A Maltol-Containing Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complex as a Potential Anticancer Agent

Cancer is one of the main causes of death worldwide. Chemotherapy, despite its severe side effects, is to date one of the leading strategies against cancer. Metal-based drugs present several potential advantages when compared to organic compounds and they have gained trust from the scientific community after the approval on the market of the drug cisplatin. Recently, we reported the ruthenium complex ([Ru(DIP)₂(sq)](PF₆) (where DIP is 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenantroline and sq is semiquinonate) with a remarkable potential as chemotherapeutic agent against cancer, both in vitro and in vivo. In this work, we analyse a structurally similar compound, namely [Ru(DIP)₂(mal)](PF₆), carrying the flavour-enhancing agent approved by the FDA, maltol (mal). To possess an FDA approved ligand is crucial for a complex, whose mechanism of action might include ligand exchange. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterisation of [Ru(DIP)₂(mal)](PF₆), its stability in solutions and under conditions that resemble the physiological ones, and its in-depth biological investigation. Cytotoxicity tests on different cell lines in 2D model and on HeLa MultiCellular Tumour Spheroids (MCTS) demonstrated that our compound has higher activity than cisplatin, inspiring further tests. [Ru(DIP)₂(mal)](PF₆) was efficiently internalised by HeLa cells through a passive transport mechanism and severely affected the mitochondrial metabolism.     

Lewis Acid Promoted Dearomatization of Naphthols

Two-step dearomative functionalization of naphthols promoted by Lewis acids and copper(I) catalysis was developed. Initially, Lewis acid complexation inverted the electronic properties of the ring and established an equilibrium with the dearomatized counterpart. Subsequent trapping of the dearomatized intermediate with organometallics as well as organophosphines was demonstrated and provided the corresponding dearomatized products.     

Preparation and Characterisation of a Bis-μ-Hydroxo-NiIII2 Complex

Hydroxide-bridged high-valent oxidants have been implicated as the active oxidants in methane monooxygenases and other oxidases that employ bimetallic clusters in their active site. To understand the properties of such species, bis-μ-hydroxo-Ni^II₂ complex ( 1 ) supported by a new dicarboxamidate ligand (N,N′-bis(2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-2,2-dimethylmalonamide) was prepared. Complex 1 contained a diamond core made up of two Ni^II ions and two bridging hydroxide ligands. Titration of the 1 e⁻ oxidant (NH₄)₂[Ce^IV(NO₃)₆] with 1 at −45 °C showed the formation of the high-valent species 2 and 3 , containing Ni^IINi^III and Ni^III₂ diamond cores, respectively, maintaining the bis-μ-hydroxide core. Both complexes were characterised using electron paramagnetic resonance, X-ray absorption, and electronic absorption spectroscopies. Density functional theory computations supported the spectroscopic assignments. Oxidation reactivity studies showed that bis-μ-hydroxide-Ni^III₂ 3 was capable of oxidizing substrates at −45 °C at rates greater than that of the most reactive bis-μ-oxo-Ni^III complexes reported to date.     

Bis(N‐Confused Porphyrin) as a Semirigid Receptor with a Chirality Memory: A Two‐Way Host Enantiomerization through Point‐to‐Axial Chirality Transfer

The adduct formation of protonated bis(N‐confused porphyrin) (BNCP, 3,3′‐bis(meso‐tetratolyl‐2‐aza‐21‐carbaporphyrin) with chiral anions, carboxylic acids, and alcohols was studied in solution by means of ¹H NMR and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic analysis and DFT methods. The addition of enantiopure guests to the acidified BNCP resulted in optical activity that vanished after neutralization. Pairs of the ¹H NMR‐distinguishable diastereomers were formed when enantiopure guests were applied, although a single form was observed upon the addition of the racemic mixtures in each case. Unidirectional configuration change that led to diastereomeric excess was observed in several instances. Such an excess was memorized by metalation of the adducts with AgBF₄, thus resulting in optically active silver(III) complexes of BNCP with some enantiomeric excess. Absolute configurations of BNCP cations and bis(zinc) and bis(silver(III)) complexes were determined on the basis of time‐dependent (TD)‐DFT calculations of their CD spectra. It was shown that some of the chiral carboxylates induced opposite directions of enantiomerization of di‐ and tetracations or di‐/tetracation and bis(zinc) complexes. The source of the optical activity of the equimolar diastereomeric mixture of adducts is discussed.     

A theoretical and experimental study of the NMR spectra of 4,5,6,7‐tetrafluorobenzazoles with special stress on PCM calculations of chemical shifts

The chemical shifts and several ¹⁹F–¹⁹F, ¹³C–¹⁹F and ¹H–¹⁹F spin‐spin coupling constants (SSCSs) of eight 4,5,6,7‐tetraflurobenzazoles (three benzimidazoles, three benzimidazolinones and two indazoles) have been determined. The chemical shifts were discussed using gauge including atomic orbital‐density functional theory calculations taking into account solvent effects (polarizable continuum model) and, for the solid state, hydrogen bonds (clusters up to three molecules). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Targeted Hybrid Nanocarriers as a System Enhancing the Skin Structure

The skin is constantly exposed to external and internal factors that disturb its function. In this work, two nanosystems-levan nanoparticles and a surfactin-stabilized nanoemulsion were preserved (tested for microbial growth) and characterized (size, polydispersity, Zeta potential, and stability). The nanosystems were introduced in the model formulations-cream, tonic, and gel, and confirmed by TEM. The analysis showed that nanoemulsion has a spherical morphology and size 220–300 nm, while levan nanoparticles had irregular shapes independently of the use of matrix and with particle size (130–260 nm). Additionally, we examined the antiradical effect of levan nanoparticles and nanoemulsion in the prototype of formulations by scavenging DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; EPR spectroscopy). The model cream with both nanosystems and the whole range of products with nanosystems were evaluated in vivo for hydration, elasticity, smoothness, wrinkles and vascular lesions, discoloration, respectively. The cream improved skin condition in all tested parameters in at least 50% of volunteers. The use of more comprehensive care, additionally consisting of a tonic and gel, reduced the previously existing skin discoloration to 10.42 ± 0.58%. The presented prototype formulations are promising in improving skin conditions.     

Luminescent PtII and PtIV Platinacycles with Anticancer Activity Against Multiplatinum-Resistant Metastatic CRC and CRPC Cell Models

Platinum-based chemotherapy persists to be the only effective therapeutic option against a wide variety of tumours. Nevertheless, the acquisition of platinum resistance is utterly common, ultimately cornering conventional platinum drugs to only palliative in many patients. Thus, encountering alternatives that are both effective and non-cross-resistant is urgent. In this work, we report the synthesis, reduction studies, and luminescent properties of a series of cyclometallated (C,N,N′)Pt^IV compounds derived from amine–imine ligands, and their remarkable efficacy at the high nanomolar range and complete lack of cross-resistance, as an intrinsic property of the platinacycle, against multiplatinum-resistant colorectal cancer (CRC) and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) metastatic cell lines generated for this work. We have also determined that the compounds are effective and selective for a broader cancer panel, including breast and lung cancer. Additionally, selected compounds have been further evaluated, finding a shift in their antiproliferative mechanism towards more cytotoxic and less cytostatic than cisplatin against cancer cells, being also able to oxidize cysteine residues and inhibit topoisomerase II, thereby holding great promise as future improved alternatives to conventional platinum drugs.     

Synchronizing Substrate Activation Rates in Multicomponent Reactions with Metal–Organic Framework Catalysts

A study on the influence of the cation coordination number, number of Lewis acid centers, concurrent existence of Lewis base sites, and structure topology on the catalytic activity of six new indium MOFs, has been carried out for multicomponent reactions (MCRs). The new indium polymeric frameworks, namely [In₈(OH)₆(popha)₆(H₂O)₄]?3 H₂O ( InPF‐16 ), [In(popha)(2,2′‐bipy)]?3 H₂O ( InPF‐17 ), [In₃(OH)₃(popha)₂(4,4′‐bipy)]?4 H₂O ( InPF‐18 ), [In₂(popha)₂(4,4′‐bipy)₂]?3 H₂O ( InPF‐19 ), [In(OH)(Hpopha)]?0.5 (1,7‐phen) ( InPF‐20 ), and [In(popha)(1,10‐phen)]?4 H₂O ( InPF‐21 ) (InPF=indium polymeric framework, H₃popha=5‐(4‐carboxy‐2‐nitrophenoxy)isophthalic acid, phen=phenanthroline, bipy=bipyridine), have been hydrothermally obtained by using both conventional heating (CH) and microwave (MW) procedures. These indium frameworks show efficient Lewis acid behavior for the solvent‐free cyanosilylation of carbonyl compounds, the one pot Passerini 3‐component (P‐3CR) and the Ugi 4‐component (U‐4CR) reactions. In addition, InPF‐17 was found to be a highly reactive, recyclable, and environmentally benign catalyst, which allows the efficient synthesis of α‐aminoacyl amides. The relationship between the Lewis base/acid active site and the catalytic performance is explained by the 2D seven‐coordinated indium framework of the catalyst InPF‐17 . This study is an attempt to highlight the main structural and synthetic factors that have to be taken into account when planning a new, effective MOF‐based heterogeneous catalyst for multicomponent reactions.