenum(VI) Complexes with the ONS Donor Thiosemicarbazone Ligands

New dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes were obtained by the reaction of [MoO₂(acac)₂] with 4‐phenylthiosemicarbazone ligands derived from salicylaldehyde, 2‐hydroxy‐1‐naphthaldehyde, 2‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxybenzaldehyde or from 4‐(diethylamino)salicylaldehyde. In all complexes the ligands are coordinated to molybdenum as tridentate ONS‐donors through phenolic‐oxygen, imine‐nitrogen and thiol‐sulphur. Octahedral coordination of each Mo atom is completed either by one neutral donor molecule (D) or by the oxygen atom of the Mo=O unit from the neighbouring molecule. All compounds were characterized by means of chemical analysis, IR spectroscopy, TG and in some cases by DSC measurements, some of them by X‐ray crystallography, and by one and two‐dimensional NMR method.     

Two Praseodymium Coordination Complexes with 1,3-Phenylenediacetate:Structural Diversity Tuned by Auxiliary Ligands

Two new coordination complexes, [Pr(1,3-pda)0.5(nbca)2(H2O)2](1) and [Pr2(1,3-pda)3(2,2ˊ-bpy)2(H2O)2](2)(H2pda = 1,3-phenylenediacetic acid, Hnbca = 5-nitro [1,1ˊ-biphenyl]-3-carboxylic acid, 2,2ˊ-bpy = 2,2ˊ-bipyridine), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In 1, the nbca ligands bridge the Pr3+ ions to form a 1D chain. Moreover, these 1D chains are united together through the 1,3-pda ligands to afford a 2D layer. In contrast, due to a different auxiliary ligand, complex 2 is a 2D layer linked through only bridging deprotonated 1,3-pda. Thermal stabilities and solid fluorescence properties of 1 and 2 were also studied.