Novel zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes of a Mannich base derived from lawsone: Synthesis, single crystal X-ray analysis, ab initio density functional theory calculations and vibrational analysis.

Zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes of a tridentate Mannich base L1 derived from 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, pyridinecarboxyaldehyde and 2-aminomethylpyridine, [ZnL1Cl(2)]·H(2)O 1 and [CuL1Cl(2)]·2H(2)O 2, have been synthesized and fully characterized. The structure of complex 1 has been elucidated by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study: the zinc atom is pentacoordinate and the coordination geometry is a distorted square base pyramid, with a geometric structural parameter τ equal to 0.149. Vibrational spectroscopy and ab initio DFT calculations of both compounds have confirmed that the two complexes exhibit similar structures. Full assignment of the vibrational spectra was also supported by careful analysis of the distorted geometries generated by the normal modes.

Novel platinum(II) complexes of 3-(aminomethyl)naphthoquinone Mannich bases: synthesis, crystal structure and cytotoxic activities.

The first examples of platinum(II) complexes of 3-(aminomethyl)naphthoquinone Mannich bases have been synthesised and their crystal structures are described. Neutral and charged complexes have been obtained, fully characterised and their cytotoxic activities have also been investigated. 3-[(R(1)-amino)(pyridin-2-yl)methyl]-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones (R(1) = n-Bu, HL1; Bn, HL2; furfuryl, HL3; n-heptyl, HL4 and n-decyl, HL5) coordinate to platinum(II) through the two nitrogen atoms. The neutral complexes cis-[Pt(HL)Cl(2)] 1a-5a are analogous to cisplatin with the bidentate ligand HL and two chlorine atoms occupying cis positions. In the charged complexes cis-[Pt(L(-))(NH(3))(2)]NO(3)1b-5b the deprotonated form of the ligand L(-) also coordinates via the nitrogen atoms, and the other two positions around the platinum(II) ion are completed with NH(3) ligands. The cytotoxic activities of all compounds have been tested for six different cancer cell lines: MDA-MB-435 (melanoma), HL-60 (promyelocytic leukaemia), HCT-8 (colon), SF-295 (brain), OVCAR-8 (ovary) and PC-3 (prostate). Proligands HL4 and HL5 have exhibited high activity against HL-60 (IC(50) = 1.9 and 3.8 µmol L(-1), respectively), HCT-8 (IC(50) = 1.6 and 1.7 µmol L(-1), respectively) and SF-295 (IC(50) = 1.1 and 1.7 µmol L(-1), respectively). The chlorido complexes 1a-5a have shown high to moderate cytotoxic activities, complex 4a (R(1) = n-heptyl) being more active than proligand HL4 against melanoma (IC(50) = 6.4 and > 40 µmol L(-1), respectively) and more active than cisplatin against all tested cell lines. Among the amine charged complexes only 4b and 5b have exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines, although they were only moderately active against the PC-3 cell line (IC(50) = 29.9 and 15.6 µmol L(-1), respectively). In general the compounds with the longest carbon chains (R(1) = n-heptyl and n-decyl) have exhibited the highest activities.

An iron-based cytosolic catalase and superoxide dismutase mimic complex.

The development of metallodrugs with antioxidant activities is of importance as a way to protect organisms exposed to stressful conditions. Although iron chemistry in the presence of H(2)O(2) is usually associated with pro-oxidant activity, mainly via the Fenton reaction, we found that the mononuclear compound [Fe(HPClNOL)Cl(2)]NO(3) (1; C(15)H(18)Cl(3)FeN(4)O(4), a = 8.7751(3) A, b = 9.0778(4) A, c = 24.3869(10) A, beta = 93.370(2) degrees , monoclinic, P2(1)/c, Z = 4), containing the tripodal ligand 1-[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]-3-chloropropan-2-ol, decomposes hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion in vitro as well as shows in vivo protection because it prevents the harmful effects promoted by H(2)O(2) on Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, decreasing the level of lipid peroxidation. This protective effect was observed for wild-type cells, as well as for mutant cells, which do not present the antioxidant metalloenzymes catalase (Ctt1) or copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Sod1).

trans-Bis[3-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)triazenido-kappaN3]bis(pyridine-kappaN)palladium(II).

In the title complex, [Pd(C(12)H(8)FN(4)O(2))(2)(C(5)H(5)N)(2)] or trans-[Pd(FC(6)H(4)N=N-NC(6)H(4)NO(2))(C(5)H(5)N)(2)], the Pd atom lies on a centre of inversion in space group P-1. The coordination geometry about the Pd(2+) ion is square planar, with two deprotonated 3-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)triazenide ions, FC(6)H(4)N=N-NC(6)H(4)NO(2)(-), acting as monodentate ligands (two-electron donors), while two neutral pyridine molecules complete the metal coordination sphere. The whole triazenide ligand is not planar, with the largest interplanar angle being 16.8 (5) degrees between the phenyl ring of the 2-fluorophenyl group and the plane defined by the N=N-N moiety. The Pd-N(triazenide) and Pd-N(pyridine) distances are 2.021 (3) and 2.039 (3) A, respectively.