Equilibria in the aqueous system of cobalt(II) based on 2-picolinehydroxamic acid and N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)phenylalanine and its ability to inhibit the propagation of cancer cells.

Mixed-ligand complexes of cobalt(II) with two bioligands, viz. 2-picolinehydroxamic acid and the reduced Schiff base N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)phenylalanine, were studied in aqueous solution by potentiometry and UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis. The coordination mode of the complexes and their stability were determined and compared to their parent species. Stacking interactions between the rings present in the ligands influence the stability of the complexes. Also, UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed that the stacking interactions affected the intercalation of DNA and mixed-ligand complexes. The in vitro anticancer activity of the free ligand 2-picolinehydroxamic acid and the complexes was tested against cervical and gastric human adenocarcinoma epithelial cell lines. At concentrations of 0.06 and 0.11 mM, the mixed-ligand structures showed the ability to reduce gastric cancer cells with no inhibitory effect on mouse fibroblasts. The cytotoxic effect was accompanied by damage to the cell nuclei, which may confirm that the complexes demonstrate effective binding to DNA. No determination of minimal inhibitory and bactericidal/fungicidal concentrations against the test organisms was possible at higher complex concentrations due to precipitation.

Equilibria of complexes in the aqueous cobalt(II)-N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)phenylalanine system and their biological activity compared to analogous Schiff base structures.

Due to their excellent prospects in biological applications, Schiff bases and their complexes are a source of continuing interest. The present study examines the formation of four cobalt(II) complexes with the reduced Schiff base N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)phenylalanine (PhAlaSal) in alkaline aqueous solution by pH-metry. UV-Vis and ESI-MS studies confirmed the model of proposed species. Kinetic analysis indicated that the single- and bi-ligand cobalt(II) complexes transitioned from octahedral to tetrahedral structures. The Schiff base and its complexes detected under physiological pH were tested for antimicrobial abilities and compared with analogous structures of the Schiff base derivative, N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)alanine (AlaSal). The ability of these structures to influence cell growth was tested on L929 mouse fibroblasts and on cervix and gastric adenocarcinoma cancer cell lines. N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)phenylalanine demonstrates greater antimicrobial efficacy than N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)alanine but also higher cytotoxicity; however, it is nonetheless effective against cancer cells. In turn, AlaSal demonstrates low cytotoxicity for fibroblasts and high cytotoxicity for gastric adenocarcinoma epithelial cells at bacteriostatic concentration for Helicobacter pylori and Candida strains. The presence of these microorganisms in the gastric milieu supports the development of gastritis and gastric cancer; AlaSal therapy may be simultaneously effective against both. Due to their cytotoxicity, Schiff base complexes are not suitable for use against fungal and bacterial infections, but may effectively prevent cancer cell growth. Data availability: Data will be made available on request.

Complex-Forming Properties of the Anti-Inflammatory Sialorphin Derivative Palmitic Acid-Lysine-Lysine-Glutamine-Histidine-Asparagine-Proline-Arginine with Cu(II) Ions in an Aqueous Solution.

The present work describes the complexation of the anti-inflammatory sialorphin derivative Pal-Lys-Lys-Gln-His-Asn-Pro-Arg (palmitic acid-lysine-lysine-glutamine-histidine-asparagine-proline-arginine) with Cu(II) ions in an aqueous solution, at a temperature of 25.0 ± 0.1 °C, over the whole pH range. The complexing properties were characterized by potentiometric and UV-Vis spectrophotometric methods. The potentiometric method was used to calculate the logarithms of the overall stability constants (log ß) and the values of the stepwise dissociation constants (pKa) of the studied complexes. The percentage of each species formed in an aqueous solution was estimated from the species distribution curve as a function of pH. The absorbance (A) and molar absorption coefficient (ε) values for the Cu(II)-sialorphin derivative system were determined with UV-Vis spectroscopy. Our studies indicate that the sialorphin derivative forms stable complexes with Cu(II) ions, which may lead to future biological and therapeutic applications.

Complex-Forming Properties of Ceftazidime with Fe(III) Ions in an Aqueous Solution.

In the present study, the complexing properties of ceftazidime with Fe(III) ions in aqueous solutions were characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometric and potentiometric methods. Using the UV-vis spectrophotometric method, the absorbance values for Fe(III) ions, a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic (ceftazidime), and the Fe(III)-ceftazidime system were determined. Based on pH-metric studies, the value of the stability constant for the Fe(III)-ceftazidime complex was calculated.

Oxygen Binding by Co(II) Complexes with Oxime-Containing Schiff Bases in Solution.

The present work describes the complexation properties of two oxime-containing Schiff bases (used as ligands), viz. 2-hydroxyimino-N'-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]propanohydrazone (Hpop) and 2-hydroxyimino-N'-[(pyridine-2-yl)methylidene]propanohydrazone (Hpoa), with Co(II) ions in DMSO/water solution. Volumetric (oxygenation) studies were carried out to determine the uptake of molecular oxygen O2 in the formation of the complexes Co(II)-Hpop and Co(II)-Hpoa. The acquired data can be useful in the development of oxygen bioinorganic complexes of metal ions with Schiff base ligands in solution. Their properties allow them to be used as synthetic oxygen transporters. Moreover, the binding of dioxygen could play an important role in the research of catalytic activity by such systems.

Chemical Characterization and Biological Evaluation of New Cobalt(II) Complexes with Bioactive Ligands, 2-Picolinehydroxamic Acid and Reduced Schiff Base N-(2-Hydroxybenzyl)alanine, in Terms of DNA Binding and Antimicrobial Activity.

Five new heteroligand cobalt(II) complexes with 2-picolinehydroxamic acid and reduced Schiff base, N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)alanine, were formed in an aqueous solution over a wide pH range. The coordination properties of ligands towards the metal ion were determined using a pH-metric method, and then the speciation model was confirmed by UV-Vis studies. A stacking interaction between the Schiff base phenol ring and the 2-picolinehydroxamic acid pyridine ring was found to improve the stability of the heteroligand species, indicating more effective coordination in mixed-ligand complexes than in their respective binary systems. The antimicrobial properties of heteroligand complexes were determined against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, as well as fungal strains. The formulation demonstrated the highest bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity (3.65 mM) against two strains of Gram-negative Helicobacter pylori bacteria and towards Candida albicans and Candida glabrata; this is important due to the potential co-existence of these microorganisms in the gastric milieu and their role in the development of gastritis. The binary complexes in the cobalt(II)-2-picolinehydroxamic acid system and 2-picolinehydroxamic acid were not cytotoxic against L929 mouse fibroblasts, neither freshly prepared solutions or after two weeks' storage. By comparison, the heteroligand complexes within the range 0.91-3.65 mM diminished the metabolic activity of L929 cells, which was correlated with increased damage to cell nuclei. The concentration of the heteroligand species increased over time; therefore, the complexes stored for two weeks exhibited stronger anticellular toxicity than the freshly prepared samples. The complexes formed in an aqueous solution under physiological pH effectively bound to calf thymus DNA in an intercalative manner. This DNA-binding ability may underpin the antimicrobial/antifungal activity of the heteroligand complexes and their ability to downregulate the growth of eukaryotic cells.

New Generation of Meso and Antiprogestins (SPRMs) into the Osteoporosis Approach.

Receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK) and its ligand (RANKL) play key roles in bone metabolism and the immune system. The RANK/RANKL complex has also been shown to be critical in the formation of mammary epithelia cells. The female hormones estradiol and progesterone closely control the action of RANKL with RANK. Blood concentration of these sex hormones in the postmenopausal period leads to an increase in RANK/RANKL signaling and are a major cause of women's osteoporosis, characterized by altered bone mineralization. Knowledge of the biochemical relationships between hormones and RANK/RANKL signaling provides the opportunity to design novel therapeutic agents to inhibit bone loss, based on the anti-RANKL treatment and inhibition of its interaction with the RANK receptor. The new generation of both anti- and mesoprogestins that inhibit the NF-κB-cyclin D1 axis and blocks the binding of RANKL to RANK can be considered as a potential source of new RANK receptor ligands with anti-RANKL function, which may provide a new perspective into osteoporosis treatment itself as well as limit the osteoporosis rise during breast cancer metastasis to the bone.

Equilibria in Aqueous Cobalt(II)-Reduced Schiff Base N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)alanine System: Chemical Characterization, Kinetic Analysis, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Properties.

The present study describes the coordination properties of a reduced Schiff base, N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)alanine, towards cobalt(II) using potentiometric as well as spectroscopic (UV-Vis and ESI-MS) methods. The results indicate the formation of six mononuclear complexes showing high stability in aqueous solution. Coordination occurs in the {O-phenolic,N,O-carboxyl} and {N,O-carboxyl} chelation modes, depending on the degree of ligand deprotonation. Examination of the complexation equilibria at pH ca 7, which is important from a biological point of view, allowed to identify two species: [CoL] and [CoL2H]-. The kinetic analysis showed a structural change of those cobalt(II) complexes from octahedral to tetrahedral in accordance with a first-order time relationship. The antimicrobial properties of N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)alanine, cobalt(II) nitrate and of the Co(II) - ligand complexes were determined against Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis), Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori) and a fungal strain (Candida). The results indicate that the complexes are more active for more strains than the ligand alone. Nevertheless, the complexes induce a higher decrease in the metabolic activity of cells but without damage to nuclei. Tetrahedral structures show stronger anti-cellular toxicity than octahedral complexes, which is most likely due to the higher accessibility of the cobalt(II) center.

Structural study of L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate magnesium, a raw material in cell and tissue therapy.

L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate magnesium (APMg) salt is a vitamin C derivative frequently used as a raw material in cell and tissue therapy. APMg is not only used as a replacement of the unstable ascorbate, but also shows additional cell-biological functionalities. However, its unknown structural characteristics hamper the mechanistic elucidation of its biological role. Therefore, different techniques were applied for APMg structure characterization. Firstly, the stoichiometric composition was characterized by its solvent, ligand and magnesium content. No crystals of APMg could be obtained; however, a single crystal of APNa, the sodium salt of l-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, was successfully obtained and its crystal structure was elucidated. FT-IR was applied to further clarify the structure of solid APMg. Finally, the structure of APMg in aqueous solution was explored by potentiometric titration as well as FT-IR.

Interaction of microcrystalline chitosan with graphene oxide (GO) and magnesium ions in aqueous solution.

BACKGROUND: Thanks to its specific chemical and physical properties, graphene has aroused growing interest in many fields of Science and Technology. The present study focuses on the properties of microcrystalline chitosan (MCCh): a compound known to increase the biocompatibility of various matrices, including those made of graphene layers, enabling the controlled release of molecules of therapeutic compounds. The study exploits the potential of MCCh to complex with metal ions, in this case Mg2+, and attempts to describe such interactions when the system is enriched with graphene oxide (GO). These findings would open completely new areas of knowledge about GO as a drug carrier. RESULTS: Potentiometric analysis found that in the GO-Mg system, complexes of ML' type were formed, where M = Mg2+; L' = GO (log ß 11'0 = 9.5 (3)) and ML'2 (log ß 12'0 = 13.2 (4)), whereas in the GO-Mg2+-MCCh system, a mixed-type complex MLL' was also formed, in which L = MCCh: this complex demonstrated the overall stability constants log ß 111' = 11.2 (3) for degree of deacetylation DD 74.4% and log ß 111' = 12.4 (4) for DD 97.7%. FT-IR analysis showed interactions in the GO-Mg2+-MCCh (DD = 97.7%) system. In addition, the amide II-NH band was displaced from 1623 cm-1 to two bands at 1633 cm-1 and 1648 cm-1, resulting from the interaction of the metal ion, and the absorption band of the corresponding NH in the chitosan acetyl group was shifted from 1304 to 1351 cm-1. When chitosan with a deacetylation degree lower than 74.4% was applied, the amide bands I and II differed only in their intensity. A greater impact on absorption was observed for the acetyl NH group of chitosan, for which the corresponding band shifted from 1319 to 1361 cm-1. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the ability of GO-Mg2+-MCCh to create complex arrangements. It can form a basic complex of one metal ion and one ligand molecule (GO) in the case of ML' (where L' = GO), or two molecules of GO with a metal ion M (Mg2+) in the case of ML'2. A mixed complex of MLL' type is also formed, with two ligands: L = MCCh with deacetylation degrees DD = 74.4% and 97.7% and graphene oxide L' = GO. In the latter case, FT-IR spectroscopy was used to confirm the mode of interaction. The GO-Mg2+-MCCh system may be used as carrier in modern magnesium containing medicines or as auxiliary substances in pharmacy.

Spectroscopic Determination of Metal-Ligand Coordination by Biologically Active 2-Picolinehydroxamic Acid with Iron(III) and Oxidovanadium(IV) in Aqueous Solutions.

The complexing properties of 2-picolinehydroxamic acid towards iron(III) as well as oxidovanadium(IV) were characterized in aqueous solutions by the UV-Vis spectrophotometric method. The speciation models have been confirmed and even extended by electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) studies. For both systems, mononuclear complexes were formed below a pH of 1 and coordination by O,O- chelation mode leading to the formation of five-membered rings was confirmed. The overall stability constant values were determined and compared with other similar systems, indicating more effective binding of the ligand by Fe(III) than VO(IV). The acidic medium of the reaction in the VO(IV) - 2-picolinehydroxamic acid system prevented the oxidation of VO(IV) to V(V). 2-Picolinehydroxamic acid was chosen because of its previously evidenced biological properties. As a result of acidification, reversible dissociation of the complexes in both systems was observed, indicating the action of 2-picolinehydroxamic acid as a potential siderophore.

Zwitterionic-hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography for l-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate magnesium, a raw material in cell therapy.

l-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate magnesium (APMg) salt is a vitamin C derivative frequently used in cell culture media for research purposes. It is also used as a raw material in the GMP-manufacturing of gene-, cell- and tissue advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). However, quality methods are currently lacking. Therefore, a LC method was developed, based on hydrophilic interaction (HILIC)-ion exchange (IE) mixed-mode liquid chromatography. The final method consisted of an isocratic system with 15 mM KH2PO4 buffer (pH 2.5 with HCl) acetonitrile (30:70, v/v) mobile phase on a zwitterionic HILIC column, containing an hydrophilic ligand embedded cation-exchange functionality and a surface anion-exchange group. A flow rate of 0.4 mL/min and UV detection at 240 nm was applied. The assay method of APMg was validated, obtaining adequate linearity (R2 = 0.999), precision (RSD of 0.49%) and accuracy (overall recovery of 100.4%). The developed method was successfully applied on five currently marketed products from different suppliers, showing different related substance impurity profiles. Using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), magnesium was found to be bound on the stationary phase, requiring a strong mobile phase to rinse the column. Finally, related impurities were identified using MS/MS and high resolution MS, and found to be ascorbic acid as well as ethyl derivatives, which was further confirmed by NMR.

Complexes in aqueous cobalt(II)-2-picolinehydroxamic acid system: Formation equilibria, DNA-binding ability, antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties.

The coordination properties of 2-picolinehydroxamic acid towards cobalt(II) in aqueous solution were determined by a pH-metric method and confirmed by spectroscopic (UV-Vis and ESI-MS) studies. The results show the formation of mononuclear complexes, as well as of metallacrowns (MC). All methods indicate a high tendency of 2-picolinehydroxamic acid to form cobalt(II) metallacrown 12-MC-4. ESI-MS additionally confirms 15-MC-5 and 18-MC-6, stabilized by a sodium ion and methanol. The complexes observed in the speciation model at a pH about 7.2 were studied for their DNA-binding ability. The decrease of absorbance in the range of ca 310-400 nm indicates effective binding to calf thymus DNA by 2-picolinehydroxamic acid complexes, via intercalative mode. The antimicrobial properties of 2-picolinehydroxamic acid, cobalt(II) ions and of the complexes formed in the Co(II) - ligand system were determined against Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis), Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori) and fungal strains (Candida, Aspergillus niger). The results indicate that the complexes demonstrate greater antibacterial and antifungal activity for most strains than the ligand. Both the complexes and the ligand induce a slight decrease in the metabolic activity of cells, while the complexes do not damage the cell nuclei. The 2-picolinehydroxamic acid complexes activate the human monocytic cells, suggesting they have immunomodulating properties, which are particularly important in combating infections caused by strains resistant to other drugs.

Reversible uptake of molecular oxygen by heteroligand Co(II)-L-α-amino acid-imidazole systems: equilibrium models at full mass balance.

BACKGROUND: The paper examines Co(II)-amino acid-imidazole systems (where amino acid = L-α-amino acid: alanine, asparagine, histidine) which, when in aqueous solutions, activate and reversibly take up dioxygen, while maintaining the structural scheme of the heme group (imidazole as axial ligand and O2 uptake at the sixth, trans position) thus imitating natural respiratory pigments such as myoglobin and hemoglobin. The oxygenated reaction shows higher reversibility than for Co(II)-amac systems with analogous amino acids without imidazole. Unlike previous investigations of the heteroligand Co(II)-amino acid-imidazole systems, the present study accurately calculates all equilibrium forms present in solution and determines the [Formula: see text]equilibrium constants without using any simplified approximations. The equilibrium concentrations of Co(II), amino acid, imidazole and the formed complex species were calculated using constant data obtained for analogous systems under oxygen-free conditions. Pehametric and volumetric (oxygenation) studies allowed the stoichiometry of O2 uptake reaction and coordination mode of the central ion in the forming oxygen adduct to be determined. The values of dioxygen uptake equilibrium constants [Formula: see text] were evaluated by applying the full mass balance equations. RESULTS: Investigations of oxygenation of the Co(II)-amino acid-imidazole systems indicated that dioxygen uptake proceeds along with a rise in pH to 9-10. The percentage of reversibility noted after acidification of the solution to the initial pH ranged within ca 30-60% for alanine, 40-70% for asparagine and 50-90% for histidine, with a rising tendency along with the increasing share of amino acid in the Co(II): amino acid: imidazole ratio. Calculations of the share of the free Co(II) ion as well as of the particular complex species existing in solution beside the oxygen adduct (regarding dioxygen bound both reversibly and irreversibly) indicated quite significant values for the systems with alanine and asparagine-in those cases the of oxygenation reaction is right shifted to a relatively lower extent. The experimental results indicate that the "active" complex, able to take up dioxygen, is a heteroligand CoL2L'complex, where L = amac (an amino acid with a non-protonated amine group) while L' = Himid, with the N1 nitrogen protonated within the entire pH range under study. Moreover, the corresponding log  [Formula: see text] value at various initial total Co(II), amino acid and imidazole concentrations was found to be constant within the limits of error, which confirms those results. The highest log [Formula: see text] value, 14.9, occurs for the histidine system; in comparison, asparagine is 7.8 and alanine is 9.7. This high value is most likely due to the participation of the additional effective N3 donor of the imidazole side group of histidine. CONCLUSIONS: The Co(II)-amac-Himid systems formed by using a [Co(imid)2]n polymer as starting material demonstrate that the reversible uptake of molecular oxygen occurs by forming dimeric µ-peroxy adducts. The essential impact on the electron structure of the dioxygen bridge, and therefore, on the reversibility of O2 uptake, is due to the imidazole group at axial position (trans towards O2). However, the results of reversibility measurements of O2 uptake, unequivocally indicate a much higher effectiveness of dioxygenation than in systems in which the oxygen adducts are formed in equilibrium mixtures during titration of solutions containing Co(II) ions, the amino acid and imidazole, separately.

Equilibria in cobalt(II)-amino acid-imidazole system under oxygen-free conditions: effect of side groups on mixed-ligand systems with selected L-α-amino acids.

BACKGROUND: Heteroligand Co(II) complexes involving imidazole and selected bio-relevant L-α-amino acids of four different groups (aspartic acid, lysine, histidine and asparagine) were formed by using a polymeric, pseudo-tetrahedral, semi-conductive Co(II) complex with imidazole-[Co(imid)2]n as starting material. The coordination mode in the heteroligand complexes was unified to one imidazole in the axial position and one or two amino acid moieties in the appropriate remaining positions. The corresponding equilibrium models in aqueous solutions were fully correlated with the mass and charge balance equations, without any of the simplified assumptions used in earlier studies. Precise knowledge of equilibria under oxygen-free conditions would enable evaluation of the reversible oxygen uptake in the same Co(II)-amino acid-imidazole systems, which are known models of artificial blood-substituting agents. RESULTS: Heteroligand complexes were formed as a result of proton exchange between the two imidazole molecules found in the [Co(imid)2]n polymer and two functional groups of the amino acid. Potentiometric titrations were confirmed by UV/Vis titrations of the respective combinations of amino acids and Co-imidazole. Formation of MLL' and ML2L' species was confirmed for asparagine and aspartic acid. For the two remaining amino acids, the accepted equilibrium models had to include species protonated at the side-chain amine group (as in the case of lysine: MLL'H, ML2L'H2, ML2L'H) or at the imidazole N1 (as in the case of histidine: MLL'H and two isomeric forms of ML2L'). Moreover, the Δlog10 ß, log10 ß stat, Δlog10 K, and log10 X parameters were used to compare the stability of the heteroligand complexes with their respective binary species. The large differences between the constant for the mixed-ligand complex and the constant based on statistical data Δlog10 ß indicate that the heteroligand species are more stable than the binary ones. The parameter Δlog10 K, which describes the influence of the bonded primary ligand in the binary complex Co(II)(Himid) towards an incoming secondary ligand (L) forming a heteroligand complex, was negative for all the Amac ligands (except for histidine, which shows stacking interactions). This indicates that the mixed-ligand systems are less stable than the binary complexes with one molecule of imidazole or one molecule of amino acid, in contrast to Δlog10 ß, which deals with binary complexes Co(II)(Himid)2 and Co(II)(AmacH-1)2 containing two ligand molecules. The high positive values of the log10 X disproportionation parameter were in good agreement with the results of the Δlog10 ß calculations mentioned above. CONCLUSION: The mixed-ligand MLL'-type complexes are formed at pH values above 4-6 (depending on the amino acid used), however, the so-called "active" ML2L'-type complexes, present in the equilibrium mixture and known to be capable of reversible dioxygen uptake, attain maximum share at a pH around nine. For all the amino acids involved, the greater the excess of amino acid, the lower the pH where the given heteroligand complex attains maximum share. The results of our equilibrium studies make it possible to evaluate the oxygenation constants in full accordance with the distribution of species in solution. Such calculations are needed to drive further investigations of artificial blood-substituting systems.

Synthesis, X-ray structure and cytotoxic effect of nickel(II) complexes with pyrazole ligands.

Here we present the synthesis of the new Ni(II) complexes with chelating ligands 1-benzothiazol-2-yl-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole (a), 5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1-(2-pyridylo)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (b) and 1-benzothiazol-2-yl-5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (c). These ligands a-c create solid complexes with Ni(II). The crystal and molecular structures of two complexes were determined by X-ray diffraction method. Thermal stability of two complexes with ligand c by TG/DTG and DSC methods were also shown. Cytotoxic activity of all the complexes against three tumour cell lines and to normal endothelial cells (HUVEC) was also estimated. Complexes with ligand c exhibited relatively high cytotoxic activity towards HL-60 and NALM-6 leukaemia cells and WM-115 melanoma cells. Cytotoxic effectiveness of one of these complexes against melanoma WM-115 cells was two times higher than that of cisplatin. The protonation constant log K=9.63 of ligand b corresponding to the phenol 2-hydroxy group has been determined in 10% (v/v) DMSO/water solution (25°C). The coordination modes (formation of two monomeric species: NiL and NiL(2)) in the complexes with Ni(II) are discussed for b on the basis of the potentiometric and UV/Vis data.