Synthesis, characterization and antitumor activity of 1,2-disubstituted ferrocenes and cyclodextrin inclusion complexes

Seven different ferrocene derivatives have been tested in vitro against Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Neither ferrocene nor the monosubstituted derivative N,N-dimethylaminomethylferrocene showed cytotoxic activity (IC₅₀ > 1000 μM for 3 h treatments). Better results were obtained with 1,2-disubstituted derivatives. The IC₅₀ values ranged from 376.6 μM for 1,2-diformylferrocene to 71.2 μM for racemic 2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)ferrocenecarboxamide. The latter derivative was also encapsulated in native β-cyclodextrin (CD), heptakis-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-CD (TRIMEB) and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD (HPβCD) to give 1:1 (host:guest) inclusion compounds. The existence of true inclusion complexes in the solid state was confirmed by a combination of powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR and ¹³C CP MAS NMR spectroscopy. The IC₅₀ value for the β-CD inclusion compound was identical to that obtained for the nonincluded ferrocene derivative. By contrast, the inclusion compounds comprising TRIMEB and HPβCD yielded IC₅₀ values of 25.2 and 20.0 μM, respectively. No obvious relationship could be established between the redox behavior of the compounds determined by cyclic voltammetry and the biochemical data.     

A concise synthesis of asymmetrical N,N′-disubstituted guanidines

We present a new and concise method for the preparation of asymmetrical N,N′-disubstituted guanidines starting from thiourea via the reaction of N-Boc-protected N′-alkyl/aryl substituted thioureas with an amine in the presence of mercury(II) chloride and triethylamine.     

Ferrocene-dipeptide conjugates derived from aminoferrocene and 1-acetyl-1′-aminoferrocene: synthesis and conformational studies

In this study we present the synthesis and conformational analysis of mono- and disubstituted ferrocene bioconjugates bearing dipeptide chains (Boc-AA-AA-Fn-X, AA=Gly, l-Ala, l-Val). The conformational preferences of novel aminoferrocene derived conjugates with X=H, as well as their 1-acetyl analogues (X=COMe), were investigated by spectroscopic techniques (IR, NMR and CD) and corroborated by DFT calculations. Chirally organized structures, stabilized through intrachain hydrogen bonds, prevail in solution when X=H. The resulting 10-membered hydrogen-bond ring is destabilized by heteroannular introduction of an acetyl group when X=COMe.     

Inorganic-organic hybrids of the p,p′-diphenylmethylenediphosphinate ligand with bivalent metals: a new 2D-layered phenylphosphinate zinc(II) complex

By reaction of Zn(CH₃COO)₂ with p,p′-diphenylmethylenediphosphinic acid in water a new inorganic-organic polymeric hybrid of formula [Zn(CH₂(P(Ph)O₂)₂)] has been synthesized and completely characterized. The X-ray analysis established that the structure consists of 2D-layered polymeric array, the 2D-sheets being built up through strong covalent linkages between the zinc metal and the oxygen donors of the phenylphosphinate ligand. The 2D-layers, which are featuring a mesh-net fashion, present voids of various dimensionality, up to 24-membered rings. The organic parts of the hybrid ligand, namely the phenyl rings, are shielding the inorganic skeleton of the layers, preventing the propagation of the polymer in the third dimension. No water molecules are present in the lattice, both of coordination and crystallization. Crystal data are: monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=11.840(2), b=9.646(9), c=12.516(5) Å, β=95.03(2), V=1423.9(15) Å³, Z=4. The solid material has been characterized by ³¹P MAS NMR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.     

Synthesis and characterization of (CHCH)n-bridged (n = 1, 2, 3) heterobimetallic and trimetallic ferrocene-ruthenium complexes

A series of heterobinuclear ferrocene-ruthenium complexes Fc(CHCH)_nRuCl(CO)(PMe₃)₃ (n = 1, 3; n = 2, 12), Fc(CHCH)RuCl(CO)(Py)(PPh₃)₂ (4), and trimetallic Fc(CHCH)RuCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂(Py-E-(CHCH)Fc) (6) have been prepared. The length of the molecular rods is extended by successive insertion of CHCH spacers in the bridging ligands or the ancillary ligands. The respective products have been fully characterized and the structures of 3 and 12 have been established by X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical studies have revealed that ethenyl heterobimetallic complexes display two successive one-electron processes, and that intermetallic electronic communication between the two endgroups is attenuated with the increase of the length of the conjugated bridge. The electrochemical behavior of the trimetallic complex reveals strong electronic communication between ruthenium and ferrocene transmitted through the ethenyl bridge, however, it also reveals a very weak interaction between ruthenium and ferrocene transmitted through the (E)-CHCH-Py bridge.     

1,n-Diamines. Part 3: Microwave-assisted synthesis of N-acyl-N′-arylhexahydropyrimidines and hexahydro-1,3-diazepines

In this Letter we present a method for the synthesis of N-acyl-N′-arylhexahydropyrimidines 1, by ring closure of N-acyl-N′-aryl-1,3-propanediamines 3 with formaldehyde. Cyclodehydrations were performed in aqueous medium under microwave irradiation, and led to high yields of the desired compounds in remarkably short reaction times. The method also allowed for the synthesis of hitherto unreported N-acyl-N′-arylhexahydro-1,3-diazepines 2. The acyclic tetramethylenic precursors 4 were synthesized by selective functionalization of N-arylputrescines.     

The crystal structures,molecular spectra and thermal behaviour of carbamoylferrocene and ferrocenecarbonylhydrazide

Carbamoylferrocene (1) and ferrocenecarbonylhydrazide (2) were synthesised by modified literature procedures and studied by a combination of the conventional spectroscopic methods (IR, MS and NMR), X-ray crystallography and thermal analysis. The crystal structures of two new polymorphs of amide 1 and the structure of hydrazide 2 were determined, revealing extensive hydrogen bonding interactions of the polar ferrocene substituents and supportive π?$?$π stacking interactions. Whereas the thermal behaviour of hydrazide 2 was relatively complicated, thermolysis of amide 1 in the presence of air oxygen led to a complete elimination of the organic constituents in a single step under mild conditions affording essentially pure hematite (α-Fe₂O₃). Mössbauer spectra, powder X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy indicated the pyrolytic hematite to result in the form of random aggregates of well crystalline nanoparticles.     

Preparation, crystal structures, EPR and reflectance spectra of two new charge-transfer salts, [CpFeCpCH2N(CH3)3]4[XMo12O40] · nCH3CN (n = 0 for X = P or n = 1 for X = Ge)

Two new charge-transfer salts, [CpFeCpCH₂N(CH₃)₃]₄[PMo₁₂O₄₀] · CH₃CN (1) and [CpFeCpCH₂N(CH₃)₃]₄[GeMo₁₂O₄₀] (2), were synthesized by the traditional solution synthetic method and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Salt 1 belongs to the triclinic space group P1, and salt 2 belongs to the triclinic space group . There exist the complex interactions of the cationic ferrocenyl donor and Keggin polyanion in the solid state. The solid state UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra indicate the presence of a charge-transfer band climbing from 450 nm to well beyond 900 nm for 1, a charge-transfer band from 460 to 850 nm with λ_max = 630 nm for 2.The EPR spectra of salts 1 and 2 at 77 K show a signal at g = 2.0048 and 1.9501, respectively, ascribed to the delocalization of one electron in reduced Keggin ion in salt 1 and the Mo^VI in [GeMo₁₂O₄₀]⁴⁻ is partly reduced to Mo^V owing to the charge-transfer transitions taking place between the ferrocenyl donors and the POM acceptors. The two compounds were also characterized by IR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry.     

Structure–composition sensitivity in “Metallic” Zintl phases: A study of Eu(Ga1−xTtx)2 (Tt=Si, Ge, 0≤x≤1)

Two isoelectronic series, Eu(Ga_1−xTt_x)₂ (Tt=Si, Ge, 0≤x≤1), have been synthesized and characterized by powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, physical property measurements, and electronic structure calculations. In Eu(Ga_1−xSi_x)₂, crystal structures vary from the KHg₂-type to the AlB₂-type, and, finally, the ThSi₂-type structure as x increases. The hexagonal AlB₂-type structure is identified for compositions 0.18(2)≤x<0.70(2) with Ga and Si atoms statistically distributed in the polyanionic 6³ nets. As smaller Si atoms replace Ga atoms while the number of valence electrons increases, the lattice parameters, unit cell volumes, and Ga–Si distances in this phase region decrease significantly. Although aspects of X-ray diffraction results suggest puckering of the 6³ nets for the Si-richest example of the AlB₂-type Eu(Ga_1−xSi_x)₂, the complete experimental evidence remains inconclusive. On the other hand, in Eu(Ga_1−xGe_x)₂, six different structural types were observed as x varies. In addition to EuGa₂ (KHg₂-type; space group Imma) and EuGe₂ (own structure type, space group P3¯m1), the ternary phases studied show four different structures: the AlB₂-type for Ga-rich compositions; the YPtAs-type structure for EuGaGe; and two new structures, which are intergrowths of the YPtAs-type EuGaGe and EuGe₂, for Ge-rich compositions. These two Ge-rich phases include: (1) Eu(Ga_0.45(2)Ge_0.55(2))₂ containing two YPtAs-type motifs of EuGaGe plus one EuGe₂ motif; and (2) Eu(Ga_0.40(2)Ge_0.60(2))₂ containing one YPtAs-type motif alternating with a split site at and z=0.4798(2) with ca. 50% site occupancy by Ga and Ge along the c-axis. Magnetic susceptibilities of three Eu(Ga_1−xGe_x)₂ compounds display Curie–Weiss behavior above ca. 100 K, and show effective magnetic moments indicative of divalent Eu with a 4f⁷ electronic configuration, consistent with. X-ray absorption spectra (XAS). Density of states (DOS) and crystal orbital Hamilton population (COHP) analyses, based on first principles electronic structure calculations, rationalize the observed homogeneity ranges of the AlB₂-type phases in both systems and the structural variations as a function of Tt content.     

Charge-transfer salts of methylferrocenes with DCNQI derivatives (DCNQI = N,N′-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinonediimine): Crystal structures and magnetic properties

Organometallic charge-transfer salts composed of decamethyl-, octamethyl-, and dimethylferrocene with N,N′-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinonediimine (DCNQI) derivatives were prepared. [Fe(C₅Me₅)₂][(MeO)₂DCNQI] (1) and [Fe(C₅Me₄H)₂][Me₂DCNQI] (2) were 1:1 DA salts with mixed-stack structures, whereas [Fe(C₅Me₄H)₂][(MeO)₂DCNQI]₂ (3) and [Fe(C₅MeH₄)₂][DCNQI]₂ (4) were 1:2 DA salts. 3 exhibited a segregated-stack structure, in which charge separation was observed in the acceptor column. 1 became a metamagnet below T_N = 5.0 K, whereas the other salts were paramagnets. Valence states and charge-transfer (CT) transitions in these complexes are discussed based on the neutral-ionic (NI) phase diagram.     

Synthesis and manganese complexes of pentagonal bipyramidal ligands: N,N′-disubstituted pentaaza macrocycles

Two novel heptadentate ligands, pentaaza macrocycles with two pendant xpyridyl and phenol groups, were prepared and the crystal structure of the manganese(II) complex of N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-pentaaza macrocycle revealed a pentagonal bipyramidal geometry.     

1,n′-Disubstituted ferrocenoyl amino acids and dipeptides: Conformational analysis by CD spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and DFT calculations

An experimental and computational study on the conformational preference of 1,n′-disubstituted ferrocenoyl amino acids and dipeptides is presented. Only l-amino acids were used for the synthesis of Fe[C₅H₄-CO-Met-Met-OMe]₂ (4), but according to the X-ray structure a 4:1 mixture of l,d,M,d,l and l,d,M,l,l isomers is obtained (l describes amino acid chirality and M the helical chirality of the ferrocene core). This result is in agreement with IR and CD solution phase data and can be explained with a racemization by 1 M NaOH during the synthesis. In order to determine the relative stabilities of the different conformations, DFT calculations on model compounds Fe[C₅H₄-CO-Gly-NH₂]₂ (5) and Fe[C₅H₄-CO-Ala-OMe]₂ (6) were performed using the B3LYP/LanL2DZ method with ECPs on the heavy atoms. Conformers 5A-5C with different hydrogen bond patterns have significantly different stabilities with a stabilization by about 30 kJ mol⁻¹ per hydrogen bond. The “Herrick conformation” 5A with two hydrogen bonds is the most stable in the gas phase, in accordance with the solution and solid phase data. In contrast, only small energetic differences (less than 10 kJ mol⁻¹) were calculated for conformers l,P,l-6A, l,P,d-6A and d,P,d-6A, which differ only in amino acid chirality.     

Dynamic thermodynamic resolution of lithiated N-Boc-N′-alkylpiperazines

Deprotonation of N-Boc-N′-alkylpiperazines with sec-BuLi in Et₂O-TMEDA gave the 2-lithio derivatives which were resolved in the presence of a chiral ligand. The best ligands for the asymmetric substitution were diamino-alkoxides that promoted a dynamic thermodynamic resolution (DTR) of the organolithium at −30 °C. Electrophilic quench gave enantiomerically enriched 2-substituted piperazines. Of a selection of piperazines, the N′-t-butyl derivative gave the best results, with the product N-Boc-N′-t-butyl-2-substituted piperazines being formed with enantiomer ratios up to 81:19.     

Convenient synthesis of carbamates, S-alkyl thiocarbamates, and N,N′-disubstituted urea derivatives of methoxycarbonylsulfenyl isocyanate

Convenient simple and suitable methods for the synthesis of carbamates, N,N′-unsymmetrically disubstituted ureas, and S-alkyl thiocarbamates derived from CH₃OC(O)SNCO in one-step are provided. Reactions are operationally simple and have high selectivity toward nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur nucleophiles. The absence of solvents coupled with high yields and short reaction times make these procedures very attractive for synthesis.     

Reductive alkylation of thioureas: a highly practical synthesis of unsymmetrical N,N′-disubstituted thioureas

A highly practical synthesis of unsymmetrical N,N′-disubstituted thioureas by the reductive alkylation of N-monosubstituted thioureas with aldehydes is described. N-Monosubstituted thioureas can in turn be synthesized by the reductive amination of thiourea with an appropriate aldehyde. This reductive alkylation methodology was also extended to carbamates.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (E)-N,N-diethyl-3-(imidazo[1,2-a]pyrid-2-yl)-2-(phenylsulfonyl)propenamide

The title compound, gem-amidovinylsulfone 3, was synthesized stereoselectively by aldolic condensation of N,N-diethylphenylsulfonylacetamide 1 on imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-carbaldehyde 2 adding Et₃N at the end. The X-ray crystal structure of 3 [C₂₀H₂₁N₃O₃S: M_r=383.5, monoclinic, P2₁, a=8.191(4) Å, b=21.132(2) Å, c=11.752(1) Å, β=96.40(2)°, V=2022(1) Å³, Z=4 (two molecules per asymmetric unit), D_calc=1.260 g cm⁻³, λ(Mo Kα)=0.71073 Å, μ=0.184 mm⁻¹, F(000)=808, T=293(2)K, R=0.059 for 5105 observed reflections with I≥2σ(I)] was determined, and confirmed the (E) configuration.     

Synthesis of N,N′-disubstituted cyclic 1,2-diamines derived from (1R,2R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane

The synthesis of N,N′-unsymmetrically tetrasubstituted cyclic 1,2-diamines derived from (1R,2R)-diaminocyclohexane is reported. We comment on the structural nature of these cyclic 1,2-diamines and discuss their characteristic features.     

Formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds in heterodisubstituted ferrocene diamides with a secondary and a tertiary amido group: X-ray structure of 1′-(N′-butyl-carbamoyl)-morpholino ferrocenecarboxamide

Various unsymmetrically substituted ferrocene 1,1′-diamides have been synthesized via homogeneous catalytic carbonylation starting from 1,1′-diiodoferrocene. The unique features observed in the ¹H NMR and IR spectra of the compounds bearing a secondary and a tertiary amido group are explained by the formation of an internal hydrogen bond between the substituents. Addition of chloride ions (as a tetrabutylammonium salt) into the solutions of these compounds results in spectroscopic changes due to the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the ferrocene diamide and the anion. The solid state structure of 1′-(N′-butyl-carbamoyl)-morpholino ferrocenecarboxamide (1a) has also been determined by X-ray crystallography. A strong intramolecular H-bond between the NH group of the N′-butyl-carbamoyl moiety and the CO of the tertiary amido group was observed.     

Conformational studies and solution structure of laulimalide and simplified analogues using NMR spectroscopy and molecular modelling

The solution structures of the potent microtubule-stabilizing anti-cancer agent laulimalide and simplified analogues were determined by a combination of high field ¹H NMR spectroscopic studies (J-based configuration analysis and NOESY) and constrained molecular dynamics simulations and discussed in relation to their antiproliferative activity.