FeIII, CuII and ZnII Complexes of the Rigid 9-Oxido-phenalenone Ligand-Spectroscopy, Electrochemistry, and Cytotoxic Properties.

The three complexes [Fe(opo)3], [Cu(opo)2], and [Zn(opo)2] containing the non-innocent anionic ligand opo- (opo- = 9-oxido-phenalenone, Hopo = 9-hydroxyphenalonone) were synthesised from the corresponding acetylacetonates. [Zn(opo)2] was characterised using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the paramagnetic [Fe(opo)3] and [Cu(opo)2] by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. While the EPR spectra of [Cu(opo)2] and [Cu(acac)2] in dimethylformamide (DMF) solution are very similar, a rather narrow spectrum was observed for [Fe(opo)3] in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution in contrast to the very broad spectrum of [Fe(acac)3] in THF (Hacac = acetylacetone, 2,4-pentanedione; acac- = acetylacetonate). The narrow, completely isotropic signal of [Fe(opo)3] disagrees with a metal-centred S = 5/2 spin system that is observed in the solid state. We assume spin-delocalisation to the opo ligand in the sense of an opo- to FeIII electron transfer. All compounds show several electrochemical opo-centred reduction waves in the range of -1 to -3 V vs. the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple. However, for CuII and FeIII the very first one-electron reductions are metal-centred. Electronic absorption in the UV to vis range are due to π-π* transitions in the opo core, giving Hopo and [Zn(opo)2] a yellow to orange colour. The structured bands ranging from 400 to 500 for all compounds are assigned to the lowest energy π-π* transitions. They show markedly higher intensities and slight shifts for the CuII (brown) and FeIII (red) complexes and we assume admixing metal contributions (MLCT for CuII, LMCT for FeIII). For both complexes long-wavelength absorptions assignable to d-d transitions were detected. Detailed spectroelectrochemical experiments confirm both the electrochemical and the optical assignments. Hopo and the complexes [Cu(opo)2], [Zn(opo)2], and [Fe(opo)3] show antiproliferative activities against HT-29 (colon cancer) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cell lines in the range of a few µM, comparable to cisplatin under the same conditions.

Generation and characterisation of the phenoxyl-radical containing Cu(II) complex [Cu(triaz)2]+ (triaz- = O,N chelating triazole-phenolate).

The new copper complex [Cu(triaz)(2)] (Htriaz = 2,4-di-(tert-butyl)-6-(5-chloro-2H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazol-2-yl)phenol) was investigated in detail by single crystal XRD, EPR-, UV/Vis-absorption-, CV-, and spectroelectrochemistry. The oxidised species [Cu(triaz)(2)](+) was characterised by UV/Vis spectroelectrochemistry and contains a phenoxyl-radical bound to Cu(II). This quite stable species was chemically generated by two different methods: aerial oxidation of a Cu(I) precursor in the presence of Htriaz (and base) or from [Cu(triaz)(2)] by adding a Cu(II) salt (disproportionation). The efficiency for the latter reaction has been studied by UV/Vis spectroscopy, XAS and catalytic test reactions (oxidation of benzyl alcohol).

Tuning the electronic properties of dppz-ligands and their palladium(II) complexes.

New organometallic palladium complexes of the general type [(RR'dppz)Pd(Me)L](n+) (RR'dppz = derivatives of dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine with RR' = 11-Cl, 11,12-Cl(2), 11-CF(3), 11-NO(2), 11-NH(2); L = Cl, 1-methyluracilate (n = 0), pyridine, cytosine, caffeine, or 1-methylcytosine, (all n = 1) were characterised and studied in detail by electrochemical and spectroscopic (NMR, UV/Vis- absorption and emission) methods. EPR spectroscopy and density functional calculations reveal markedly tuneable lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO) located at the dppz ligands. Cytotoxicity experiments on HT-29 colon carcinoma and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines show promising activities for selected compounds.