Replacement of chlorides with dicarboxylate ligands in anticancer active Ru(II)-DMSO compounds: a new strategy that might lead to improved activity

A series of new Ru(II)-DMSO complexes containing dicarboxylate ligands (dicarb), namely, oxalate (ox), malonate (mal), methylmalonate (mmal), dimethylmalonate (dmmal), and succinate (suc), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. These compounds were prepared from the known Ru(II)-Cl-DMSO anticancer complexes cis,fac-[RuCl2(DMSO-S)3(DMSO-O)] (1) and trans-[RuCl2(DMSO-S)4] (2) and from the chloride-free precursor fac-[Ru(DMSO-S)3(DMSO-O)3][CF3SO3]2 (3), with the aim of assessing how the nature of the anionic ligands influences the biological activity of these species. Basically, the investigated ligands can be divided into two groups. The reaction of either 1 or 2 with K2(dicarb) (dicarb = ox, mal, mmal) yielded preferentially the mononuclear species [K]fac-[RuCl(DMSO-S)3(eta2-dicarb)] (dicarb = mal, 6; mmal, 9; ox, 14) that contains a chelating dicarboxylate unit and a residual chloride. Likewise, when 3 was used as a precursor, the neutral mononuclear species fac-[Ru(DMSO-O)(DMSO-S)3(eta2-dicarb)] (dicarb = mal, 7; mmal, 10; ox, 16), which contains a DMSO-O ligand in the place of Cl-, was obtained. On the contrary, K2(suc) and K2(dmmal) yielded preferentially the dinuclear species [fac-Ru(DMSO-S)3(H2O)(mu-dicarb)]2 (dicarb = dmmal, 11; suc, 13), with two bridging dicarboxylate moieties. The two water molecules in anti geometry have strong intramolecular H-bonding with the non-coordinated oxygen atoms of the carboxylate groups. The solid-state X-ray structural data showed that the preferential binding mode of the investigated dicarboxylates, either bridging (mu) or chelating (eta2), is dictated mainly by steric reasons. Oxalate, unlike the other dicarboxylates, has also the bridging bis-chelate (eta4,mu) coordination mode available: this was found in the dinuclear species [{fac-RuCl(DMSO-S)3}2(eta4,mu-ox)] (15) and [{fac-Ru(DMSO-O)(DMSO-S)3}2(eta4,mu-ox)][CF3SO3]2 (17). We also isolated the unprecedented neutral metallacycle, [fac-Ru(DMSO-S)3(eta3,mu-ox)]4 (18), in which each oxalate unit has one unbound oxygen atom. The new complexes were thoroughly characterized by 1-D (1H and 13C) and 2-D (H-H- COSY and HMQC) NMR spectroscopy in solution and by IR spectroscopy in the solid state. The molecular structures of 10 compounds, 6-11, 13, 15, 17, and 18, were determined by X-ray crystallography. The behavior of selected complexes in aqueous solution was investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy.     

Self-assembled metallacycles with pyrazine edges: a new example in which the unexpected molecular triangle prevails over the expected molecular square

The combination of cis-protected metal fragments with linear linkers is expected to yield molecular squares. We found instead that treatment of the 90 degrees angular precursor trans-[RuCl2(dmso-S)4] (1) with an equivalent amount of the linear and rigid pyrazine (pyz) linker unexpectedly yields, in a number of different experimental conditions, the molecular triangle [{trans,cis-RuCl2(dmso-S)2(mu-pyz)}3] (3), together with polymeric material. Very similar results were also obtained from the reaction between 1 and the preformed corner fragment trans,cis,cis-[RuCl2(dmso-S)2(pyz)2] (6). In both cases, the expected molecular square [{trans,cis-RuCl2(dmso-S)2(mu-pyz)}4] (4) was observed only as a transient species. These results suggest that 3, which is the first example of a neutral molecular triangle with octahedral metal corners and pyrazine edges, is both the thermodynamic and the kinetic product of the reactions described above. The X-ray structure of 3 shows that the main distortions from ideal coordination geometry concern the N-Ru-N angles, which are narrower than 90 degrees , and the coordination bonds of pyz. The pyrazine molecules, which are basically planar, are significantly tilted from linearity. Calculations performed on 6 indicated that the N-Ru-N angle is ca. six times more rigid than the tilt angle of pyrazine. The structural and theoretical findings on 3 and 6, together with the previous examples of molecular triangles and squares with cis-protected metal corners and linear pyz edges, suggest that the entropically favored molecular triangles might be preferred over the expected molecular squares with metal corner fragments that spontaneously favor Npyz-M-Npyz angles narrower than 90 degrees because of the presence of ancillary ligands with significant steric demand on the coordination plane. The rather-flexible coordination geometry of pyrazine can accommodate the moderate distortions from linearity required to close the small metallacycle with modest additional strain.     

3D Heterometallic (3d–4f) coordination polymers: A ferromagnetic interaction in a Gd(III)–Cu(II) couple

Four 3d–4f heterometallic coordination polymers, [Cu₃(IDA)₆Ln₂] · n(H₂O) [IDA =  iminodiacetate dianion; Ln = Gd, n = 3 (1); Ln = Nd, n = 6 (2); Ln = Sm, n = 6 (3)] and [Cu(Cl)(NTA)Sm(H₂O)₆] · (ClO₄) · (H₂O) (4) [NTA = nitrilotriacetate trianion], have heen synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 1–3 are isomorphous, showing a 3D coordination framework having tubular channels filled by lattice water molecules running parallel to the c axis. Whereas complex 4 is a 1D polymer of alternating copper and samarium ions connected by NTA, and the chains get involved in H-bonding interactions resulting in a 3D network. A low temperature magnetic study reveals ferromagnetic interactions for complex 1. Thermogravimetric and X-ray powder diffraction analyses of 1, 2 and 3 show that the covalently bonded 3D network remains almost unaffected after deaquation.     

124I Radiolabeling of a AuIII-NHC Complex for In Vivo Biodistribution Studies

Au^III complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have shown remarkable potential as anticancer agents, yet their fate in vivo has not been thoroughly examined and understood. Reported herein is the synthesis of new Au^III-NHC complexes by direct oxidation with radioactive [¹²⁴I]I₂ as a valuable strategy to monitor the in vivo biodistribution of this class of compounds using positron emission tomography (PET). While in vitro analyses provide direct evidence for the importance of Au^III-to-Au^I reduction to achieve full anticancer activity, in vivo studies reveal that a fraction of the Au^III-NHC prodrug is not immediately reduced after administration but able to reach the major organs before metabolic activation.     

Syntheses, crystal structures, and magnetic properties of [Ln(III)2(Succinate)3(H2O)2].0.5H2O [Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, and Dy] polymeric networks: unusual ferromagnetic coupling in Gd derivative

Lanthanide-organic coordination polymeric networks of [Ln(III)2(suc)3(H2O)2].0.5H2O [suc = succinate dianion, Ln = Pr (1), Nd (2), Sm (3), Eu (4), Gd (5), and Dy (6)] have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The structural determination reveals that complexes are isomorphous, all crystallizing in monoclinic system, space group I2/a(.) The complexes possess a 3D architecture with Ln ion in a nine-coordination geometry attained by eight oxygen atoms from succinate and one oxygen atom from an aqua ligand. Low-temperature magnetic study indicates that ferromagnetic interaction is present in case of Gd(III) and Dy(III). Antiferromagnetic interaction is observed for the rest of the complexes. Density functional theory calculations are performed which support the existence of a superexchange ferromagnetic coupling in Gd(III) ions, whereas classical crystal field model has been applied to study the complexes 1, 2, 3, and 6.     

Platinum(II)-mediated coupling reactions of acetonitrile with the exocyclic nitrogen of 9-methyladenine and 1-methylcytosine. Synthesis, NMR characterization, and X-ray structures of new azametallacycle complexes

The hydroxo complex cis-[L2Pt(mu-OH)]2(NO3)2, (L = PMePh2, 1a), in CH3CN solution, deprotonates the NH2 group of 9-methyladenine (9-MeAd) to give the cyclic trinuclear species cis-[L2Pt[9-MeAd(-H)]]3(NO3)3, (L = PMePh2, 2a), in which the nucleobase binds the metal centers through the N(1), N(6) atoms. In solution at room temperature, 2a slowly reacts with the solvent to form quantitatively the mononuclear azametallacycle cis-[L2PtNH=C(Me)[9-MeAd(-2H)]]NO3 (L = PMePh2, 3a), containing as anionic ligand the deprotonated form of molecule N-(9-methyl-1,9-dihydro-purin-6-ylidene)-acetamidine. In the same experimental conditions, the hydroxo complex with PPh3 (1b) forms immediately the insertion product 3b. Single-crystal X-ray analyses of 3a and 3b show the coordination of the platinum cation at the N(1) site of the purine moiety and to the N atom of the inserted acetonitrile, whereas the exocyclic amino nitrogen binds the carbon atom of the same CN group. The resulting six-membered ring is slightly distorted from planarity, with carbon-nitrogen bond distances for the inserted nitrile typical of a double bond [C(3)-N(2) = 1.292(7) Angstroms in 3a and 1.279(11) Angstroms in 3b], while the remaining CN bonds of the metallocycle are in the range of 1.335(8)-1.397(10) Angstroms. A detailed multinuclear 1H, 31P, 13C, and 15N NMR study shows that the nitrogen atom of the inserted acetonitrile molecule binds a proton suggesting for 3a,b an imino structure in solution. In DMSO and chlorinated solvents, 3a slowly releases the nitrile reforming the trinuclear species 2a, whereas 3b forms the mononuclear derivative cis-[L2Pt[9-MeAd(-H)]]NO3 (L = PPh3, 4b), in which the adeninate ion chelates the metal center through the N(6) and N(7) atoms. Complex 4b is quantitatively obtained when 1b reacts with 9-MeAd in DMSO and can be easily isolated if the reaction is carried out in CH(2)Cl(2). In CH(3)CN solution, at room temperature, 4b slowly converts into 3b indicating that the insertion of acetonitrile is a reversible process. A similar metal-mediated coupling reaction occurs when 1a,b react with 1-methylcytosine (1-MeCy) in CH(3)CN. The resulting complexes, cis-[L(2)PtNH=C(Me)[1-MeCy(-2H)]]NO3, (L = PMePh2, 5a and PPh3, 5b), contain the deprotonated form of the ligand N-(1-methyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrimidin-4-ylidene)-acetamidine. The X-ray analysis of 5a shows the coordination of the metal at the N(3) site of the pyrimidine cycle and to the nitrogen atom of the acetonitrile, with features of the six-membered metallocycle only slightly different from those found in 3a and 3b. In CD3CN/CH3(13)CN solution complexes 5a,b undergo exchange of the inserted nitrile, while in DMSO or chlorinated solvents they irreversibly release CH3CN to form species not yet fully characterized. No insertion of CH3CN occurs when the hydroxo complexes are stabilized by PMe3 and PMe2Ph.