DNA binding, nuclease activity and cytotoxicity studies of Cu(II) complexes of tridentate ligands

Cu(II) complexes of three tridentate ligands, L(1), L(2) and L(3), [L(1), N-((1H-imidazole-2-yl)methyl)-2-(pyridine-2-yl)ethanamine; L(2), N-((1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-yl)methyl)-2-(pyridine-2-yl)ethanamine; L(3), 2-(pyridine-2-yl)-N-((pyridine-2-yl)methyl)ethanamine] respectively, were synthesized and characterized. The single crystal X-ray structure of complex 1 reveals the pseudo octahedral coordination geometry around the copper center. Absorption and fluorescence experimental evidence show good DNA binding propensity (in the order of 10(5) M(-1)) of the complexes. Thermal denaturation and circular dichroism (CD) analyses reveal minor structural changes of calf thymus (CT) DNA in presence of complexes and groove and/or surface binding of the complexes to CT-DNA. Kinetic DNA cleavage assay shows pseudo-first-order kinetic reaction between the complex and supercoiled (SC) DNA. In addition, mechanistic SC DNA cleavage results show higher DNA cleavage activity in presence of reducing agent, due to the presence of hydroxyl radicals. In vitro cytotoxicity assay of the complexes demonstrate that the complexes have low toxicity for different cancer cell lines and IC(50) values were between 37 and 156 μM.     

ZnO-Au nanohybrids by rapid microwave-assisted synthesis for CO oxidation

We present a green method for the synthesis of ZnO-Au hybrids using an ultrafast microwave-based technique. This method provides good control over the nucleation of the metal nanoparticles on the oxide support, which governs the morphology and microstructure of the hybrids. The hybrids exhibit good catalytic activity for CO oxidation compared to similar hybrids reported in the literature. Detailed XPS investigation reveals the presence of Au-Zn and Au-O bonds at the interface. This surface doping leads to the formation of anionic and cationic Au sites that contribute to the enhanced activity. Our method is general and can be applied for designing other supported catalysts with controlled interfaces.     

Hydrogen‐Bonding Induced Alternate Stacking of Donor (D) and Acceptor (A) Chromophores and their Supramolecular Switching to Segregated States

This paper reports comprehensive studies on the mixed assembly of bis‐(trialkoxybenzamide)‐functionalized dialkoxynaphthalene (DAN) donors and naphthalene‐diimide (NDI) acceptors due the cooperative effects of hydrogen bonding, charge‐transfer (CT) interactions, and solvophobic effects. A series of DAN as well as NDI building blocks have been examined (wherein the relative distance between the two amide groups in a particular chromophore is the variable structural parameter) to understand the structure‐dependent variation in mode of supramolecular assembly and morphology (organogel, reverse vesicle, etc.) of the self‐assembled material. Interestingly, it was observed that when the amide functionalities are introduced to enhance the self‐assembly propensity, the mode of co‐assembly among the DAN and NDI chromophores no longer remained trivial and was dictated by a relatively stronger hydrogen‐bonding interaction instead of a weak CT interaction. Consequently, in a highly non‐polar solvent like methylcyclohexane (MCH), although kinetically controlled CT‐gelation was initially noticed, within a few hours the system sacrificed the CT‐interaction and switched over to the more stable self‐sorted gel to maximize the gain in enthalpy from the hydrogen‐bonding interaction. In contrast, in a relatively less non‐polar solvent such as tetrachloroethylene (TCE), in which the strength of hydrogen bonding is inherently weak, the contribution of the CT interaction also had to be accounted for along with hydrogen bonding leading to a stable CT‐state in the gel or solution phase. The stability and morphology of the CT complex and rate of supramolecular switching (from CT to segregated state) were found to be greatly influenced by subtle structural variation of the building blocks, solvent polarity, and the DAN/NDI ratio. For example, in a given D–A pair, by introducing just one methylene unit in the spacer segment of either of the building blocks a complete change in the mode of co‐assembly (CT state or segregated state) and the morphology (1D fiber to 2D reverse vesicle) was observed. The role of solvent polarity, structural variation, and D/A ratio on the nature of co‐assembly, morphology, and the unprecedented supramolecular‐switching phenomenon have been studied by detail spectroscopic and microscopic experiments in a gel as well as in the solution state and are well supported by DFT calculations.     

Correlation between coordinated water content and proton conductivity in Ca-BTC-based metal-organic frameworks

Proton conductivity of five Ca-based MOFs which depends on the amount of water molecules coordinated to the Ca-centres has been reported. These MOFs show high temperature proton conductivity due to the strong hydrogen bonding between the lattice and coordinated water molecules.     

Triple-stranded helicates of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) involving a new redox-active multiring nitrogenous heterocyclic ligand: synthesis, structure, and electrochemical and photophysical properties

The protonated form [H(2)(L)](CF(3)SO(3))(2) (1) of a new redox-active bis-bidentate nitrogenous heterocyclic ligand, viz., 3,3'-dipyridin-2-yl[1,1']bi[imidazo[1,5-a]pyridinyl] (L), and its zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes (2 and 3) have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In the solid state, both 2 and 3 have triple-stranded helical structures involving ligands that experience twisting and bending to the extent needed by the stereoelectronic demand of the central metal ion. The metal centers in the zinc(II) complex [Zn(2)(L)(3)](ClO(4))(4) (2) are equivalent, each having a distorted octahedral geometry, flattened along the C(3) axis with a Zn1···Zn1# separation of 4.8655(13) ?. The cadmium complex [Cd(2)(L)(3)(H(2)O)](ClO(4))(4) (3), on the other hand, has a rare type of helical structure, showing coordination asymmetry around the metal centers with a drastically reduced Cd1···Cd2 separation of 4.070 ?. The coordination environment around Cd1 is a distorted pentagonal bipyramid involving a N(6)O donor set with the oxygen atom coming from a coordinated water, leaving the remaining metal center Cd2 with a distorted octahedral geometry. The structures of 2 and 3 also involve anion-π- and CH-π-type noncovalent interactions that play dominant roles in shaping the extended structures of these molecules in the solid state. In solution, these compounds exhibit strong fluxional behavior, making the individual ligand strands indistinguishable from one another, as revealed from their (1)H NMR spectra, which also provide indications about these molecules retaining their helical structures in solution. Electrochemically, these compounds are quite interesting, undergoing ligand-based oxidations in two successive one-electron steps at E(1/2) of ca. 0.65 and 0.90 V versus a Ag/AgCl (3 M NaCl) reference. These molecules are all efficient emitters in the red and blue regions because of ligand-based π*-π fluorescent emissions, tuned appropriately by the attached Lewis acid centers.     

One-dimensional coordination polymer of copper(I) thiocyanate with the Schiff base ligand N,N′-bis(3,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)butane-1,4-diamine: synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and thermal properties

Abstract  

A new one-dimensional polymeric copper(I)–thiocyanate complex with the Schiff base ligand N,N′-bis(3,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)butane-1,4-diamine, {Cu₂((μ _N,N′ -3,4-MeO-ba)₂bn)(μ_1,3-NCS)₂} _n , was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, FT–IR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. The thermal behavior of the complex was studied using thermogravimetry in order to evaluate thermal stability and thermal decomposition pathways. The molecular structure of the complex was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction which revealed that the coordination geometry around the copper(I) ion is distorted trigonal. The Schiff base ligand (3,4-MeO-ba)₂bn acts as a bis-monodentate and bridging ligand (μ _N,N′ ) and coordinates via two N atoms to the metal centers and adopts an E,E conformation. The coordination spheres of the metal atoms are completed by the N and S atoms from two thiocyanate anion bridges (μ_1,3-NCS), forming a zigzag chain propagating along [001].     

Multiple topologies from glycopolypeptide-dendron conjugate self-assembly: nanorods, micelles, and organogels

Glycopolypeptides (GPs) were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of glycosylated N-carboxyanhydride monomer and attached to hydrophobic dendrons at one chain end by "click" reaction to obtain amphiphilic anisotropic macromolecules. We show that by varying polypeptide chain length and dendron generation, an organogel was obtained in dimethylsulfoxide, while nanorods and micellar aggregates were observed in aqueous solutions. Assemblies in water were characterized by electron microscopy and dye encapsulation. Secondary structure of the GP chain was shown to affect the morphology, whereas the chain length of the poly(ethylene glycol) linker between the GP and dendron did not alter rod-like assemblies. Bioactive surface chemistry of these assemblies displaying carbohydrate groups was demonstrated by interaction of mannose-functionalized nanorods with ConA.     

Unprecedented SnCl2-mediated cyclization of nitro arenes via N-N bond formation

[reaction: see text] A mild, efficient, one-pot protocol for the cyclization of nitro-aryl substrates using SnCl(2) has been described. The mechanistic course of the reaction suggests the involvement of a hydroxylamine intermediate leading to an intramolecular cyclization via N-N bond formation. The versatility of the methodology has been demonstrated by using two nitro-aryl substrates derived from dihydroisoquinolines and dihydro-beta-carbolines. The intramolecular cyclization led to the formation of indazoles in high yields and purities.     

Construction of tricyclic enone, a common precursor for aphidicolane and stemodane B/C/D-ring system

Synthesis of a tricyclic enone (B/C/D ring system), a common key precursor for the aphidicolane- and stemodane-type diterpene, is described. The key reaction for the construction of the quaternary carbon center is allylation of epoxide at the more substituted carbon with an organotitanium reagent. Asymmetric reduction with DIP-Cl followed by stereoselective cyclization of spirocyclic ketone and the functional group modification gave the desired tricyclic enone in good yield.     

Atomistic simulation studies of magnetite surface structures and adsorption behavior in the presence of molecular and dissociated water and formic acid

Static energy minimization techniques have been used to elucidate the surface structures of magnetite crystals in pure and hydroxylated forms. Adsorption energy values in the presence of molecular water, dissociate water and simple carboxylic group molecule (formic acid) are calculated and we found that the carboxylic group do not adsorb strongly in most of the pure and hydroxylated surfaces in comparison to water. Since the associated calcium minerals are floated from magnetite using fatty acid collector, our calculations corroborate the flotation practice of removing these impurity minerals from magnetite.