Cadmium cyclam complexes: interconversion of cis and trans configurations and fixation of CO(2).

There is current interest in the antiviral activity of metal, especially zinc, cyclam (1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) complexes. Their biological activity appears to be dependent on recognition of membrane proteins (viral coreceptors) and therefore on their configurations. Here, we use Cd(II) as a probe for Zn(II) on account of its useful NMR properties. We have prepared and characterized Cd(II) complexes of cyclam, Cd(cyclam)(ClO(4))(2) (1), Cd(cyclam)Cl(2) (2), and [Cd(3)(cyclam)(3)(CO(3))](ClO(4))(4).3H(2)O (3), and have identified key markers for various configurations adopted by these complexes under a variety of solution conditions using 1D and 2D (1)H, (13)C, (15)N, and (111)Cd NMR spectroscopy, including Karplus-type analyses of (1)H, (1)H and (1)H, (111)Cd coupling constants. These complexes were stable at high pH (>8.2) but dissociated completely on lowering the pH to 5.3. Two major configurations of both 1 and 2 exist in aqueous solution: trans-I (R,S,R,S at nitrogen) and cis-V (R,R,R,R). (3)J((111)Cd, (1)H) coupling constants showed that the five-membered rings of the trans-I configuration adopt the eclipsed conformation, and the six-membered rings adopt chair conformations. The X-ray crystal structure of 3 shows that the cation adopts the unusual folded cis-I configuration in which all of the N-H bonds are oriented up (or down) in a novel tri-cadmium cluster. This complex contains triply bridged carbonate fixed from atmospheric CO(2). Each Cd(II) is bound by two cis oxygen atoms from CO(3)(2-) (Cd-O bond lengths 2.373 and 2.412 A) and four nitrogen atoms from cyclam (C-N bond lengths 2.270-2.323 A). The geometry can be described as trigonal bipyramidal with the two donor oxygen atoms occupying one of the apices of the in-plane triangle. In acetonitrile solution, complex 3 gives rise to only one configuration, trans-I, with eclipsed five-membered rings, and six-membered rings with chair conformations.

Selective recognition of configurational substates of zinc cyclam by carboxylates: implications for the design and mechanism of action of anti-HIV agents.

The interaction of metal cyclams with carboxylate groups is thought to play an important role in their binding to the CXCR4 chemokine receptor and in their anti-HIV activity. Here we report the synthesis of acetate, phthalate, perchlorate and chloride complexes of Zn(II) cyclam (1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane). The X-ray crystal structures of [Zn(cyclam)(phthalate)](n)(CH(3)OH)(2n) and [Zn(cyclam)(H(2)O)(2)](OAc)(2) contain octahedral Zn(II) centres. Phthalate acts as a bridging ligand in the former complex, binding through monodentate carboxylate groups, and giving rise to infinite chains in the lattice together with extensive hydrogen bonding between carboxylate donor oxygen atoms and amine and methanol acceptor atoms. The uncoordinated acetate groups and the aqua ligand in the acetate complex are also involved in a rich network of hydrogen bonds and this may account for the unusually long Zn[bond]O distance (2.27 A). In both crystalline complexes, the macrocycle adopts the trans-III (S,S,R,R) configuration. 1D (1)H NMR spectra of all four complexes have been fully assigned by a combination of 2D [(1)H, (1)H] COSY and TOCSY, and [(1)H, (13)C] and [(1 )H, (15)N] HSQC NMR data. In aqueous solution, the stable trans-III configuration found in the solid-state equilibrates slowly (hours at 298 K) with trans-I (R,S,R,S) and cis-V (R,R,R,R) configurations. The trans-III configuration is predominant in aqueous solution for both the chloride and perchlorate complexes, but for the acetate and phthalate complexes, the cis-V configuration dominates. Carboxylate groups appear to stabilize the cis-V configuration in solution through Zn(II) coordination and hydrogen bonding. Titration of the chloride Zn(II)-cyclam complex with acetate confirmed that carboxylates strongly induce formation of the cis-V configuration. This implies that carboxylates can exert a strong influence over configurational selectivity. Cyclam NH hydrogen bonding is prevalent both in the solid state and in solution, and is relevant to the anti-HIV activity of Zn(II) and other metal cyclam complexes and to their ability to recognize the CXCR4 transmembrane co-receptor.

Structure and dynamics of metallomacrocycles: recognition of zinc xylyl-bicyclam by an HIV coreceptor.

As platforms for the design of metal-based therapeutic and diagnostic agents, macrocycles are rigid enough to provide strong metal binding sites and orient functional groups stereoselectively, yet flexible enough to accommodate structural changes required for induced-fit recognition of biological targets. We consider the recognition of the Zn(II) complex of the bis-tetraazamacrocycle xylyl-bicyclam, a potent anti-HIV agent, by the coreceptor CXCR4, a G-protein-coupled receptor used by HIV for membrane fusion and cell entry. NMR studies show that the macrocycles of Zn(II)(2)-xylyl-bicyclam perchlorate exist in aqueous solution as two major configurations, trans-I (nitrogen chirality R,S,R,S), and trans-III (S,S,R,R). Acetate addition induced a major structural change. X-ray crystallography shows that the acetate complex contains the unusual cis-V cyclam configuration (R,R,R,R and folded) with bidentate coordination of acetate to Zn(II) plus second-coordination-sphere double H-bond formation between diagonal NH protons on the opposite cyclam face and acetate carboxylate oxygens. Detailed 1D and 2D NMR studies show that the major configuration of Zn(II)(2)-xylyl-bicyclam acetate in aqueous solution is cis-V/trans-I. Molecular modeling shows that an analogous cis-V site can be formed when Zn(II)(2)-xylyl-bicyclam binds to CXCR4, involving the carboxylate groups of Asp262 (Zn(II) coordination) and Glu288 (double H-bonding). The second cyclam can adopt the trans-I (or trans-III) configuration with Zn(II) binding to Asp171. These interactions are consistent with the known structure-activity relationships for bicyclam anti-HIV activity and receptor mutation. Consideration of the anti-HIV activity of xylyl-bicyclam complexes of other metal ions suggests that affinity for carboxylates, configurational flexibility, and kinetic factors may all play roles in receptor recognition. For example, Pd(II) cyclam complexes interact only weakly with axial ligands and are inflexible and inactive, whereas Co(III) cyclams bind carboxylates strongly, are configurationally flexible, and yet have low activity. Our findings should aid the design of new generations of active macrocycles including highly specific chemokine receptor antagonists.