Unraveling the Mechanism of the IrIII -Catalyzed Regiospecific Synthesis of α-Chlorocarbonyl Compounds from Allylic Alcohols.

We have used experimental studies and DFT calculations to investigate the IrIII -catalyzed isomerization of allylic alcohols into carbonyl compounds, and the regiospecific isomerization-chlorination of allylic alcohols into α-chlorinated carbonyl compounds. The mechanism involves a hydride elimination followed by a migratory insertion step that may take place at Cß but also at Cα with a small energy-barrier difference of 1.8 kcal mol-1 . After a protonation step, calculations show that the final tautomerization can take place both at the Ir center and outside the catalytic cycle. For the isomerization-chlorination reaction, calculations show that the chlorination step takes place outside the cycle with an energy barrier much lower than that for the tautomerization to yield the saturated ketone. All the energies in the proposed mechanism are plausible, and the cycle accounts for the experimental observations.

Bimetallic titanocene-gold phosphane complexes inhibit invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis-associated signaling molecules in renal cancer.

Following promising recent in vitro and in vivo studies of the anticancer efficacies of heterometallic titanocene-gold chemotherapeutic candidates against renal cancer, we report here on the synthesis, characterization, stability studies and biological evaluation of a new titanocene complex containing a gold-triethylphosphane fragment [(η-C5H5)2TiMe(µ-mba)Au(PEt3)] (4) Titanofin. The compound is more stable in physiological fluid than those previously reported, and it is highly cytotoxic against a line of human clear cell renal carcinoma. We describe here preliminary mechanistic data for this compound and previously reported [(η-C5H5)2TiMe(µ-mba)Au(PPh3)] (2) Titanocref which displayed remarkable activity in an in vivo mouse model. Mechanistic studies were carried out in the human clear cell renal carcinoma Caki-1 line for the bimetallic compounds [(η-C5H5)2TiMe(µ-mba)Au(PR3)] (PR3 = PPh32 Titanocref and PEt34 Titanofin), the two monometallic gold derivatives [Au(Hmba)(PR3)] (PR3 = PPh31 cref; PEt33 fin), titanocene dichloride and Auranofin as controls. These studies indicate that bimetallic compounds Titanocref (2) and Titanofin (4) are more cytotoxic than gold monometallic derivatives (1 and 3) and significantly more cytotoxic than titanocene dichloride while being quite selective. Titanocref (2) and Titanofin (4) inhibit migration, invasion, and angiogenic assembly along with molecular markers associated with these processes such as prometastatic IL(s), MMP(s), TNF-α, and proangiogenic VEGF, FGF-basic. The bimetallic compounds also strongly inhibit the mitochondrial protein TrxR often overexpressed in cancer cells evading apoptosis and also inhibit FOXC2, PECAM-1, and HIF-1α whose overexpression is linked to resistance to genotoxic chemotherapy. In summary, bimetallic titanocene-gold phosphane complexes (Titanocref 2 and Titanofin 4) are very promising candidates for further preclinical evaluations for the treatment of renal cancer.

Titanocene-Gold Complexes Containing N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands Inhibit Growth of Prostate, Renal, and Colon Cancers in Vitro.

We report on the synthesis, characterization, and stability studies of new titanocene complexes containing a methyl group and a carboxylate ligand (mba = -OC(O)-p-C6H4-S-) bound to gold(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene fragments through the thiolate group: [(η5-C5H5)2TiMe(µ-mba)Au(NHC)]. The cytotoxicities of the heterometallic compounds along with those of novel monometallic gold-N-heterocyclic carbene precursors [(NHC)Au(mbaH)] have been evaluated against renal, prostate, colon, and breast cancer cell lines. The highest activity and selectivity and a synergistic effect of the resulting heterometallic species was found for the prostate and colon cancer cell lines. The colocalization of both titanium and gold metals (1:1 ratio) in PC3 prostate cancer cells was demonstrated for the selected compound 5a, indicating the robustness of the heterometallic compound in vitro. We describe here preliminary mechanistic data involving studies on the interaction of selected mono- and bimetallic compounds with plasmid (pBR322) used as a model nucleic acid and the inhibition of thioredoxin reductase in PC3 prostate cancer cells. The heterometallic compounds, which are highly apoptotic, exhibit strong antimigratory effects on the prostate cancer cell line PC3.

Versatile synthesis of cationic N-heterocyclic carbene-gold(i) complexes containing a second ancillary ligand. Design of heterobimetallic ruthenium-gold anticancer agents.

We describe a versatile and quick route to cationic gold(i) complexes containing N-heterocyclic carbenes and a second ancillary ligand (such as phosphanes, phosphites, arsines and amines) of interest for the synthesis of compounds with potential catalytic and medicinal applications. The general synthetic strategy has been applied in the preparation of novel cationic heterobimetallic ruthenium(ii)-gold(i) complexes that are highly cytotoxic to renal cancer Caki-1 and colon cancer HCT 116 cell lines while showing a synergistic effect and being more selective than their monometallic counterparts.

Cyclometalated Iminophosphorane Gold(III) and Platinum(II) Complexes. A Highly Permeable Cationic Platinum(II) Compound with Promising Anticancer Properties.

New organometallic gold(III) and platinum(II) complexes containing iminophosphorane ligands are described. Most of them are more cytotoxic to a number of human cancer cell lines than cisplatin. Cationic Pt(II) derivatives 4 and 5, which differ only in the anion, Hg2Cl6(2-) or PF6(-) respectively, display almost identical IC50 values in the sub-micromolar range (25-335-fold more active than cisplatin on these cell lines). The gold compounds induced mainly caspase-independent cell death, as previously reported for related cycloaurated compounds containing IM ligands. Cycloplatinated compounds 3, 4, and 5 can also activate alternative caspase-independent mechanisms of death. However, at short incubation times cell death seems to be mainly caspase dependent, suggesting that the main mechanism of cell death for these compounds is apoptosis. Mercury-free compound 5 does not interact with plasmid (pBR322) DNA or with calf thymus DNA. Permeability studies of 5 by two different assays, in vitro Caco-2 monolayers and a rat perfusion model, have revealed a high permeability profile for this compound (comparable to that of metoprolol or caffeine) and an estimated oral fraction absorbed of 100%, which potentially makes it a good candidate for oral administration.

Design, synthesis and characterisation of new chimeric ruthenium(II)-gold(I) complexes as improved cytotoxic agents.

Two heterobimetallic complexes, i.e. [RuCl2(p-cymene)(µ-dppm)AuC] (1) and [RuCl2(p-cymene)(µ-dppm)Au(S-thiazoline)] (3), based on known cytotoxic [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2(PR3)] and [AuX(PR3)] (X = Cl, SR) molecular scaffolds, with the diphosphane linker 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, dppm, were conveniently prepared and characterised. Remarkably, the new compounds manifested a more favourable in vitro pharmacological profile toward cancer cells than individual ruthenium and gold species being either more cytotoxic or more selective. The interactions of the studied compounds with (pBR322) DNA and their inhibitory effects on cathepsin B were also assessed. In addition, their reactivity toward suitable models of protein targets was explored and clear evidence gained for disruption of the bimetallic motif and for protein binding of monometallic fragments. Overall, the data reported here strongly support the concept of multifunctional heterometallic compounds as "improved" candidate agents for cancer treatment. The mechanistic and pharmacological implications of the present findings are discussed.

Heterometallic titanium-gold complexes inhibit renal cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Following recent work on heterometallic titanocene-gold complexes as potential chemotherapeutics for renal cancer, we report here on the synthesis, characterization and stability studies of new titanocene complexes containing a methyl group and a carboxylate ligand (mba = S-C6H4-COO-) bound to gold(I)-phosphane fragments through a thiolate group ([(η-C5H5)2TiMe(µ-mba)Au(PR3)]. The compounds are more stable in physiological media than those previously reported and are highly cytotoxic against human cancer renal cell lines. We describe here preliminary mechanistic data involving studies on the interaction of selected compounds with plasmid (pBR322) DNA used as a model nucleic acid, and with selected protein kinases from a panel of 35 protein kinases having oncological interest. Preliminary mechanistic studies in Caki-1 renal cells indicate that the cytotoxic and anti-migration effects of the most active compound 5 ([(η-C5H5)2TiMe(µ-mba)Au(PPh3)] involve inhibition of thioredoxin reductase and loss of expression of protein kinases that drive cell migration (AKT, p90-RSK, and MAPKAPK3). The co-localization of both titanium and gold metals (1:1 ratio) in Caki-1 renal cells was demonstrated for 5 indicating the robustness of the heterometallic compound in vitro. Two compounds were selected for further in vivo studies on mice based on their selectivity in vitro against renal cancer cell lines when compared to non-tumorigenic human kidney cell lines (HEK-293T and RPTC) and the favourable preliminary toxicity profile in C57BL/6 mice. Evaluation of Caki-1 xenografts in NOD.CB17-Prkdc SCID/J mice showed an impressive tumor reduction (67%) after treatment for 28 days (3 mg/kg/every other day) with heterometallic compound 5 as compared with the previously described [(η-C5H5)2Ti{OC(O)-4-C6H4-P(Ph2)AuCI}2] 3 which was non-inhibitory. These findings indicate that structural modifications on the ligand scaffold affect the in vivo efficacy of this class of compounds.

Organometallic Titanocene-Gold Compounds as Potential Chemotherapeutics in Renal Cancer. Study of their Protein Kinase Inhibitory Properties.

Early-late transition metal TiAu2 compounds [(η-C5H5)2Ti{OC(O)CH2PPh2AuCl}2] (3) and new [(η-C5H5)2Ti{OC(O)-4-C6H4PPh2AuCl}2] (5) were evaluated as potential anticancer agents in vitro against renal and prostate cancer cell lines. The compounds were significantly more effective than monometallic titanocene dichloride and gold(I) [{HOC(O)RPPh2}AuCl] (R = -CH2- 6, -4-C6H4- 7) derivatives in renal cancer cell lines, indicating a synergistic effect of the resulting heterometallic species. The activity on renal cancer cell lines (for 5 in the nanomolar range) was considerably higher than that of cisplatin and highly active titanocene Y. Initial mechanistic studies in Caki-1 cells in vitro coupled with studies of their inhibitory properties on a panel of 35 kinases of oncological interest indicate that these compounds inhibit protein kinases of the AKT and MAPKAPK families with a higher selectivity toward MAPKAPK3 (IC503 = 91 nM, IC505 = 117 nM). The selectivity of the compounds in vitro against renal cancer cell lines when compared to a nontumorigenic human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293T) and the favorable preliminary toxicity profile on C57black6 mice indicate that these compounds (especially 5) are excellent candidates for further development as potential renal cancer chemotherapeutics.

Auranofin and related heterometallic gold(I)-thiolates as potent inhibitors of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains.

A series of new heterometallic gold(I) thiolates containing ferrocenyl-phoshines were synthesized. Their antimicrobial properties were studied and compared to that of FDA-approved drug, auranofin (Ridaura), prescribed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. MIC in the order of one digit micromolar were found for most of the compounds against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and CA MRSA strains US300 and US400. Remarkably, auranofin inhibited S. aureus, US300 and US400 in the order of 150-300 nM. This is the first time that the potent inhibitory effect of auranofin on MRSA strains has been described. The effects of a selected heterometallic compound and auranofin were also studied in a non-tumorigenic human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293).

Fluorocarbon soluble copper(II) carboxylate complexes with nonfluoroponytailed nitrogen ligands as precatalysts for the oxidation of alkenols and alcohols under fluorous biphasic or thermomorphic modes: structural and mechanistic aspects.

This fluorous biphasic catalysis (FBC) contribution was focused on the synthesis and characterization of new fluorous soluble R(f)-Cu(II) carboxylate complexes containing nonfluoroponytailed ligands and defines their role as precatalysts for the FBC oxidation of alkenols and alcohols in the presence of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO)/O(2). In this FBC approach, we have utilized the phase-switching technique of Vincent et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 12942) to solubilize the nonfluoroponytailed ligands, N-1,4,7-Me(3)TACN, 2, and N-1,4,7-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA), 3, by reaction with a fluorous solvent-soluble copper (II) dimeric complex, [Cu({C(8)F(17)(CH(2))(2)}(2)CHCO(2))(2)](2), 1. Moreover, the reaction of nonfluoroponytailed ligands 2 and 3 with 1 afforded new perfluoroheptane-soluble Cu(II) complexes, [Cu({C(8)F(17)(CH(2))(2)}(2)CHCO(2))(2)(2)], 4, and [Cu({C(8)F(17)(CH(2))(2)}(2)CHCO(2))(2) (3)], 5, respectively. The known Cu(II) complex, 1, was further characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy confirming its dimeric structure, while 4 and 5 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, diffuse reflectance UV-vis, and EPR spectroscopy. Furthermore, 1, 4, and 5 were evaluated as precatalysts for alkenol and alcohol oxidation. The oxidation reactions of alkenols and alcohols in the presence of TEMPO/O(2) proceeded under FBC conditions for 1, 4, and 5, but 1-octanol was unreactive under single-phase FBC conditions at 90 degrees C with TEMPO/O(2). The thermomorphic property of 5, soluble in chlorobenzene/toluene at 90 degrees C but insoluble at room temperature, was also evaluated in the selective oxidation of p-nitrobenzyl alcohol to p-nitrobenzaldehyde. Plausible mechanisms concerning these FBC/thermomorphic oxidation reactions will be discussed.