Inclusion of molybdenocene dichloride (Cp2MoCl2) in 2-hydroxypropyl- and trimethyl-β-cyclodextrin: Structural and biological properties

Organometallic-cyclodextrin inclusion compounds were obtained by the treatment of molybdenocene dichloride (Cp₂MoCl₂) with the modified cyclodextrins (CDs) heptakis-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-CD (TRIMEB) and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD (HPβCD) in aqueous solution. The products were isolated by liophilisation and characterised in the solid-state by powder XRD, thermogravimetric analysis, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, and ¹³C CP MAS NMR spectroscopy. The results are consistent with inclusion of Cp₂MoCl₂, rather than hydrolysis products such as [Cp₂Mo(H₂O)X]⁺ (X = Cl, OH) or [Cp₂Mo(H₂O)₂]²⁺. The pure non-included metallocene Cp₂MoCl₂ and its inclusion compounds with unmodified β-CD, TRIMEB and HPβCD were screened for their potential antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity, in both human cancer and healthy cell lines. Inclusion in CD was found to enhance the cytotoxic effect of Cp₂MoCl₂, with the TRIMEB adduct displaying the highest anti-tumour activity, along with the lowest toxicity towards non-neoplastic cells.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of new mixed-ring indenyl derivatives of molybdenum containing phosphorus ligands

Reaction of NaBH₄ with [IndCpMo(dppe)](BF₄)₂ (1) in acetone yields [IndMo(η⁴-C₅H₆)(dppe)]BF₄ (2) quantitatively. The hydride addition takes place at the external face of the Cp ring. Dissolution of 2 in dichloromethane gives [IndMo(η⁴-C₅H₅-exo-CH₂Cl)(dppe)]BF₄, as confirmed by elemental analysis, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The similar dication [IndCpMo{P(OMe)₃}₂](BF₄)₂ (4) reacts with NaBH₄, in a solvent dependent manner. In acetonitrile, [IndMo(η⁴-C₅H₆){P(OMe)₃}₂]BF₄ (5) is obtained and in acetone a P(OMe)₃ ligand is lost resulting in the asymmetric phosphite-hydride, [IndCpMoH{P(OMe)₃}]⁺ (6). The molecular structures of [IndMo(η⁴-C₅H₆){P(OMe)₃}₂]PF₆ and [IndCpMoH{P(OMe)₃}]PF₆ were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxic studies of water soluble [(η-C(5)H(5))(2)Mo(thionucleobase/thionucleoside)]Cl complexes in breast and colon cancer cell lines

Four new water soluble molybdenocene complexes were synthesized in aqueous solution at pH 7.0. The new species, [(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Mo(L)]Cl (L = 6-mercaptopurine, 2-amino-6-mercaptopurine, (−)-2-amino-6-mercaptopurine ribose and 6-mercaptopurine ribose), were characterized by spectroscopic methods. NMR spectroscopic data showed the presence of two coordination isomers, S(6), N(7) and S(6), N(1), in aqueous solution, being S(6), N(7) the most stable. The antiproliferative activities of the new species were investigated in HT-29 colon and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. The incorporation of molybdenocene (Cp₂Mo²⁺) into the thionucleobases/thionucleosides decreases their cytotoxic activities in HT-29 colon cancer cell line. In contrast, in the MCF-7 cell line, [Cp₂Mo(2-amino-6-mercaptopurine)]Cl showed a high cytotoxic activity. This is most likely a consequence of the enhanced lipophilic character on the thionucleobase combined with synergism between Cp₂Mo²⁺ and the thionucleobase ligand.     

Synthesis of molybdenocene(IV) and tungstenocene(IV) tropolonato complexes: Its derivative containing calix[4]arene moiety

The cationic di-μ-hydroxo dinuclear complexes of molybdenocene and tungstenocene [Cp₂M(μ-OH)₂MCp₂]⁺ (Cp = η-C₅H₅; M = Mo or W) react with tropolone to afford corresponding tropolonato complexes [Cp₂M(trop)]⁺ (trop = C₇H₅O₂). The products were investigated by IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy as well as by X-ray crystallography (M = W). The structure shows that the central metal is surrounded by a distorted tetrahedral array of the two centers of cyclopentadienyl ligands and the two oxygen atoms of tropolonato ligand. The reaction has been extended to the synthesis of calix[4]arene receptor functionalized at the 1,3-positions of the upper rim with two tropolonato-molybdenocene centers.     

Study of titanocene–DNA and molybdenocene–DNA interactions by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy

Titanocene and molybdenocene dichlorides belong to a new class of organometallic antitumor agent. Although these complexes are isostructural, they behave differently under physiological conditions and hence have different mechanisms of action. It was initially proposed that these species interact with DNA, inhibiting the cell cycle. Recent studies using nucleotides and oligonucleotides suggest that molybdenocene does not bind DNA constituents at physiological pH whereas titanocene apparently interacts weakly with nucleotides through the phosphoesters. The evidence for this was, however, obtained under non-physiological conditions. Herein we report an analytical method that enables determination of the amount of metal bound to DNA under physiological conditions (pH 7.4 and buffer solution) and with sample preparation (dialysis) that resembles the cell environment. It was found that more than 90% titanium was bound to DNA after 46 h whereas binding of molybdenum was no more than 5%.     

Synthesis and reactivity of mixed-ring indenyl complexes of molybdenocene

The complex [IndCpMo(NCMe)₂][BF₄]₂ provides a suitable entry to the synthesis of IndCpMoBr₂ and IndCpMoMe₂. The latter, also available from IndCpMoX₂ (X = Cl, Br) and MeMgCl, reacts with HCl to give IndCpMoCl(Me) which, in turn reacts with NaSPh to yield IndCpMo(SPh)(Me). Cyclic voltammetry shows that these three alkyl complexes undergo a 1e reversible oxidation to 17 e Mo^V cations. IndCpMoCl(Me) is oxidized by [Cp₂Fe]BF₄ to afford [IndCpMoCl(Me)]BF₄ in 95% yield. Reaction of [IndCpMo(NCMe)₂][BF₄]₂ with KBPz₄ in CH₂Cl₂/NMF leads to [IndCpMo(κ²-BPz₄)]BF₄. Taken together with previous reports these results show that the indenyl ring slows down substitutional chemistry at the fragment (Cp′ = Cp, Ind) by steric reasons, overshadowing any acceleration due to a possible indenyl effect.     

Preparation and Reactivity of Mo(NCMe)(η2‐C2Ph2)2(η4‐C4Ph4)

Reaction of Mo(CO)(η²‐C₂Ph₂)₂(η⁴‐C₄Ph₄) and Me₃NO in acetonitrile solvent affords Mo(NCMe)(η²‐C₂Ph₂)₂(η⁴‐C₄Ph₄) 1 . Compound 1 reacts with trimethylphosphine to produce Mo(PMe₃)(η²‐C₂Ph₂)₂(η⁴‐C₄Ph₄) 2 , or reacts with diphenylacetylene to produce (η⁵‐C₅Ph₅)₂Mo 3 and Mo(η²‐O₂CPh)(η⁴‐C₄Ph₄H)(η⁴‐C₄Ph₄) 4 . The molecular structures of 1, 2 and 4 have been determined by an X‐ray diffraction study.