Platinated copper(3-clip-phen) complexes as effective DNA-cleaving and cytotoxic agents

The synthesis and biological activity of three heteronuclear platinum-copper complexes based on 3-Clip-Phen are reported. These rigid complexes have been designed to alter the intrinsic mechanism of action of both the platinum moiety and the Cu(3-Clip-Phen) unit. The platinum centers of two of these complexes are coordinated to a 3-Clip-Phen moiety, an ammine ligand and two chlorides, which are either cis or trans to each other. The third complex comprises two 3-Clip-Phen units and two chloride ligands bound in a trans fashion to the platinum ion. DNA-cleavage experiments show that the complexes are highly efficient nuclease agents. In addition, a markedly difference in their aptitude to perform direct double-strand cleavage is observed, which appears to be strongly related to the ability of the platinum unit to coordinate to DNA. Indeed, complex 6 is unable to coordinate to DNA, which is reflected by its incapability to carry out double-strand breaks. Nonetheless, this complex exhibits efficient DNA-cleavage activity, and its cytotoxicity is high for several cell lines. Complex 6 shows better antiproliferate activity than both cisplatin and Cu(3-Clip-Phen) toward most cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity observed for 1 is for most cell lines close to that of cisplatin, or even better. Cu(3-Clip-Phen) induces very low cytotoxic effects, but a marked migratory activity. Complex 6 presents DNA-cleavage properties comparable to the one of Cu(3-Clip-Phen), but it does not show any migratory activity. Interestingly, both Cu(3-Clip-Phen) and 6 induces vacuolisation processes in the cell in contrast to complex 1 and cisplatin. Thus, the four complexes cisplatin tested, Cu(3-Clip-Phen), 1 and 6 stimulate different cellular responses.     

η3-Allylpalladium Compounds

The use of transition-metal complexes as homogeneous catalysts for the production of organic chemicals is of considerable industrial significance. Although palladium complexes have not attained the same importance as, for example, those of rhodium or cobalt, palladium is nonetheless one of the most versatile metals for synthetic organic purposes. An understanding of the role played by the metal in these reactions is essential for their optimal utilization. This necessarily entails a detailed study of the chemistry of the palladium-carbon bond. In this article we concentrate on η³-allylpalladium complexes, which are frequently involved as intermediates in the Pd-catalyzed transformations of dienes. The study of their behavior gives a deeper insight into the individual steps of a catalytic cycle.     

Transition Metal Complexation of σ Bonds

The first σ complexes were found in the 1960s and 1970s, but they did not attract more than passing attention. Only now are we beginning to recognize their key role in the chemical reactions of σ bonds, and this has encouraged more detailed study. In contrast with the more familiar π-donor complexes such as M? (CH₂?CH₂) and complexes like M? NH₃, in which the one pair of electrons on the N atom is bound to the metal atom, in a σ complex an X? H group binds to the transition metal atom; the X? H σ-bonding electron pair acts as a 2e donor to give an (X-H)-M type complex. Dihydrogen complexes (X = H) are one important group of σ complexes. C-H-M complexes (X = R₃C) with an agostic C-H-M interaction have not only been found in the ground state but also implicated in the transition states of many important organometallic transformations such as Ziegler–Natta catalysis and sigma bond metathesis. The importance of X? H bond activation will encourage continued growth in this field.     

A DFT quantum mechanical study of 3-hydroxy-4-pyrone and 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone based oxidovanadium(IV) complexes

Oxidovanadium(IV) complexes have revealed interesting pharmacological properties which make them promising agents in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. A computational study of 17 complexes of oxidovanadium(IV) with 3-hydroxy-4-pyrone- and 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone-based ligands was carried out at the density functional theory level. The geometry, electronic structure, and vibration modes at the metallic center were predicted, and their dependence on the nature of the ligand was evaluated. Slight distinctions between both classes of compounds were observed, namely the higher value of dipole moments and the smaller HOMO–LUMO energy gap for the 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone-based complexes. The modes of vibration at the metallic coordination region do not vary significantly throughout the whole series, and a particular corrective scaling factor is proposed for the V=O stretching mode of this type of oxidovanadium(IV) complexes. The results presented here are of particular relevance since it was not yet possible to obtain X-ray diffraction data for the oxidovanadium(IV) complexes of 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinones, and also as the influence of the solvent, in particular the local interaction at the sixth coordination position, was considered.     

Synthesis and characterization of lanthanide complexes of DO3A-alkylphosphonates

Eight DO3A-based lanthanide(III) complexes bearing ester protected and unprotected phosphonate groups at variable distances from the macrocyclic moiety have been synthesized and analyzed. The ligands were made by straightforward four-step synthetic procedures and purified with preparative RP-HPLC, after which they were used to prepare gadolinium(III) and europium(III) complexes. Relaxometric experiments were performed on the Gd(III) complexes at 300 MHz, varying the pH of the solutions or the concentration of human serum albumin (HSA). It was found that when the pH of the medium was changed from neutral to pH 4 the longitudinal relaxivity of GdDO3A-ethylphosphonate and GdDO3A-propylphosphonate complexes increased by 50% and 60%, respectively. Diethyl esters of these complexes did not change longitudinal relaxivity in the same pH range but their transverse relaxivity increased upon binding to HSA. 31P NMR experiments on Eu(III) complexes showed a change in the chemical shift of both acid complexes in the same region where the highest relaxivity changes were observed and proved the stability of the complexes in the investigated pH range, while no shift was observed for the diester complexes. Luminescence studies on europium(III) complexes additionally supported observations obtained by NMR methods. The change in the form of the luminescence emission spectra, and the reduction in the q value upon addition of HSA proved the ternary adduct formation between the charge neutral diester complexes and HSA. Similarly, the change in the emission spectra showing a phosphonate bound structure at pH 7 to a species where the phosphonate oxygen is not coordinated at pH 4 in parallel with the increase of q value is supporting the hypothesis that the deprotonation of phosphonates is the main reason for the distinct relaxivity change from slightly acidic to the neutral solution media.     

Relative stability of mixed [3 + 1] Tc and Re complexes: a computational and conceptual DFT study

A computational and conceptual density-functional study has been performed on various [3 + 1] complexes of both Re(V) and Tc(V). The fully optimized complexes chloro(3-thiapentane-1,5-dithiolato)oxorhenium(V) and chloro(3-thiapentane-1,5-dithiolato)oxotechnetium(V) show geometries that compare favorably with the X-ray data. These structures were used as a starting point to investigate the relative stability of Tc(V) and Re(V) complexes with various ligands containing combinations of N, O, and S as chelating atoms and to evaluate the stabilizing/destabilizing influence of these N, O, and S combinations. For both Tc and Re complexes, the S content (number and position of S atoms) together with the presence of an oxygen as the central chelating atom turns out to be decisive in the stability of the tridentate complexes, the latter factor being strongly destabilizing and the former stabilizing. The stabilization sequences for both Tc and Re are shown to be identical in the gas phase and in aqueous solutions treated in a polarizable continuum model. The Re(V) complexes are found to be more stable than their Tc(V) analogues. All of the results are successfully interpreted in terms of the hard and soft acids and bases principle, applied at the local level. For this purpose, a softness value for Tc is obtained by interpolating softness trends in neighboring elements of rows 5 and 6 in the periodic table.     

A novel route to bicyclic iron tricarbonyl complexes involving π-allyl and σ-components

Nucleophilic attack of CN⁻ on bicyclo[3.2.1]octadienyl-, bicyclo[3.2.2]- nonadienyl-, and 6,7-benzobicyclo[3.2.2]nonadienyliron tricarbonyl tetrafluoroborates, results in mixed-type complexes containing both σ and π-allyl bonds. The cyano group in the products is located exo to the bicyclic ring.In contrast, the three cations react smoothly with I⁻; carbon monoxide is displaced to give iron complexes containing covalently-bound halogen.     

2,2'-bipyridine lariat calixcrowns: a new class of encapsulating ligands forming highly luminescent Eu3+ and Tb3+ complexes

A new class of calix[4]arene crown ethers with one or two bipyridines appended to the polyether ring (lariat calixcrowns) have been designed and synthesized; the luminescence properties of their Eu3+ and Tb3+ complexes have been studied in acetonitrile. In this solvent, long lifetimes for the metal emitting states and high metal-luminescence intensities obtained upon ligand excitation have been observed in both Eu3+ and Tb3+ complexes. The association constants in methanol have been determined for some of the complexes studied.     

High spin Co(I): high-frequency and -field EPR spectroscopy of CoX(PPh3)3 (X = Cl, Br)

The previously reported pseudotetrahedral Co(I) complexes, CoX(PR(3))(3), where R = Me, Ph, and chelating analogues, and X = Cl, Br, I exhibit a spin triplet ground state, which is uncommon for Co(I), although expected for this geometry. Described here are studies using electronic absorption and high-frequency and -field electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) spectroscopy on two members of this class of complexes: CoX(PR(3))(3), where R = Ph and X = Cl and Br. In both cases, well-defined spectra corresponding to axial spin triplets were observed, with signals assignable to three distinct triplet species, and with perfectly axial zero-field splitting (zfs) given by the parameter D = +4.46, +5.52, +8.04 cm(-1), respectively, for CoCl(PPh(3))(3). The crystal structure reported for CoCl(PPh(3))(3) shows crystallographic 3-fold symmetry, but with three structurally distinct molecules per unit cell. Both of these facts thus correlate with the HFEPR data. The investigated complexes, along with a number of structurally characterized Co(I) trisphosphine analogues, were analyzed by quantum chemistry calculations (both density functional theory (DFT) and unrestricted Hartree-Fock (UHF) methods). These methods, along with ligand-field theory (LFT) analysis of CoCl(PPh(3))(3), give reasonable agreement with the salient features of the electronic structure of these complexes. A spin triplet ground state is strongly favored over a singlet state and a positive, axial D value is predicted, in agreement with experiment. Quantitative agreement between theory and experiment is less than ideal with LFT overestimating the zfs, while DFT underestimates these effects. Despite these shortcomings, this study demonstrates the ability of advanced paramagnetic resonance techniques, in combination with other experimental techniques, and with theory, to shed light on the electronic structure of an unusual transition metal ion, paramagnetic Co(I).     

胺(或氨) - CHCl3系CT复合物密度泛函法研究

报道对氨(NH3母体)、甲胺(CH3NH2)、二甲胺[(CH3)2NH]、三甲胺[(CH3)3N]与三氯甲烷(CHCl3)形成的系列复合物的理论研究结果。把复合物看作一个超分子,在B3LYP/6-311G(d,p)的水平上进行密度泛函法计算,并运用完全均衡校正法进行基组超位误差校正(BSSE)。探讨该系列复合物的电子结构与相关性质,如稳定性、电荷转移及主要几何参数的变化规律等,结果表明,形成复合物的稳定性次序为NH3－CHCl3(Ⅰ)>CH3NH2-CHCl3(Ⅱ)>(CH3)2NH-CHCl3(Ⅲ)>(CH3)3N-CHCl3(Ⅳ)。形成复合物的过程包含着电荷转移。该系列复合物的稳定性与电荷转移量、前线轨道能量差△εL-H及广义H键距离良好的线性关系,与结合点的电荷布居也有密切的关系,复合物的稳定性是分子间共价作用和静电作用两方面因素综合的结果。计算结果能较好地解释有关的实验现象和规律。     

The electronic structure of Ge9[Si(SiMe3)3]3-: a superantiatom complex

We report on the electronic structure of Ge(9)[Si(SiMe(3))(3)](3)(-). Systematic density functional theory analysis of the electronic shell structure of the cluster and its derivatives reveals that the Ge(9)[Si(SiMe(3))(3)](3)(-) and its neutral counterpart have electronic shells that can be explained using the superatom model. The ligand-core interaction of these complexes is distinctly different from previously identified gold, gallium, and aluminium superatom complexes, indicating an electron-donating rather than electron-withdrawing ligand. We modify the electron-counting rule for this case and introduce a simple picture for superatom and superantiatom complexes. Discussions comparing shell models, Zintl clusters, the superhalogen Al(13) and superatom complexes to Ge(9)[Si(SiMe(3))(3)](3)(-) are presented.     

Structural and electronic effects on one-bond spin-spin coupling constants 1J(B-N), 1J(B-H), and 1J(B-F) for complexes of nitrogen bases with BH3 and its fluoro-substituted derivatives

Ab initio equation-of-motion coupled cluster (EOM-CCSD) one-bond spin-spin coupling constants (1)J(B-N), (1)J(B-H), and (1)J(B-F) have been evaluated for complexes X:BH(n)F(3-n) with X = N(2), NCH, NCLi, H(2)CNH, NF(3), and NH(3), for n = 0-3. These complexes can be classified as either covalent or van der Waals complexes, on the basis of their binding energies and B-N distances. (1)J(B-N) for covalent complexes varies significantly from -19 to +9 Hz, whereas (1)J(B-N) is less than 2 Hz for van der Waals complexes. An absolute value of (1)J(B-N) of 3 Hz or greater indicates that the complex is covalently bonded, but a small value of this coupling constant does not necessarily mean that it is a van der Waals complex, in view of the variation among these complexes found for (1)J(B-N) as a function of the B-N distance. Deformation of the boron acid upon complex formation and electron donation by the nitrogen base has opposing effects on both (1)J(B-H) and (1)J(B-F). These effects are relatively small in van der Waals complexes. In covalent complexes, electron donation has the dominant effect on (1)J(B-H), and on (1)J(B-F) in complexes with BH(2)F and BHF(2), but acid deformation has the dominant effect on (1)J(B-F) in complexes with BF(3). Values of both (1)J(B-H) and (1)J(B-F) reflect the van der Waals or covalent nature of the B-N bond.     

Electron attachment to Ni(PF(3))(4) and Pt(PF(3))(4)

An experimental study has been made of thermal electron attachment to the transition-metal trifluorophosphine complexes Ni(PF(3))(4) and Pt(PF(3))(4) using a flowing-afterglow Langmuir-probe apparatus. Both complexes are efficient at electron attachment, although the rate constants are somewhat less than collisional. The rate constant for electron attachment to Ni(PF(3))(4) is 1.9 x 10(-7) cm(3) s(-1) at room temperature, about a factor of 2 less than collisional. The activation energy is 39+/-5 meV for the attachment reaction. The rate constant for electron attachment to Pt(PF(3))(4) is 5.4 x 10(-8) cm(3) s(-1) at room temperature, and the activation energy is 84+/-8 meV. For both complexes, a PF(3) ligand is lost on electron attachment, and only the M(PF(3))(3)(-) ion is observed in the negative-ion mass spectrum. Density functional calculations were carried out on Ni(PF(3))(4) and various fragments in order to describe the thermochemistry of the attachment reaction.     

Insights into Conformational Dynamics and Allostery in DNMT1-H3Ub/USP7 Interactions

DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) including DNMT1 are a conserved family of cytosine methylases that play crucial roles in epigenetic regulation. The versatile functions of DNMT1 rely on allosteric networks between its different interacting partners, emerging as novel therapeutic targets. In this work, based on the modeling structures of DNMT1-ubiquitylated H3 (H3Ub)/ubiquitin specific peptidase 7 (USP7) complexes, we have used a combination of elastic network models, molecular dynamics simulations, structural residue perturbation, network modeling, and pocket pathway analysis to examine their molecular mechanisms of allosteric regulation. The comparative intrinsic and conformational dynamics analysis of three DNMT1 systems has highlighted the pivotal role of the RFTS domain as the dynamics hub in both intra- and inter-molecular interactions. The site perturbation and network modeling approaches have revealed the different and more complex allosteric interaction landscape in both DNMT1 complexes, involving the events caused by mutational hotspots and post-translation modification sites through protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Furthermore, communication pathway analysis and pocket detection have provided new mechanistic insights into molecular mechanisms underlying quaternary structures of DNMT1 complexes, suggesting potential targeting pockets for PPI-based allosteric drug design.     

A Theoretical Analysis of the Potential Role of π–π Stacking Interactions in the Photoprotolytic Cycle of Firefly Luciferin

Firefly oxyluciferin is a photoacid that presents a pH‐sensitive fluorescence, which results from pH‐dependent changes on the conformation of self‐aggregated π–π stacking complexes. Luciferin is a derivative of oxyluciferin with very similar fluorescence and photoacidic properties. This similarity indicates that luciferin is also expected to be able to form π–π stacking complexes, but no pH‐sensitive fluorescence is found for this compound. Here, a theoretical approach is used to rationalize this finding. We have found that luciferin only forms π–π stacking complexes in the ground state at acidic pH. At basic pH and in the excited state, luciferin is present as a dianion. This species is not able to self‐aggregate, owing to repulsive electrostatic interactions. Thus, this emissive species is not subject to π–π stacking interactions; this explains its pH‐insensitive fluorescence.     

Strongly Absorbing π–π* States in Heteroleptic Dipyrrin/2,2′‐Bipyridine Ruthenium Complexes: Excited‐State Dynamics from Resonance Raman Spectroscopy

A recently reported new class of ruthenium complexes containing 2,2′‐bipyridine and a dipyrrin ligand in the coordination sphere exhibit both strong metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer (MLCT) and π–π* transitions. Quantitative analysis of the resonance Raman scattering intensities and absorption spectra reveals only weak electronic interactions between these states despite direct coordination of the bipyridyl and dipyrrin ligands to the central ruthenium atom. On the basis of DFT calculations and time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT), we propose that the electronic excited states closely resemble “pure” MLCT and π–π* states. Resonance Raman intensity analysis demonstrates that a large amplitude transannular torsional motion provides a mechanism for relaxation on the π–π* excited‐state surface. We assert that this result is generally applicable to a range of dipyrrin complexes such as boron–dipyrrin and metallodipyrrin systems. Despite the large torsional distortion between the phenyl ring and the dipyrromethene plane, π–π* excitation extends out onto the phenyl ring which may have important consequences in solar‐energy‐conversion applications of ruthenium–dipyrrin complexes.     

Komplexbildung der späten 3d-Elemente mit Arensulfonyl-thioharnstoffen,Arensulfonylmonothio- und Arensulfonyl-dithiocarbamidsäureestern

Complex Formation of the Late 3d-Elements with Arenesulfonylthioureas, Arenesulfonyl-monothio-, and Arenesulfonyldithiocarbamic Acid Esters Arenesulfonylthioureas (SPT-H, SAT-H, SMT-H), arenesulfonylmonothio-, and arenesulfonyldithiocarbamic acid esters (STCO-H, STCS-H) form neutral 1,2-chelates with copper(II), nickel(II), and cobalt(II), but not with iron(II) and manganese(II). Basing on the ESCA data, ESR and VIS spectra differences of the structure are proved: Four-membered rings (coordination of the sulfonamide function by nitrogen) are present in the copper(II) chelates, but six-membered ones (coordination of the sulfonamide function by one oxygen atom of the sulfonyl group) in the nickel(II) chelates. In the case of the complexes Co(SPT)₂, Co(SAT)₂, and Co(SMT)₂ both types of structure are realized by the formation of a high-spin and a low-spin isomer. The bonding behaviour of the ligands in the new complexes is discussed and in this connection both the IR spectra of SAT-H and its complexes and the selectivity of the copper(II) extraction from acidic solutions by the ligands STCO-H and STCS-H are explained.     

Synthesis of the elusive (R3P)2MF2 (M = Pd, Pt) complexes

The synthesis and characterization of previously unknown palladium(II) and platinum(II) difluoro phosphine complexes are described. These complexes can be obtained either via a halide metathesis reaction with AgF in dichloromethane or by reacting the corresponding dimethyl complexes with XeF2. While the Pt(II) complexes can be prepared with both aryl- and alkyl-phosphine ligands, the stability of the Pd(II) complexes is limited to those having cis-oriented trialkyl phosphine ligands.     

Unprecedented chiral molecular recognition in a C3-symmetric environment.

The enantiomeric recognition of alpha-chiral primary ammonium ions has been studied with benzene-based tripodal tris(oxazoline) receptors. Contrary to the literature and our expectation, a good level of chiral discrimination is observed with one of the tripodal receptors, which provides a C3-symmetric chiral environment on guest binding. The chiral discrimination has been found to be general in the case of alpha-aryl substituted guests, suggesting pi-pi interactions as an important factor. This result raises a question with respect to the origin of the chiral discrimination since little steric or electronic difference is expected between the diastereomeric inclusion complexes. Binding studies by NMR titration and isothermal titration calorimetry show that the chiral discrimination results from the different thermodynamic stabilities between the diastereomeric complexes and that the host-guest complex formation is driven by favorable enthalpy changes with a minor negative contribution by entropy changes. The X-ray crystal structures for both of the diastereomeric inclusion complexes are resolved, which unambiguously show the binding mode and provide clues on the origin of the chiral discrimination. Bond angle analyses indicate that the minor complex experiences a larger steric strain, which is discernible when it is viewed from "three-body" interactions between the host and the guest. The guest and oxazoline phenyl rings are well stacked, indicating interplay of the pi-pi interactions. The pi-pi interactions are believed to stabilize host-guest complexes, thereby endowing the highly flexible receptors with a substantial enantio-discrimination.