Mixed-1,10-phenanthroline-Cu(II) complexes: synthesis, cytotoxic activity versus hematological and solid tumor cells and complex formation equilibria with glutathione.

Cu(II) complexes with 1,10-orthophenanthroline (phen) show cytotoxic and antitumoral effects. To enhance and exploit these features, we studied complexes containing one or two phen units together with N,N'-substituted-imidazolidine-2-thione (L). We synthesized and structurally characterized the precursor molecule Cu(phen)(OH(2))(2)(OClO(3))(2), and determined the complex formation constants of [Cu(phen)(L)](2+). We studied the cytotoxic activity of [Cu(phen)(2)(L)](ClO(4))(2) versus human hematologic (CCRF-CEM and CCRF-SB) and solid tumor-derived cell lines (K-MES-1, DU-145). The cytotoxic activities, in the 1-3 µM range, show that our Cu(II)-complexes possess comparable inhibitory activities against both leukemia and carcinoma cells, unlike the majority of antineoplastic agents, usually more potent against hematologic cancer cells than against solid tumor cells. Because the free Cu(II) ion is reduced by glutathione (GSH), we studied the reactivity of our complexes with GSH, providing evidence that no redox reaction occurred under the chosen experimental conditions. Complex formation equilibria were present, studied by spectrophotometric titrations. The redox properties of the prepared compounds were also investigated by cyclic voltammetry, confirming that the mixed Cu(II) complexes were resistant to reduction.

Synthesis, structural characterization, formation constants and in vitro cytotoxicity of phenanthroline and imidazolidine-2-thione copper(II) complexes.

The synthesis, crystal structures, physicochemical properties and complex formation constants of [Cu(phen)(2)(L)](ClO(4))(2) complexes, where phen is 1,10-ortho-phenanthroline and L is a series of substituted imidazolidine-2-thione, have been studied. Single crystal X-ray diffraction revealed a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry for all the molecules. The complex formation constants were determined in nonaqueous media by spectrophotometric measurements. Testing copper(II) complexes in mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells persistently infected with the 22L strain of the scrapie prion protein (22L-N2a) resulted in high cytotoxicity but no antiprion activity at nontoxic doses.

Investigation on the reactivity of dithiophosphonato/dithiophosphato Ni(II) complexes towards 2,4,6-tris-2-pyridyl-1,3,5-triazine: developments and new perspectives.

The reactions between tptz and differently substituted dithiophosphonato [Ni(ROpdt)2] [ROpdt = (RO)(4-MeOC6H4)PS2-; R = Et (2); Pr (3); i-Pr (4); Bu (5)] and dithiophosphato [Ni((EtO)2PS2)2] (6) Ni(II) complexes have been investigated, and the characterisation of the resulting neutral mixed complexes (2.tptz)-(6.tptz) is reported. In all these complexes, tptz forces one of the two dithiophosphonato/dithiophosphato ligands to behave as a monodentate ligand, a coordination mode rarely found in analogous Ni(II) phosphorodithioato complexes. A comparison has been performed between the Ni-S bond distances of the new complexes and those of isologous dithiophosphonato, dithiophosphato and dithiophosphito Ni(II) square-planar complexes, and of their penta- and hexa-coordinated adducts. The results, also supported by DFT calculations, are discussed and explained in terms of the structural trans-effect (STE). The reactivity of 2.tptz towards AgNO3 and CuSO4 to yield the complex [Ni(EtOpdt)(tptz)(H2O)]NO3 (7), and the dimer [(Ni(tptz)(mu-SO4)(H2O)]2.6H2O (8), respectively, is consistent with the proposed bonding models.

Interaction of methimazole with I2: X-ray crystal structure of the charge transfer complex methimazole-I2. implications for the mechanism of action of methimazole-based antithyroid drugs.

The antithyroid drug methimazole (MMI) reacts with molecular iodine to form, in a multistep process, 1-methylimidazole as final product. In this process, the charge transfer complex MMI-I 2 and the ionic disulfide [(C 4H 6N 2S-) 2] (2+) ( 1, dication MMI disulfide) have been isolated and their X-ray crystal structures solved. Dication MMI disulfide perchlorate acts effectively both in reducing I 2 to I (-) ions and in showing antioxidant properties in inactivating the enzyme lactoperoxidase compound I.

(1,3-Dimethylimidazolidine-2-selone-kappaSe)bis(1,10-phenanthroline-kappa2N,N')copper(II) bis(perchlorate) and bis(2,2'-bipyridyl-kappa2N,N')(imidazolidine-2-thione-kappaS)copper(II) bis(perchlorate).

In the first title salt, [Cu(C(12)H(8)N(2))(2)(C(5)H(10)N(2)Se)](ClO(4))(2), the Cu(II) centre occupies a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal environment defined by four N donors from two 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligands and by the Se donor of a 1,3-dimethylimidazolidine-2-selone ligand, with the equatorial plane defined by the Se and by two N donors from different phen ligands and the axial sites occupied by the two remaining N donors, one from each phen ligand. The Cu-N distances span the range 1.980 (10)-2.114 (11) A and the Cu-Se distance is 2.491 (3) A. Intermolecular pi-pi contacts between imidazolidine rings and the central rings of phen ligands generate chains of cations. In the second salt, [Cu(C(10)H(8)N(2))(2)(C(3)H(6)N(2)S)](ClO(4))(2), the Cu(II) centre occupies a similar distorted trigonal-bipyramidal environment comprising four N donors from two 2,2'-bipyridyl (bipy) ligands and an S donor from an imidazolidine-2-thione ligand. The equatorial plane is defined by the S donor and two N donors from different bipy ligands. The Cu-N distances span the range 1.984 (6)-2.069 (7) A and the Cu-S distance is 2.366 (3) A. Intermolecular pi-pi contacts between imidazolidine and pyridyl rings form chains of cations. A major difference between the two structures is due to the presence in the second complex of two N-H...O hydrogen bonds linking the imidazolidine N-H hydrogen-bond donors to perchlorate O-atom acceptors.

Investigation into the reactivity of the coordinatively unsaturated phosphonodithioato [Ni(MeOpdt)2] towards 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine: goals and achievements.

The reaction between the coordinatively unsaturated phosphonodithioato complex [Ni(MeOpdt)2] (1) [MeOpdt = (MeO)(4-MeOC(6)H(4))PS2-] and tptz [2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine] has been investigated. Spectrophotometric and conductometric titrations showed the formation of a neutral and an ionic species, i.e. [Ni(MeOdtp)2(tptz)] (2) and [Ni(tptz)2](MeOdtp)2 (3), in correspondence to 1 : 1 and 2 : 1 tptz : ratios, respectively. XRD studies confirmed the formation of both complexes isolated in the compounds 2.MeOH and 3.4H(2)O. In the neutral complex 2 the central Ni(II) ion features a distorted octahedral coordination, achieved through three N-atoms of tptz and three S-atoms belonging to two MeOpdt anions, one of which unexpectedly acts as a monodentate S-donor. In 3.4H(2)O, the two phosphonodithioato anions are non-coordinating and counterbalance the charge of the [Ni(tptz)2](2+) distorted octahedral complex. From the reaction 2 of with I2 and Br2, crystals of [Ni(tptz)2](I3)2 (5) and [Ni(tptz)Br(micro-Br)]2 (6) have been obtained. The dinuclear complex 6 features a structure showing tubular canals with openings of about 6 x 6 A.

Reactions Between Chalcogen Donors and Dihalogens/Interalogens: Typology of Products and Their Characterization by FT-Raman Spectroscopy.

The chemical bond and structural features for the most important classes of solid products obtained by reacting chalcogen donors with dihalogens and interhalogens are reviewed. Particular attention is paid to the information the FT-Raman spectroscopy can confidently give about each structural motif considered in the absence of X-ray structural analyses.

DFT calculations, structural and spectroscopic studies on the products formed between IBr and N,N'-dimethylbenzoimidazole-2(3H)-thione and -2(3H)-selone.

The NBO charge distribution calculated at DFT level on the [LEX](+) species [LE=N,N'-dimethylbenzoimidazole-2(3H)-thione (3) and -2(3H)-selone (4)(Scheme 1); X=I, Br] suggests that the most likely products from the reaction 3 of 4 and with IBr are the 10-X-2 charge-transfer (CT) adduct and the 10-Se-3 "T-shaped" hypervalent adduct featuring a linear Br--Se--I system, respectively. This prediction is confirmed by the synthesis, and X-ray diffraction analysis of 3.IBr (I) and 4.I(0.72)Br(1.28)(II). In particular II, is a 10-Se-3 "T-shaped" hypervalent adduct containing an almost linear X--Se--X system [X--Se--X 179.07(3) degrees, X=I(0.36)/Br(0.64)], which is roughly perpendicular to the average plane of the benzoimidazole moiety. The FT-Raman spectra of I and II agree very well with their structural features. In particular, the complexity of the FT-Raman spectrum of II reflects the disorder in the X-ray crystal structure of this compound.

Fluorometric chemosensors. Interaction of toxic heavy metal ions Pb(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) with novel mixed-donor phenanthroline-containing macrocycles: spectrofluorometric, conductometric, and crystallographic studies.

The macrocycles L(1)-L(3) incorporating N(2)S(3)-, N(2)S(2)O-, and N(2)S(2)-donor sets, respectively, and containing the 1,10-phenanthroline unit interact in acetonitrile solution with heavy metal ions such as Pb(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) to give 1:1 ML, 1:2 ML(2), and 2:1 M(2)L complex species, which specifically modulate the photochemical properties of the ligands. The stoichiometry of the complex species formed during spectrofluorometric titrations and their formation constants in MeCN at 25 degrees C were determined from fluorescence vs M(II)/L molar ratio data. The complexes [Pb(L(1))][ClO(4)](2).(1)/(2)H(2)O (1), [Pb(L(2))][ClO(4)](2).MeNO(2) (1a), [Pb(L(3))(2)][ClO(4)](2).2MeCN (1b), and [Cd(L(3))][NO(3)](2) (2b) were also characterized by X-ray diffraction studies. The conformation adopted by L(1)-L(3) in these species reveals the aliphatic portion of the rings folded over the plane containing the heteroaromatic moiety with the ligands trying to encapsulate the metal center within their cavity. In 1, 1a, and 2b the metal ion completes the coordination sphere by interacting with counteranion units and solvent molecules. On the contrary, the 1:2 complex 1b shows Pb(II) sandwiched between two symmetry-related molecules of L(3) reaching an overall [4N + 4S] eight-coordination.

An unprecedented example of a cis-phosphonodithioato nickel(II) complex built by an extensive hydrogen bonding supramolecular network.

The P-N bond hydrolysis of the 4-methoxyphenyl-ammonium ethylamido-phosphonodithioato ligand during its complexation to NiII leads to the first example of phosphonodithioato nickel(II) complex having a cis configuration; this complex is stabilised in the solid state by an extensive and intricate network of hydrogen bondings involving the released ethylenediamine and a water molecule.

Anti-thyroid drug methimazole: X-ray characterization of two novel ionic disulfides obtained from its chemical oxidation by I(2).

Interaction of methimazole (MMI, 1-methyl-imidazole-2-thione) with I2 in solvents having different polarity gives two new stable compounds containing a dication disulfide and a monocation disulfide arranged in dimers, respectively. These two species could represent effective intermediates in the reaction of MMI with an active iodine species in the thyroid gland and therefore shed more light on the mechanism of action of MMI as an antithyroid drug.

1,2-Bis(3-methyl-imidazolin-2-ylium iodobromoselenanide)ethane: Oxidative Addition of IBr at the Se Atom of a >C=Se Group.

Almost linear I-Se-Br groups with d(Se-Br)>d(Se-I) occur in 1⋅2 IBr, the first "T-shaped" Se adduct with IBr, which was synthesized by the oxidative addition of IBr to 1,2-bis(3-methylimidazoline-2-selonyl)ethane (1) in MeCN. Density functional theory calculations indicate the intramolecular Br⋅⋅⋅H interactions as being responsible for the peculiar structural features of the I-Se-Br groups.