Copper versus thioether-centered oxidation: mechanistic insights into the non-innocent redox behavior of tripodal benzimidazolylaminothioether ligands.

A series of Cu(+) complexes with ligands that feature varying numbers of benzimidazole/thioether donors and methylene or ethylene linkers between the central nitrogen atom and the thioether sulfur atoms have been spectroscopically and electrochemically characterized. Cyclic voltammetry measurements indicated that the highest Cu(2+)/Cu(+) redox potentials correspond to sulfur-rich coordination environments, with values decreasing as the thioether donors are replaced by nitrogen-donating benzimidazoles. Both Cu(2+) and Cu(+) complexes were studied by DFT. Their electronic properties were determined by analyzing their frontier orbitals, relative energies, and the contributions to the orbitals involved in redox processes, which revealed that the HOMOs of the more sulfur-rich copper complexes, particularly those with methylene linkers (-N-CH2-S-), show significant aromatic thioether character. Thus, the theoretically predicted initial oxidation at the sulfur atom of the methylene-bridged ligands agrees with the experimentally determined oxidation waves in the voltammograms of the NS3- and N2S2-type ligands as being ligand-based, as opposed to the copper-based processes of the ethylene-bridged Cu(+) complexes. The electrochemical and theoretical results are consistent with our previously reported mechanistic proposal for Cu(2+)-promoted oxidative C-S bond cleavage, which in this work resulted in the isolation and complete characterization (including by X-ray crystallography) of the decomposition products of two ligands employed, further supporting the novel reactivity pathway invoked. The combined results raise the possibility that the reactions of copper-thioether complexes in chemical and biochemical systems occur with redox participation of the sulfur atom.

Catalytic O2 activation with synthetic models of α-ketoglutarate dependent oxygenases.

An iron complex bearing the facially capping tridentate 1,4,7-triazacyclononane ligand mimics structural and functional features of alpha-ketoglutarate (α-KG) dependent enzymes, and engages in enzyme-like catalytic O2 activation coupled to α-ketoacid decarboxylation, oxygenating sulfides. This system constitutes a rare case of non-enzymatic catalytic O2 activation, cycling between FeII and FeIV(O).

Synthesis, structure, and biological activity of bis(benzimidazole)amino thio- and selenoether nickel complexes.

Four new nickel (II) complexes with bis(benzimidazole)thio- and selenoether-based ligands have been synthesized and characterized in the solid state by elemental analysis, IR, magnetic susceptibility and X-ray crystallography, and in solution by FAB+ mass spectrometry, UV-vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the compounds revealed octahedral geometries for all nickel centers. Three of the four complexes are dimers with chloride bridges between the two Ni(II) ions. However, in solution all complexes have a monomeric formulation, based on mass spectrometry and osmometry measurements. The complexes were also screened for their cytotoxic activity on human cell lines (HeLa, SK-LU-1 and HEK-293), and compared with a related Cu(II) complex.

Di- and Tetrairon(III) µ-Oxido Complexes of an N3S-Donor Ligand: Catalyst Precursors for Alkene Oxidations.

The new di- and tetranuclear Fe(III) µ-oxido complexes [Fe4(µ-O)4(PTEBIA)4](CF3SO3)4(CH3CN)2] (1a), [Fe2(µ-O)Cl2(PTEBIA)2](CF3SO3)2 (1b), and [Fe2(µ-O)(HCOO)2(PTEBIA)2](ClO4)2 (MeOH) (2) were prepared from the sulfur-containing ligand (2-((2,4-dimethylphenyl)thio)-N,N-bis ((1-methyl-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl)ethanamine (PTEBIA). The tetrairon complex 1a features four µ-oxido bridges, while in dinuclear 1b, the sulfur moiety of the ligand occupies one of the six coordination sites of each Fe(III) ion with a long Fe-S distance of 2.814(6) Å. In 2, two Fe(III) centers are bridged by one oxido and two formate units, the latter likely formed by methanol oxidation. Complexes 1a and 1b show broad sulfur-to-iron charge transfer bands around 400-430 nm at room temperature, consistent with mononuclear structures featuring Fe-S interactions. In contrast, acetonitrile solutions of 2 display a sulfur-to-iron charge transfer band only at low temperature (228 K) upon addition of H2O2/CH3COOH, with an absorption maximum at 410 nm. Homogeneous oxidative catalytic activity was observed for 1a and 1b using H2O2 as oxidant, but with low product selectivity. High valent iron-oxo intermediates could not be detected by UV-vis spectroscopy or ESI mass spectrometry. Rather, evidence suggest preferential ligand oxidation, in line with the relatively low selectivity and catalytic activity observed in the reactions.

In vitro effects of benzimidazole/thioether-copper complexes with antitumor activity on human erythrocytes.

Two cytotoxic copper(II) complexes with N-H and N-methylated benzimidazole-derived ligands (Cu-L1 and Cu-L1Me; L1=bis(2-methylbenzimidazolyl)(2-methylthioethyl)amine, L1Me=bis(1-methyl-2-methylbenzimidazolyl)(2-methylthioethyl)amine) were synthesized and exposed to human erythrocytes and molecular models of its membrane. The latter were bilayers built-up of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE), classes of lipids present in the external and internal moieties of the human red cell membrane, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of erythrocytes incubated with solutions of both Cu(II) complexes showed that they induced morphological changes to the normal cells to echinocytes, and hemolysis at higher concentrations. Real-time observation of the dose-dependent effects of the complexes on live erythrocytes by defocusing microscopy (DM) confirmed SEM results. The formation of echinocytes implied that complex molecules inserted into the outer moiety of the red cell membrane. X-ray diffraction studies on DMPC and DMPE showed that none of these complexes interacted with DMPE and only Cu-L1 interacted with DMPC. This difference was explained by the fact that Cu-L1Me complex is more voluminous than Cu-L1 because it has two additional methyl groups; on the other hand, DMPC molecule has three methyl groups in its bulky terminal amino end. Thus, by steric hindrance Cu-L1Me molecules cannot intercalate into DMPC bilayer, which besides is present in the gel phase. These results, together with the increased antiproliferative capacity of the N-methylated complex Cu-L1Me over that of Cu-L1 are rationalized mainly based on its higher lipophilicity.

Structural and functional effects of benzimidazole/thioether-copper complexes with antitumor activity on cell membranes and molecular models.

Two cytotoxic copper(II) complexes with N-H and N-methylated benzimidazole-derived ligands (Cu-L(2) and Cu-L(2Me)) were synthesized and made to interact with human erythrocytes and molecular models of their plasmatic membranes. The latter consisted in lipid bilayers of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE), lipids of the types present in the outer and inner monolayers of the human erythrocyte membrane, respectively. Initial assessment of the interaction of the complexes with DMPC and DMPE consisted of X-ray diffraction studies, which showed preferential interactions with the former. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of erythrocytes incubated with solutions of the Cu(II) complexes evidenced deformation of the cells to stomatocytes and knizocytes by Cu-L(2) and Cu-L(2Me) due to interactions with the inner and outer leaflets of the cell membranes, respectively. This was further confirmed by real-time observation of the dose-dependent effects of the complexes on live erythrocytes by defocusing microscopy (DM). The combined observations, including the increased antiproliferative activity of the N-methylated complex Cu-L(2Me) over that of Cu-L(2) is rationalized based on the higher lipophilicity of the former. This property would facilitate passive diffusion of Cu-L(2Me) through the cell membrane, particularly in the initial stages when the DMPC-rich outer leaflet is involved. In contrast, the benzimidazole N-H groups of Cu-L(2) may participate in hydrogen bonding with DMPE polar groups; this result is consistent with the formation of stomatocyte induced by the latter complex.

Structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical properties of tri- and tetradentate N3 and N3S copper complexes with mixed benzimidazole/thioether donors.

Cupric and cuprous complexes of bis(2-methylbenzimidazolyl)(2-methylthiophene)amine (L(1)), bis(2-methylbenzimidazolyl)benzylamine (L(2)), bis(2-methylbenzimidazolyl)(2,4-dimethylphenylthioethyl)amine (L(3)), bis(1-methyl-2-methylbenzimidazolyl)benzylamine (Me(2)L(2)), and bis(1-methyl-2-methylbenzimidazolyl)(2,4-dimethylphenylthioethyl)amine (Me(2)L(3)) have been spectroscopically, structurally, and electrochemically characterised. The thioether-containing ligands L(3) and Me(2)L(3) give rise to complexes with Cu-S bonds in solution and in the solid state, as evidenced by UV-vis spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The Cu(2+) complexes [L(1)CuCl(2)] (1), [L(2)CuCl(2)] (2) and [Me(2)L(3)CuCl]ClO(4) (3(Me,ClO4)) are monomeric in solution according to ESI mass spectrometry data, as well as in the solid state. Their Cu(+) analogues [L(1)Cu]ClO(4), [L(2)Cu]ClO(4), [L(3)Cu]ClO(4) (4-6), [BOC(2)L(1)Cu(NCCH(3))]ClO(4) (4(BOC)), [Me(2)L(2)Cu(NCCH(3))(2)]PF(6) (5(Me)) and [Me(2)L(3)Cu](2)(ClO(4))(2) (6(Me)) are also monomeric in acetonitrile solution, as confirmed crystallographically for 4(BOC) and 5(Me). In contrast, 6(Me) is dimeric in the solid state, with the thioether group of one of the ligands bound to a symmetry-related Cu(+) ion. Cyclic voltammetry studies revealed that the bis(2-methylbenzimidazolyl)amine-Cu(2+)/Cu(+) systems possess half-wave potentials in the range -0.16 to -0.08 V (referenced to the ferrocenium-ferrocene couple); these values are nearly 0.23 V less negative than those reported for related bis(picolyl)amine-derived ligands. Based on these observations, the N(3) or N(3)S donor set of the benzimidazole-derived ligands is analogous to previously reported chelating systems, but the electronic environment they provide is unique, and may have relevance to histidine and methionine-containing metalloenzymes. This is also reflected in the reactivity of [Me(2)L(2)Cu(NCCH(3))(2)](+) (5(Me)) and [Me(2)L(3)Cu](+) (6(Me)) towards dioxygen, which results in the production of the superoxide anion in both cases. The thioether-bound Cu(+) centre in 6(Me) appears to be more selective in the generation of O(2)˙(-) than 5(Me), lending evidence to the hypothesis of the modulating properties of thioether ligands in Cu-O(2) reactions.