From the Design of Innovative Ti-Pt Heterometallic Complexes to the Development of Highly Anti-Proliferative Water-Soluble Cationic Titanocenes.

Two innovative early/late Ti-Pt-heterobimetallic complexes were synthesized, characterized, and screened in cell-based assays using several human (SW480 and MDA-MB-231) and murine cancer cell lines (CT26 and EMT6) as well as a non-cancerous cell line (HMEC). The combination of the two metals - titanium(IV) and platinum (IV) - in a single molecule led to a synergistic biological activity (higher anti-proliferative properties than a mixture of each of the corresponding monometallic complexes). This study also investigated the benefits of associating a metal-free terpyridine moiety (with intrinsic biological activity) with a water-soluble titanocene fragment. The present work reveals that these combinations results in water-soluble titanocene compounds displaying an anti-proliferative activity down to the submicromolar level. One of these complexes induced an antitumor effect in vivo in CT26 tumor bearing BALB/C mice. The terpyridine moiety was also used to track the complex in vitro by multiphoton microscopy imaging.

Poly(vinyl chloride) Dechlorination Catalyzed by Zirconium.

Poly(vinyl chloride) undergoes dechlorination in the presence of triethylsilane (Et3SiH) and a catalytic amount of [Cp2Zr(NPh2)][CH3B(C6F5)3] (1 b) at 40-80 °C, with up to 91 % efficiency. Stoichiometric reactivity studies conducted on cyclohexyl chloride as a model suggest that 1 b dechlorinates PVC by initial chloride abstraction, followed by hydride transfer to the cationic PVC chain from Et3SiH. Consumer items such as pipe fitting, vinyl disc or electric cable insulation undergo either dechlorination or hydrosilylation of the carbonyl-containing copolymer (polyvinyl acetate) or plasticizer (phthalate).

Al(III) and Ga(III) Bisphenolate Azadipyrromethene-Based "N2O2" Complexes as Efficient NIR-Fluorophores.

Aza-boron-dipyrromethenes (Aza-BODIPYs) are an increasingly studied class of fluorophores. They can be seen as an azadipyrromethene ("aza-DIPY") ligand rigidified by a metalloid, a boron atom. Based on this idea, a series of complexes of group 13 metals (aluminum and gallium) have been synthesized and characterized. The impact of the metal and of the nature of the substituents of aza-DIPY core were investigated. The photophysical and electrochemical properties were determined, and an X-ray structure of an azaGaDIPY was obtained. These data reveal that azaGaDIPY and azaAlDIPY exhibit significant red-shifted fluorescence compared to their analogue aza-BODIPY. Their emission can go up to 800 nm for the maximum emission length and up to NIR-II for the emission tail. This, associated with their electrochemical stability (no metal release whether oxidized or reduced) makes them a promising class of fluorophores for optical medical imaging. Moreover, X-ray structure and molecular modeling studies have shown that this redshift seems to be more due to the geometry around the boron/metal than to the nature of the metal.

Template Synthesis of NPN' Pincer-type Ligands at Titanium Using an Ambiphilic Phosphide Scaffold.

Ti-imido complex [TiCl(NtBu)(BIPP)] [1; BIPP = bis(iminophosphoranyl)phosphide ligand] reacts with terminal alkynes R-C≡CH (R = phenyl, isopropenyl, cyclopropyl, and 2-pyridyl) via P-P bond cleavage of the BIPP ligand. The resulting complexes [TiCl(NPN')(NPhPPh2)] (2a-d) contain a pincer-type NPN' phosphide ligand that incorporates the terminal alkyne and the imido ligand from complex 1. Complexes 2a-d feature two chiral centers (Ti and P) with interdependent absolute configurations; thus, they are formed stereoselectively. Complex 2a (R = phenyl) undergoes chloride abstraction with [Et3SiHSiEt3][B(C6F5)4], yielding [Ti(NPN')(NPhPPh2)][B(C6F5)4] (3). Complex 3 is a moderately active and stereoselective initiator for the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide. Complex 3 activates the C═O bond of 4-iodobenzaldehyde to give complex 4 as a single diastereomer despite the presence of three chiral centers. Complex 3 undergoes transmetallation with SbCl3, yielding [Sb(NPN')][B(C6F5)4] (5) and [TiCl3(NPhPPh2)] (6) selectively. The bonding situation in 3 and 5 was analyzed using Bader's atoms in molecules and the electron localization function, showing that the nitrogen atoms of the NPN' ligand are electronically similar, and that the metal-phosphide interaction is more polar in the case of titanium.

Coordinatively Unsaturated Amidotitanocene Cations with Inverted σ and π Bond Strengths: Controlled Release of Aminyl Radicals and Hydrogenation/Dehydrogenation Catalysis.

Cationic amidotitanocene complexes [Cp2 Ti(NPhAr)][B(C6 F5 )4 ] (Cp=η5 -C5 H5 ; Ar=phenyl (1 a), p-tolyl (1 b), p-anisyl (1 c)) were isolated. The bonding situation was studied by DFT (Density Functional Theory) using EDA-NOCV (Energy Decomposition Analysis with Natural Orbitals for Chemical Valence). The polar Ti-N bond in 1 a-c features an unusual inversion of σ and π bond strengths responsible for the balance between stability and reactivity in these coordinatively unsaturated species. In solution, 1 a-c undergo photolytic Ti-N cleavage to release Ti(III) species and aminyl radicals ⋅NPhAr. Reaction of 1 b with H3 BNHMe2 results in fast homolytic Ti-N cleavage to give [Cp2 Ti(H3 BNHMe2 )][B(C6 F5 )4 ] (3). 1 a-c are highly active precatalysts in olefin hydrogenation and silanes/amines cross-dehydrogenative coupling, whilst 3 efficiently catalyzes amine-borane dehydrogenation. The mechanism of olefin hydrogenation was studied by DFT and the cooperative H2 activation key step was disclosed using the Activation Strain Model (ASM).

The Taming of Redox-Labile Phosphidotitanocene Cations.

Tame d0 phosphidotitanocene cations stabilized with a pendant tertiary phosphane arm are reported. These compounds were obtained by one-electron oxidation of d1 precursors with [Cp2 Fe][BPh4 ]. The electronic structure of these compounds was studied experimentally (EPR, UV/Vis, and NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis) and through DFT calculations. The theoretical analysis of the bonding situation by using the electron localization function (ELF) shows the presence of π-interactions between the phosphido ligand and Ti in the d0 complexes, whereas dπ-pπ repulsion prevents such interactions in the d1 complexes. In addition, CH-π interactions were observed in several complexes, both in solution and in the solid state, between the phosphido ligand and the phosphane arm. The d0 complexes were found to be light sensitive, and decompose through Ti-P bond homolysis to give TiIII species. A naked d0 phosphidotitanocene cation has been trapped by reaction with diphenylacetylene, yielding a Ti/P frustrated Lewis pair (FLP), which was found to be less reactive than a previously reported Zr analog.

Insertion Reactions of Neutral Phosphidozirconocene Complexes as a Convenient Entry into Frustrated Lewis Pair Territory.

Neutral phosphidozirconocene complexes [Cp2Zr(PR2)Me] (Cp=cyclopentadienyl; 1a: R=cyclohexyl (Cy); 1b: R=mesityl (Mes); 1c: R=tBu) undergo insertion into the Zr-P bond by non-enolisable carbonyl building blocks (O=CR'R''), such as benzophenone, aldehydes, paraformaldehyde or CO2, to give [Cp2Zr(OCR'R''PR2)Me] (3-7). Depending on the steric bulk around P, complexes 3-7 react with B(C6F5)3 to give O-bridged cationic zirconocene dimers that display typical frustrated Lewis pair (FLP)/ambiphilic ligand behaviour. Thus, the reaction of {[Cp2Zr(µ-OCHPhPCy2)][MeB(C6F5)3]}2 (10a) with chalcone results in 1,4 addition of the Zr(+)/P FLP, whereas the reaction of {[Cp2Zr(µ-OCHFcPCy2)][MeB(C6F5)3]}2 (11a; Fc=(C5H4)CpFe) with [Pd(η(3)C3H5)Cl]2 yields the unique Zr-Fe-Pd trimetallic complex 13a, which has been characterised by XRD analysis.

New Luminescent Polynuclear Metal Complexes with Anticancer Properties: Toward Structure-Activity Relationships.

A series of new heterodinuclear luminescent complexes with two different organic ligands have been synthesized and characterized. A luminescent Ru(II)(polypyridine) moiety and a metal-based anticancer fragment (AuCl, (p-cymene)RuCl2, (p-cymene)OsCl2, (Cp*)RhCl2, or Au-thioglucose) are the two general features of these complexes. All of the bimetallic compounds have been evaluated for their antiproliferative properties in vitro in human cancer cell lines. Only the complexes containing an Au(I) fragment exhibit antiproliferative activity in the range of cisplatin or higher. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of the bimetallic species have been investigated, and fluorescence microscopy experiments have been performed successfully. The most promising bimetallic cytotoxic complexes (i.e., with the Au-thioglucose scaffold) have shown to be easily taken up by cancer cells at 37 °C in the cytoplasm or in specific organelles. Interestingly, experiments repeated at 4 °C showed no uptake of the bimetallic species inside cells, which confirms involvement of active transport processes. To evaluate the role of glucose transporters in the cell uptake of the gold complexes, inhibition of the GluT-1 (glucose transporter isoform with high level of expression in cancer cells) was achieved, showing only scarce influence on the compounds' uptake. Finally, the observed absence of interactions with nucleic acid model structures suggests that the gold compounds may have different intracellular targets with respect to cisplatin.

Phosphido- and Amidozirconocene Cation-Based Frustrated Lewis Pair Chemistry.

Methyl abstraction from neutral [Cp2ZrMe(ERR')] complexes 1 (E = N, P; R, R' = alkyl, aryl) with either B(C6F5)3 or [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] results in the formation of [Cp2Zr(ERR')][X] complexes 2 (X(-) = MeB(C6F5)3(-), B(C6F5)4(-)). The X-ray structure of amido complexes [Cp2Zr(NPh2)][MeB(C6F5)3] (2d) and [Cp2Zr(N(t)BuAr)][B(C6F5)4] (2e', Ar = 3,5-C6H3(CH3)2) is reported, showing a sterically dependent Zr/N-π interaction. Complexes 2 catalyze the hydrogenation of electron-rich olefins and alkynes under mild conditions (room temperature, 1.5 bar H2). Complex 2e binds CO2, giving [Cp2Zr(CO2)(N(t)BuAr)]2[MeB(C6F5)3]2 (3e). Amido complex 2d reacts with benzaldehyde yielding [Cp2Zr(OCH2Ph)((OC)PhNPh2)][MeB(C6F5)3] (7d). Phosphido complex [Cp2Zr(PCy2)][MeB(C6F5)3] (2a) reacts with diphenylacetylene to yield frustrated Lewis pair [Cp2Zr(PhCCPh)(PCy2)][MeB(C6F5)3] (8a) which further reacts with a range of carbonyl substrates.

Gold(I) NHC-based homo- and heterobimetallic complexes: synthesis, characterization and evaluation as potential anticancer agents.

While N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) are ubiquitous ligands in catalysis for organic or industrial syntheses, their potential to form transition metal complexes for medicinal applications has still to be exploited. Within this frame, we synthesized new homo- and heterobimetallic complexes based on the Au(I)-NHC scaffold. The compounds were synthesized via a microwave-assisted method developed in our laboratories using Au(I)-NHC complexes carrying a pentafluorophenol ester moiety and another Au(I) phosphane complex or a bipyridine ligand bearing a pendant amine function. Thus, we developed two different methods to prepare homo- and heterobimetallic complexes (Au(I)/Au(I) or Au(I)/Cu(II), Au(I)/Ru(II), respectively). All the compounds were fully characterized by several spectroscopic techniques including far infrared, and were tested for their antiproliferative effects in a series of human cancer cells. They showed moderate anticancer properties. Their toxic effects were also studied ex vivo using the precision-cut tissue slices (PCTS) technique and initial results concerning their reactivity with the seleno-enzyme thioredoxin reductase were obtained.

Gold-phosphine-porphyrin as potential metal-based theranostics.

Two new gold-phosphine-porphyrin derivatives were synthesized and fully characterized, and their photophysical properties investigated along a water-soluble analog. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was tested on cancer cells (HCT116 and SW480), and their cell uptake was followed by fluorescence microscopy in vitro (on SW480). The proof that the water-soluble gold-phosphine-porphyrin is a biologically active compound that can be tracked in vitro was clearly established, especially concerning the water-soluble analog. Some preliminary photodynamic therapy (PDT) experiments were also performed. They highlight a dramatic increase of the cytotoxicity when the cells were illuminated for 30 min with white light.

Caffeine-based gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbenes as possible anticancer agents: synthesis and biological properties.

A new series of gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes based on xanthine ligands have been synthesized and characterized by mass spectrometry, NMR, and X-ray diffraction. The compounds have been tested for their antiproliferative properties in human cancer cells and nontumorigenic cells in vitro, as well as for their toxicity in healthy tissues ex vivo. The bis-carbene complex [Au(caffein-2-ylidene)2][BF4] (complex 4) appeared to be selective for human ovarian cancer cell lines and poorly toxic in healthy organs. To gain preliminary insights into their actual mechanism of action, two biologically relevant in cellulo targets were studied, namely, DNA (more precisely a higher-order DNA structure termed G-quadruplex DNA that plays key roles in oncogenetic regulation) and a pivotal enzyme of the DNA damage response (DDR) machinery (poly-(adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1), strongly involved in the cancer resistance mechanism). Our results indicate that complex 4 acts as an efficient and selective G-quadruplex ligand while being a modest PARP-1 inhibitor (i.e., poor DDR impairing agent) and thus provide preliminary insights into the molecular mechanism that underlies its antiproliferative behavior.

Al and Zn phenoxy-amidine complexes for lactide ROP catalysis.

We report the synthesis of a new generation of phenoxy-amidine ligands based on an aryloxy moiety possessing an ortho-N-linked trisubstituted amidine. The reaction of the phenol-amidine proligands with aluminum and zinc alkyls gave mono- or bis-ligated complexes depending on the metal/ligand ratio used. The solid-state structure of four proligands and thirteen Zn and Al complexes has been determined by X-Ray diffraction analysis. The mono-ligated complexes present an aryloxy-bridged dimeric structure, which is retained in solution in the case of Zn complexes but not with aluminum according to DOSY NMR experiments. Bis(ligated) Al and Zn complexes exhibit fluxional behaviour in solution attributed to coordination-decoordination of the amidine moiety and the rotation around the amidine C-NR'2 and C-Ar bonds. These complexes were tested for the ROP of rac-lactide in solution and under bulk conditions. In both cases, the most performant catalysts are Zn complexes featuring a phenoxy-amidine ligand with a pendant additional dimethylamino arm.

Assessing the differential affinity of small molecules for noncanonical DNA structures.

The targeting of higher-order DNA structures has been thoroughly developed with G-quadruplex DNA but not with other structures like branched DNA (also known as DNA junctions). Because these alternative higher-order DNA architectures might be of high biological relevance, we implemented a high-throughput version of the FRET melting assay that enabled us to map the interactions of a candidate with four different DNA structures (duplex- and quadruplex DNA, three- and four-way junctions) in a rapid and reliable manner. We also introduce a novel index, the BONDS (branched and other noncanonical DNA selectivity) index, to conveniently quantify this differential affinity.

Multinuclear cytotoxic metallodrugs: physicochemical characterization and biological properties of novel heteronuclear gold-titanium complexes.

An unprecedented series of titanocene-gold bi- and trimetallic complexes of the general formula [[(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(µ-η(5):κ(1)-C(5)H(4)(CH(2))(n)PPh(2))TiCl(2)](m)AuCl(x)](q+) (n = 0, 2, or 4; m = 1, x = 1, q = 0 or m = 2, x = 0, q = 1) have been prepared and characterized spectroscopically. The luminescence spectroscopy and photophysics of one of the compounds, [[(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(µ-η(5):κ(1)-C(5)H(4)PPh(2))TiCl(2)](2)Au]PF(6), have been investigated in 2MeTHF solution and in the solid state at 77 and 298 K. Evidence for interfragment interactions based on the comparison of electronic band positions and emission lifetimes, namely, triplet energy transfer (ET) from the Au- to the Ti-containing chromophores, is provided. The cytotoxicity of the complexes was evaluated on A2780 ovarian cancer cells and on their cisplatin-resistant cell line A2780cisR; the compounds showed activity in the low micromolar range that was markedly more active than the corresponding titanocene-phosphine precursors [(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(η(5)-C(5)H(4)(CH(2))(n)PPh(2))TiCl(2)], cisplatin, and, for some of them, the gold analogue [(PPh(3))AuCl]. In an attempt to draw preliminary structure-activity relationships, cell uptake measurements and interaction studies with plasmid DNA and the model protein ubiquitin (Ub) have been undertaken on some of the compounds.

Reappraising Schmidpeter's bis(iminophosphoranyl)phosphides: coordination to transition metals and bonding analysis.

The synthesis and characterization of a range of bis(iminophosphoranyl)phosphide (BIPP) group 4 and coinage metals complexes is reported. BIPP ligands bind group 4 metals in a pseudo fac-fashion, and the central phosphorus atom enables the formation of d0-d10 heterobimetallic complexes. Various DFT computational tools (including AIM, ELF and NCI) show that the phosphorus-metal interaction is either electrostatic (Ti) or dative (Au, Cu). A bridged homobimetallic Cu-Cu complex was also prepared and its spectroscopic properties were investigated. The theoretical analysis of the P-P bond in BIPP complexes reveals that (i) BIPP are closely related to ambiphilic triphosphenium (TP) cations; (ii) the P-P bonds are normal covalent (i.e. not dative) in both BIPP and TP.

Phosphasalen group IV metal complexes: synthesis, characterization and ring opening polymerization of lactide.

We report the synthesis of a series of Zr and Ti complexes bearing phosphasalen which differs from salen by the incorporation of two P atoms in the ligand backbone. The reaction of phosphasalen proligands (1a-1c)H2 with Zr(CH2Ph)4 led to different products depending on the nature of the N,N-linker in the ligand. In the case of ethylene-linked phosphasalen, octahedral Zr complex 2a formed as a single stereoisomer in trans geometry. With the phenylene linker, it was shown by dynamic NMR spectroscopy that complex 2b exists as a mixture of trans and cis-ß isomers in solution, both enantiomers (Δ and Λ) of the cis-ß isomer being in fast equilibrium with respect to the NMR time-scale. The use of a propylene-linked phosphasalen proligand 1cH2 led to a mixture of complexes among which a binuclear Zr complex 2c bridged only by one phosphasalen ligand could be isolated and characterized. Addition of 2 equiv. of iPrOH to 2a and 2b afforded diisoproxy Zr complexes 3a and 3b as a mixture of trans and cis-ß isomers, the latter undergoing fast Δ/Λ isomerization in solution. Addition of B(C6F5)3 to 2a and 2b gave cationic monobenzyl Zr complexes 4a and 4b which have been further converted into cationic alkoxy Zr complexes 5a-b and 6a-b by alcoholysis with iPrOH and (S)-methyl-lactate, respectively. The reaction of the phosphasalen proligands with Ti(NMe2)4 proceeded diastereoselectively giving rise to Ti complexes 7a-c in octahedral geometry with cis-ß wrapping of the ligand. The complexes have been tested for the ROP of rac-lactide. The neutral phosphasalen Ti and Zr complexes showed only poor activity probably due to the encumbered and electron donating nature of the phosphasalen ligand. In contrast, the cationic Zr alkoxides 5a, 6a and 6b are effective initiators for the controlled and hetero-selective ROP of rac-lactide.

Symmetric heteropolynuclear Ti(IV)/Cu(I) complexes exhibiting stepwise electrochemical reductions to Ti(III) species.

The heterotrinuclear complexes, [(CpTiCl(2)Cp-PPh(2))(2)Cu](+) (2) (as PF(6)(-) salt) and [CpTiCl(2)Cp-PPh(2)](2)CuCl (3), containing two electron-poor Ti(IV) fragments and one electron-rich Cu(I) center, and a tetrametallic species, [(CpTiCl(2)Cp-PPh(2))Cu(mu-Cl)](2) (4), were synthesized and characterized. The trinuclear nature of 2 and 3 was demonstrated by X-ray crystallography for which the three metallic centers are held together by two CpPPh(2) ligands. Weak Cl...Cu interactions are noted in 3, whereas two stronger Cl-Cu bridges are depicted in the cationic complex 2. The tetranuclear complex 4 contains two Cu atoms bridged together by two chloride ligands and connected to one Ti atom by one CpPPh(2) ligand and one mu-Cl ligand. Despite the short distances in the Ti-Cl-Cu bridges, notably in 2 and 4, the NMR spectra reveals evidence of fluxion in solution attributed to the lability of the mu-Cl ligands. Electrochemical experiments performed on 2 (rotating disk electrode and cyclic voltammograms) demonstrated the presences of two successive 1-electron reductions generating a first structurally unsymmetrical paramagnetic species [(CpTiCl(2)Cp-PPh(2))(2)Cu](0) (2'), confidently characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) as a Ti(III)-Cu(I)-Ti(IV) system, and a second one, which is tentatively assigned to a symmetric neutral complex formulated as [CpTiClCp-PPh(2)](2)CuCl (5) with an EPR signature indistinguishable from that of 2' (i.e., Ti(III)-Cu(I)-Ti(III) system with a similar electronic environment). Density functional theory (DFT) computations examining the nature of the frontier orbitals and the geometry confirmed the presence and lack of symmetry in 2 and 2', respectively. The detection of chemical/electrochemical mechanisms in the electrochemical studies provides a clear explanation for the stepwise reduction behavior in these systems through chloride ligand transfer from Ti to Cu prior to the first reduction step. This transfer process is fully reversible upon re-oxidation. The electrochemical properties of complexes 3 and 4 are also reported.

Gold(I)-Coumarin-Caffeine-Based Complexes as New Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Trackable Agents.

Three new gold(I)-coumarin-based trackable therapeutic complexes and two non-trackable analogues have been synthesised and fully characterised. They all display anti-proliferative properties on several types of cancer cell lines, including those of colon, breast, and prostate. Two complexes displayed significant anti-inflammatory effects; one displayed pro-inflammatory behaviour; this highlights the impact of the position of the fluorophore on the caffeine scaffold. Additionally, the three coumarin derivatives could be visualised in vitro by two-photon microscopy.

From inconsistent results to high speed hydrosilylation.

After noting that the presence of dihydrogen, generated in situ from the partial hydrolysis of a silane with residual water, significantly enhances the rate of the rhodium-catalysed hydrosilylation of acetophenone, we developed a high speed hydrosilylation reaction under dihydrogen pressure.