From Cu(I) and Cu(I)-Cu(II) mixed-valence clusters to 2D Cu(II) and Cu(I) coordination polymers supported by a flexible bis-tetrazole organosulfur ligand.

Three coordination compounds from the reaction of copper(II) bromide with the flexible bis-tetrazole organosulfur ligand, 1,2-bis(1-methyl-1H-tetrazole-5-ylthio)ethane (bmtte) have been isolated and characterised. The identification of polymeric 2∞Cu2Br4(bmtte) (1), trinuclear [Cu3Br4(bmtte)2] (2) and tetranuclear [Cu2Br2(bmtte)]2 (3) compounds shows that the reaction conditions have a significant influence on the structure of the complexes formed. Moreover, two polymorphs of the 2D Cu(II)-coordination polymer 1 have been isolated and these crystallise in the monoclinic C2/m (1m) and the triclinic P1̄ (1t) space groups. The thermal stabilities and behaviour in aqueous media of compounds 1-3 were investigated along with the reactivity of compound 2 with CuBr2 and KI. The solid-state reaction between mixed-valence compound 2 with KI or the direct reaction of CuI and bmtte under microwave irradiation allowed the preparation of the polymeric 2∞Cu4I4(bmtte)2 (4). The redox behaviour of complexes 2 and 3 was analysed by cyclic voltammetry.

Coordination Chemistry of Potentially S,N,Npy-Tridentate Thiosemicarbazones with the {Re(CO)3}+ Fragment and Formation of Hemiaminal Derivatives.

Nine potentially S,N,Npy-tridentate thiosemicarbazones (HL) derived from pyridine-2-carbaldehyde or 1-(2-pyridyl)ethanone have been prepared and fully characterized. The X-ray crystal structures of six of them and two hydrochlorides were determined and analyzed. The reaction of the [ReX(CH3CN)2(CO)3]/[ReX(CO)5] (X = Cl and Br) precursors with these ligands yielded different kinds of compounds: the adducts [ReX(HL)(CO)3], in which the ligands were S,N-bidentate; the trinuclear species [Re3Cl2(L23)(HL23)(CO)9]; and the thiosemicarbazonate compounds [Re(L)(CO)3], where the ligand is S,N,Npy-tridentate. Besides, the reaction in methanol or ethanol of the thiosemicarbazones derived from aldehydes yielded S,N,Npy-tridentate hemiaminal cationic [Re(HLOR)(CO)3]X and neutral [Re(LOMe)(CO)3] complexes after the coordinated ligand underwent addition of the alcohol group to the imine bond. The reactivity of the complex [ReX(HL)(CO)3] in MeOH and NEt3 led to the formation of dinuclear [Re2(L)2(CO)6], where the thiosemicarbazonate is again S,N-bidentate. The influence that the substituents on the thiosemicarbazone ligands have on the stability of the complexes and the effect of the reaction medium on the resulting compounds have been analyzed.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytotoxicity Studies of N-(4-Methoxybenzyl) Thiosemicarbazone Derivatives and Their Ruthenium(II)-p-cymene Complexes.

The reaction of [Ru2Cl2(µ-Cl)2(η6-p-cymene)2] with two thiosemicarbazones obtained by the condensation of N-(4-methoxybenzyl) thiosemicarbazide and 1,4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethan-1-one (HL1) or 2-fluoro-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (HL2) was studied. The cationic complexes of formula [RuCl(η6-p-cymene)(HL)]+ were isolated as solid chloride and trifluoromethylsulfate (TfO) salts. A study of the solid state and NMR spectra suggests the presence in the material of two isomers that differ in the configuration in the iminic bond, C2=N3, of the coordinated thiosemicarbazone in the triflate salts and only the E isomer in the chloride. An X-ray study of single crystals of the complexes supports this hypothesis. The thiosemicarbazone ligand coordinates with the ruthenium center through the iminic and sulfur atoms to form a five-membered chelate ring. Furthermore, the isolation of single crystals containing the thiosemicarbazonate complex [Ru2(µ-L2)2(η6-p-cymene)2]2+ suggests the easy labilization of the coordinated chloride in the complex. The redox behavior of the ligands and complexes was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. It seems to be more difficult to oxidize the complex derived from HL1 than HL2. The ability of the complexes to inhibit cell growth against the NCI-H460, A549 and MDA-MB-231 lines was evaluated. The complexes did not show greater potency than cisplatin, although they did have greater efficacy, especially for the complex derived from HL1.

Combined Effect of Caspase-Dependent and Caspase-Independent Apoptosis in the Anticancer Activity of Gold Complexes with Phosphine and Benzimidazole Derivatives.

Since the potential anticancer activity of auranofin was discovered, gold compounds have attracted interest with a view to developing anticancer agents that follow cytotoxic mechanisms other than cisplatin. Two benzimidazole gold(I) derivatives containing triphenylphosphine (Au(pben)(PPh3)) (1) or triethylphosphine (Au(pben)(PEt3)) (2) were prepared and characterized by standard techniques. X-ray crystal structures for 1 and 2 were solved. The cytotoxicity of 1 and 2 was tested in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Cells were incubated with compounds for 24 h with concentrations ranging from 10 µM to 1 nM, and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was determined. 1 and 2 showed an IC50 of 2.7 and 1.6 µM, respectively. In order to better understand the type of cell death induced by compounds, neuroblastoma cells were stained with Annexin-FITC and propidium iodide. The fluorescence analysis revealed that compounds were inducing apoptosis; however, pre-treatment with the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD did not reduce cell death. Analysis of compound effects on caspase-3 activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in SH-SY5Y cells revealed an antiproliferative ability mediated through oxidative stress and both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent mechanisms.

Synthesis of Novel Dinuclear N-Substituted 4-(Dimethylamino)benzaldehyde Thiosemicarbazonates of Rhenium(I): Formation of Four- and/or Five-Membered Chelate Rings, Conformational Analysis, and Reactivity.

The reaction of fac-[ReX(CH3CN)2(CO)3] (X = Cl, Br) with N-phenyl-[4-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde] thiosemicarbazone (HLA) or N-4-methoxybenzyl-[4-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde] thiosemicarbazone (HLB) under controlled synthetic conditions gave 4 mononuclear [ReX(HL)(CO)3] (X = Cl, Br) and 16 dinuclear [Re2L2(CO)6] compounds. These complexes were obtained as single crystals, and their structures were established by X-ray diffraction. The structural study of these dimers showed the formation of several solvates, the presence of linkage isomerism, and the stabilization of four- and/or five-membered chelate rings. The different ligand coordination modes (a new µ-κ2-S,N2:κ-N3 coordination mode for a thiosemicarbazone ligand was observed), the conformation of the thiosemicarbazone chain in each case, the formal symmetry of the dimers, and the role of the synthetic procedure in the stability of the different chelate rings were analyzed and are discussed. Theoretical calculations in the gas phase were performed for the dimers with the HLA ligand in order to identify the thermodynamically most stable species. The behavior and structural stability of dimers in dimethyl sulfoxide and acetone solutions was investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The strength of the ReI-L bond in solution was evidenced by the formation of [Re2(LNO2)2(CO)6] and [Re(LA)(py)(CO)3] upon reaction of the corresponding dimer with concentrated nitric acid and pyridine, respectively.

Iridium(III) coordination of N(6) modified adenine derivatives with aminoacid chains.

In this manuscript we report the preparation of three N6-aminoacid-adenine-derivatives: N-(7H-purin-6-yl)glycine·0.5H2O (N6-GlyAde), N-(7H-purin-6-yl)-ß-alanine·1.5H2O (N6-ß-AlaAde) and N-(7H-purin-6-yl)-γ-aminobutyric·2H2O (N6-GabaAde) and the synthesis and X-ray characterization of three Ir(III) NAMI-A derivatives (NAMI-A is [imidazoleH][trans-RuIIICl4(DMSO-κS)(imidazole)]) [trans-IrIIICl4(DMSO-κS)(N3-H)-(7H-purin-6-yl)glycine-κN9] (1), [trans-IrIIICl4(DMSO-κS)(N3-H)-(7H-purin-6-yl)-ß-alanine-κN9] hydrate (2) and [trans-IrIIICl4(DMSO-κS)(N3-H)-(7H-purin-6-yl)-γ-aminobutyryl-κN9] (3). In all complexes the metal center shows octahedral geometry with coordination to four chlorido ligands and one S coordinated dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO-κS). The coordination sphere of the metal is completed by the modified adenine molecule which is bound via N(9) and protonated at N(3). In two complexes the importance of lone pair (lp)-π interactions involving the adenine ring have been studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations and the Bader's theory of atoms in molecules. Furthermore, the ability of complexes (1-3) to affect the cell viability was evaluated against three different cancer cell lines: human lung carcinoma cells (A549), human cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa) and human breast cancer cells (MCF7). We have also analyzed their ability to cleave the DNA experimentally and their affinity for two models of DNA has been studied using molecular docking simulations.

Chemical and biological studies of Re(I)/Tc(I) thiosemicarbazonate complexes relevant for the design of radiopharmaceuticals.

Five thiosemicarbazones (H2Ln) derived from 4,6-diacetylresorcinol (n = 1-4) and salicylaldehyde (n = 5) have been synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies on some of them show that the molecular structure is dominated by intramolecular hydrogen bonds involving the O(1)-H group of the resorcinol/salicylaldehyde group and the azomethinic nitrogen atom and sulfur atom of the thiosemicarbazone arm. All of the ligands react with fac-[ReBr(CO)3(CH3CN)2] in the presence of NEt3 to form the stable anionic complexes [NHEt3][fac-[Re(Ln)(CO)3] (1-5). The thiosemicarbazonate ligand, as suggested by spectroscopic data and confirmed by X-ray diffraction, acts as a tridentate S,N,O system. The complexes are stable in solution for weeks, although other dimeric species were also detected by X-ray diffraction analysis. The reaction of fac-[99mTc(CO)3(H2O)3]+ with the appropriate ligand at 100 °C for 30 min yielded the complexes [fac-[99mTc(Ln)(CO)3]- (Tc1-Tc5). The radiochemical yield and purity were determined by HPLC and their chemical identity was ascertained by comparing their radiochromatogram with the chromatogram of the rhenium congeners (1-5). The results of biodistribution studies in mice on the five technetium compounds showed rapid blood clearance and fast liver uptake that slowly cleared into the intestines, a finding that indicates the hepatobiliary tract as the major excretory pathway. HPLC analysis of urine and blood serum samples from mice injected with the 99mTc complexes confirmed their in vivo stability since the predominant radiochemical species had the same retention time as the corresponding injected compound.

Thiosemicarbazonate complexes with affinity for amyloid-ß fibers: synthesis, characterization and biological studies.

Aim: Obtain radioimages of amyloid-ß fibers using 99mTc-complexes. Methodology: Tridentate thiosemicarbazone and thiocarbonohydrazone ligands containing fragments (stilbene, azobenzene, benzothiazole or benzoxazole) with affinity for amyloid-ß fibers and its Re(I) complexes have been prepared. The molecular structures of several ligands and complexes were determined by x-ray diffraction. Binding affinity studies toward Aß1-42 fibers were performed for the ligands and Re(I) complexes. The ability of formation of some 99mTc(I) complexes, their biodistribution and in vivo stability have been established. Results & conclusion: Complexes of stilbene and benzothiazole thiosemicarbazonates show similar affinity for amyloid-ß fibers to the free ligand. These 99mTc complexes present a reasonable in vivo stability and a low capability to cross the blood-brain barrier although not sufficient to brain amyloid imaging.

Crystal structure of fac-tri-carbonyl-chlorido-bis-(4-hy-droxy-pyridine)-rhenium(I)-pyridin-4(1H)-one (1/1).

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [ReCl(C5H5NO)2(CO)3]·C5H5NO, contains one mol-ecule of the complex fac-[ReCl(4-pyOH)2(CO)3] (where 4-pyOH represents 4-hy-droxy-pyridine) and one mol-ecule of pyridin-4(1H)-one (4-HpyO). In the mol-ecule of the complex, the Re atom is coordinated to two N atoms of the two 4-pyOH ligands, three carbonyl C atoms, in a facial configuration, and the Cl atom. The resulting geometry is slightly distorted octa-hedral. In the crystal structure, both fragments are associated by hydrogen bonds; two 4-HpyO mol-ecules bridge between two mol-ecules of the complex using the O=C group as acceptor for two different HO- groups of coordinated 4-pyOH from two neighbouring metal complexes. The resulting square arrangements are extented into infinite chains by hydrogen bonds involving the N-H groups of the 4-HpyO mol-ecule and the chloride ligands. The chains are further stabilized by π-stacking inter-actions.

Crystal structure of N-(4-hy-droxy-benz-yl)acetone thio-semicarbazone.

The structure of the title compound, C11H15N3OS, shows the flexibility due to the methyl-ene group at the thio-amide N atom in the side chain, resulting in the mol-ecule being non-planar. The dihedral angle between the plane of the benzene ring and that defined by the atoms of the thio-semicarbazide arm is 79.847 (4)°. In the crystal, the donor-acceptor hydrogen-bond character of the -OH group dominates the inter-molecular associations, acting as a donor in an O-H⋯S hydrogen bond, as well as being a double acceptor in a centrosymmetric cyclic bridging N-H⋯O,O' inter-action [graph set R22(4)]. The result is a one-dimensional duplex chain structure, extending along [111]. The usual N-H⋯S hydrogen-bonding association common in thio-semicarbazone crystal structures is not observed.

A Hexameric Cationic Copper(II) Metallacrown as a Pertechnetate and Perrhenate Scavenger.

Materials based on the cationic copper(II) hexanuclear 18-membered metallacrown [18-MCCuII-N(2ph)-6](6+) (2phH=2-piconyl hydrazide) and tetrafluoroborate, perchlorate, nitrate, sulfate, and perrhenate anions were prepared by an easy method in aqueous medium. Single-crystal X-ray characterization of six members of this new family of complexes showed that the anions are attached to the metallacrown by direct coordination to a copper cation or by hydrogen-bonding interaction with the center of the hexamer. The stable cationic nature of the complexes and their ability to bind different anions allows them to adsorb and immobilize environmentally relevant anions such as MO4(-) (M=Tc, Re). The MO4(-) trapping capacities suggest that these materials would be useful in the treatment of oxoanionic contaminants in water.

A new metal-organic polymeric system capable of stimuli-responsive controlled release of the drug ibuprofen.

A series of new zinc compounds has been prepared easily under mild synthetic conditions with the drug ibuprofen incorporated as a ligand to form different coordination polymers. The host materials have a high drug content and exhibit high stability, low cytotoxicity, good biodegradability and high biocompatibility. The ion exchange mechanism involved in the ibuprofen release process and the pH-controlled drug release have been studied.

Homo- and heteronuclear compounds with a symmetrical bis-hydrazone ligand: synthesis, structural studies, and luminescent properties.

Nine new coordination compounds have been synthesized by the reaction of salts of bivalent metal ions (a=Zn(II) , b=Cu(II) , c=Ni(II) , d=Co(II) ) with the bis(benzoylhydrazone) derivative of 4,6-diacetylresorcinol (H4 L). Three kinds of complexes have been obtained: homodinuclear compounds [M2 (H2 L)2 ]⋅nH2 O (1 a, 1 b, 1 c, and 1 d), homotetranuclear compounds [M4 (L)2 ]⋅n(solv) (2 a and 2 c), and heterotetranuclear compounds [Zn2 M2 (L)2 ]⋅n(solv) (2 ab, 2 ac, and 2 ad). The structures of the free ligand H4 L⋅2 DMSO and its complexes [Zn2 (H2 L)2 (DMSO)2 ] (1 a*), [Zn4 (L)2 (DMSO)6 ] (2 a*), and [Zn0.45 Cu3.55 (L)2 (DMSO)6 ]⋅2 DMSO (2 ab*) were elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The ligand shows luminescence properties and its fluorimetric behavior towards M(II) metals (M=Zn, Cu, Ni and Co) has been studied. Furthermore, the solid-state luminescence properties of the ligand and compounds have been determined at room temperature. (1) H NMR spectroscopic monitoring of the reaction of H4 L with Zn(II) showed the deprotonation sequence of the OH/NH groups upon metal coordination. Heteronuclear reactions have also been monitored by using ESI-MS and spectrofluorimetric techniques.

Crystal structure of 1-(4-formyl-benzyl-idene)-4-methyl-thio-semicarbazone.

The structure of the title compound, C10H11N3OS, comprises an approximately planar mol-ecule, with the r.m.s. deviation for the 15 non-H atoms being 0.089 Å. The conformation about the imine bond is E and an intra-molecular N-H⋯N hydrogen bond is evident. Mol-ecules are linked into a supra-molecular chain along the b axis by N-H⋯S hydrogen bonds.

Crystal structure of 1-(4-formyl-benzyl-idene)thio-semicarbazone.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C9H9N3OS, contains two approximately planar mol-ecules (r.m.s. deviations for 14 non-H atoms = 0.094 and 0.045 Å), with different conformations. In one of them, the C=O group is syn to the S atom and in the other it is anti. Each mol-ecule features an intra-molecular N-H⋯N hydrogen bond, which generates an S(5) ring. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O and N-H⋯S hydrogen bonds, generating discrete networks; the syn mol-ecules form [010] chains and the anti mol-ecules form (100) sheets.

Synthesis, characterization and binding affinities of rhenium(I) thiosemicarbazone complexes for the estrogen receptor (α/ß).

The binding affinities towards estrogen receptors (ERs) α and ß of a set of thiosemicarbazone ligands (HL(n)) and their rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes [ReX(HL(n))(CO)3] (X=Cl, Br) were determined by a competitive standard radiometric assay with [(3)H]-estradiol. The ability of the coordinated thiosemicarbazone ligands to undergo deprotonation and the lability of the ReX bond were used as a synthetic strategy to obtain [Re(hpy)(L(n))(CO)3] (hpy=3- or 4-hydroxypyridine). The inclusion of the additional hpy ligand endows the new thiosemicarbazonate complexes with an improved affinity towards the estrogen receptors and, consequently, the values of the inhibition constant (Ki) could be determined for some of them. In general, the values of Ki for both ER subtypes suggest an appreciable selectivity towards ERα.

Mono and dinuclear phosphinegold(I) sulfanylcarboxylates: influence of nuclearity and substitution of PPh3 for PEt3 on cytotoxicity.

Gold complexes of the type [Au(PEt3)(Hxspa)] were prepared by reacting triethylphosphinegold(I) chloride in ethanol/water (8:1) with the 3-(aryl)-2-sulfanylpropenoic acids H2xspa [x=p=3-phenyl-; f=3-(2-furyl)-; t=3-(2-thienyl)-; py=3-(2-pyridyl); Clp=3-(2-Chlorophenyl)-; -o-mp=3-(2-methoxyphenyl)-; -p-mp=3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-; -o-hp=3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-; -p-hp=3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-; -diBr-o-hp=3-(3,5-dibromo-2-hidroxyphenyl-); spa=2-sulfanylpropenoato] or 2-cyclopentylidene-2-sulfanylacetic acid (H2cpa) and KOH in a 1:1:1 mole ratio. The compounds were characterized by IR spectroscopy and FAB mass spectrometry and by (1)H, (13)C and (31)P NMR spectroscopy. The in vitro antitumor activity of these and of the previously described dinuclear [(AuPEt3)2(xspa)] complexes against the HeLa-229, A2780 and A2780cis cell lines was determined and compared with those of the analogous PPh3 complexes. The results show that the substitution of the PPh3 ligand by PEt3 is particularly effective in increasing the cytotoxicity of the dinuclear [(AuPR3)2(xspa)] complexes, giving rise to compounds that are significantly more active than cisplatin against the aforementioned cell lines. In addition, and as a preliminary test for nephrotoxicity, the cytotoxicity of the most active compounds against the normal renal LCC-PK1 cell line was evaluated and compared with that of cisplatin.

Heteronuclear gold(I)-silver(I) sulfanylcarboxylates: Synthesis, structure and cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines.

Heteronuclear complexes of the type [AgAu(PPh3)2(xspa)] [H2xspa=3-(aryl)-2-sulfanylpropenoic acids; (x=3-phenyl-; 3-(2-chlorophenyl)-; 3-(o-methoxyphenyl)-; 3-(p-methoxyphenyl)-; 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-; 3-(2-furyl)-; 3-(2-thienyl)-; spa=2-sulfanylpropenoate)] were prepared by reacting the appropriate [Au(PPh3)(Hxspa)] precursor with Ag(PPh3)NO3. The compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods, (IR; (1)H, (13)C and (31)P NMR) and mass spectrometry and the structures of the phenyl and p-methoxyphenyl derivatives were determined by X-ray diffraction. The in vitro antitumor activity against the HeLa-229, A2780 and A2780cis cell lines was determined and compared with that of cisplatin and the equivalent homonuclear gold(I) complexes.

A novel hexanuclear silver(I) cluster containing a regular Ag6 ring with short Ag-Ag distances and an argentophilic interaction.

The hexanuclear complex [HQ][Ag(p-mpspa)] (H2-p-mpspa = 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-sulfanylpropenoic acid) was prepared by reacting the precursor [Ag(H-p-mpspa)] with diisopropylamine (Q). The complex was characterized by spectroscopic techniques and the structure was solved by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The crystal contains hydrogen-bonded diisopropylammonium cations and [Ag6(p-mpspa)6](6-) anions that are based on a regular Ag6 ring with each S-donor atom of the sulfanylcarboxylate ligand bridging two Ag atoms. The Ag-Ag bond distances, 2.8036(6) Å, are very short and suggest a closed shell d(10)···d(10) argentophilic interaction. To analyze the relative role of this interaction and that of the S-bridging atom the anionic [Ag6(p-mpspa)6](6-) moiety has been studied theoretically at the Hartree-Fock (HF) and 2(nd) order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) levels on a very simple [Ag6(SH)6] A model system. A large model system [Ag6(p-mpspa)6](6-)B has also been studied by applying the ONIOM (QM/MM) approach using HF/UFF and MP2/UFF combinations as levels of theory. The six experimentally observed Ag(I)···Ag(I) supported interactions are reproduced when dispersion-type interactions are considered in the theory levels MP2 and ONIOM MP2/UFF for models A and B, respectively. The use of HF and ONIOM HF/UFF levels led to a similar hexanuclear structure but displayed a large hexagonal disposition without argentophilic contacts for both models A and B. The steric hindrance exerted by the ligands did not preclude the formation of argentophilic interactions, as observed experimentally.

Metal coordination and in situ S-C bond cleavage of the bis(2-pyridylthio)methane ligand.

The compound [2bpytmH](2)[I(3)](2)[I(2)], which contains protonated 2bpytm, and four neutral monomeric complexes [CoCl(2)(2bpytm)]·H(2)O (1), [CoBr(2)(2bpytm)] (2), [CoI(2)(2bpytm)]·1/2H(2)O (3) and [NiBr(2)(2bpytm)]·H(2)O (4) have been obtained during a study into the reactivity of the bis(2-pyridylthio)methane (2bpytm) ligand towards cobalt(II) and nickel(II) halides. Furthermore, a cyclic dimer [CuBr(2)(2bpytm)](2) (5) and a 1D polymer [CuBr(2)(2bpytm)](n)·CH(3)CN (6) have been obtained from copper(II)/(I) bromide salts. An unprecedented S-CH(2)-S activation and cleavage in 2bpytm has been observed on using copper(II) salts with organic and voluminous inorganic anions. The cleavage of 2bpytm enabled the isolation of copper(II) complexes containing the in situ generated ligands 2-pyridinethiolate, 2-pyridinesulfenate or 2-pyridinesulfonate.