Schiff Bases Functionalized with T-Butyl Groups as Adequate Ligands to Extended Assembly of Cu(II) Helicates.

The study of the inherent factors that influence the isolation of one type of metallosupramolecular architecture over another is one of the main objectives in the field of Metallosupramolecular Chemistry. In this work, we report two new neutral copper(II) helicates, [Cu2(L1)2]·4CH3CN and [Cu2(L2)2]·CH3CN, obtained by means of an electrochemical methodology and derived from two Schiff-based strands functionalized with ortho and para-t-butyl groups on the aromatic surface. These small modifications let us explore the relationship between the ligand design and the structure of the extended metallosupramolecular architecture. The magnetic properties of the Cu(II) helicates were explored by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and Direct Current (DC) magnetic susceptibility measurements.

Exploring the Biological Properties of Zn(II) Bisthiosemicarbazone Helicates.

The design of artificial helicoidal molecules derived from metal ions with biological properties is one of the objectives within metallosupramolecular chemistry. Herein, we report three zinc helicates derived from a family of bisthiosemicarbazone ligands with different terminal groups, Zn2(LMe)2∙2H2O 1, Zn2(LPh)2∙2H2O 2 and Zn2(LPhNO2)23, obtained by an electrochemical methodology. These helicates have been fully characterized by different techniques, including X-ray diffraction. Biological studies of the zinc(II) helicates such as toxicity assays with erythrocytes and interaction studies with proteins and oligonucleotides were performed, demonstrating in all cases low toxicity and an absence of covalent interaction with the proteins and oligonucleotides. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the helicates was tested against MCF-7 (human breast carcinoma), A2780 (human ovarian carcinoma cells), NCI-H460 (human lung carcinoma cells) and MRC-5 (normal human lung fibroblasts), comparing the IC50 values with cisplatin. We will try to demonstrate if the terminal substituent of the ligand precursor exerts any effect in toxicity or in the antitumor activity of the zinc helicates.

Two Synthetic Approaches to Coinage Metal(I) Mesocates: Electrochemical versus Chemical Synthesis.

We report two different approaches to isolate neutral and cationic mesocate-type metallosupramolecular architectures derived from coinage monovalent ions. For this purpose, we use a thiocarbohydrazone ligand, H2L (1), conveniently tuned with bulky phosphine groups to stabilize the MI ions and prevent ligand crossing to achieve the selective formation of mesocates. The neutral complexes [Cu2(HL)2] (2), [Ag2(HL)2] (3), and [Au2(HL)2] (4) were prepared by an electrochemical method, while the cationic complexes [Cu2(H2L)2](PF6)2 (5), [Cu2(H2L)2](BF4)2 (6), [Ag2(H2L)2](PF6)2 (7), [Ag4(HL)2](NO3)2 (8), and [Au2(H2L)2]Cl2 (9) were obtained by using a metal salt as the precursor. All of the complexes are neutral or cationic dinuclear mesocates, except the silver nitrate derivative, which exhibits a tetranuclear cluster mesocate architecture. The crystal structures of the neutral and cationic copper(I), silver(I), and gold(I) complexes allow us to analyze the influence of synthetic methodology or the counterion role on both the micro- and macrostructures of the mesocates.

Transition-Metal-Mediated Modification of Biomolecules.

The site-selective modification of biomolecules has grown spectacularly in recent years. The presence of a large number of functional groups in a biomolecule makes its chemo- and regioselective modification a challenging goal. In this context, transition-metal-mediated reactions are emerging as a powerful tool owing to their unique reactivity and good functional group compatibility, allowing highly efficient and selective bioconjugation reactions that operate under mild conditions. This Minireview focuses on the current state of organometallic chemistry for bioconjugation, highlighting the potential of transition metals for the development of chemoselective and site-specific methods for functionalization of peptides, proteins and nucleic acids. The importance of the selection of ligands attached to the transition metal for conferring the desired chemoselectivity will be highlighted.

Mn2+ Complexes Containing Sulfonamide Groups with pH-Responsive Relaxivity.

We present two ligands containing a N-ethyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenesulfonamide group attached to either a 6,6'-(azanediylbis(methylene))dipicolinic acid unit (H3DPASAm) or a 2,2'-(1,4,7-triazonane-1,4-diyl)diacetic acid macrocyclic platform (H3NO2ASAm). These ligands were designed to provide a pH-dependent relaxivity response upon complexation with Mn2+ in aqueous solution. The protonation constants of the ligands and the stability constants of the Mn2+ complexes were determined using potentiometric titrations complemented by spectrophotometric experiments. The deprotonations of the sulfonamide groups of the ligands are characterized by protonation constants of log KiH = 10.36 and 10.59 for DPASAm3- and HNO2ASAm2-, respectively. These values decrease dramatically to log KiH = 6.43 and 5.42 in the presence of Mn2+, because of the coordination of the negatively charged sulfonamide groups to the metal ion. The higher log KiH value in [Mn(DPASAm)]- is related to the formation of a seven-coordinate complex, while the metal ion in [Mn(NO2ASAm)]- is six-coordinated. The X-ray crystal structure of Na[Mn(DPASAm)(H2O)]·2H2O confirms the formation of a seven-coordinate complex, where the coordination environment is fulfilled by the donor atoms of the two picolinate groups, the amine N atom, the N atom of the sulfonamide group, and a coordinated water molecule. The lower conditional stability of the [Mn(NO2ASAm)]- complex and the lower protonation constant of the sulfonamide group results in complex dissociation at relatively high pH (<7.0). However, protonation of the sulfonamide group in [Mn(DPASAm)]- falls into the physiologically relevant pH window and causes a significant increase in relaxivity from r1p = 3.8 mM-1 s-1 at pH 9.0 to r1p = 8.9 mM-1 s-1 at pH 4.0 (10 MHz, 25 °C).

Selective Metal-Assisted Assembly of Mesocates or Helicates with Tristhiosemicarbazone Ligands.

The effect of the ligand and/or metal-related factors on the formation of tristhiosemicarbazone metallosupramolecular complexes has been studied in this work. The crystal structures of zinc(II) and lead(II) tristhiosemicarbazone mesocates and a hydrolyzed cadmium(II) helicate let us better rationalize some factors involved in the selective formation of helicates or mesocates.

Cellular Uptake of Gold Nanoparticles Triggered by Host-Guest Interactions.

We describe an approach to regulate the cellular uptake of small gold nanoparticles using supramolecular chemistry. The strategy relies on the functionalization of AuNPs with negatively charged pyranines, which largely hamper their penetration in cells. Cellular uptake can be activated in situ through the addition of cationic covalent cages that specifically recognize the fluorescent pyranine dyes and counterbalance the negative charges. The high selectivity and reversibility of the host-guest recognition activates cellular uptake, even in protein-rich biological media, as well as its regulation by rational addition of either cage or pyranine.

Transition Metal-mediated Reactions in Biological Media.

Transition-metal catalysis has changed the way in which chemical reactions can be accomplished. While most metal-catalyzed reactions have been achieved in organic solvents, recent work has demonstrated that many of these transformations can be made compatible with water. These discoveries have stimulated the search for metal catalysts that are capable of achieving designed reactions in biological settings, and eventually behave as non-natural enzymes working in native cellular environments. Although this new field of research is still taking its first steps, there is a growing number of publications in the area, and one can predict that it will steadily grow in the years to come. Here we will briefly review some of the main contributions in the area. The contents have been organized according to the type of transformation and transition metal catalysts involved in the process.

Chiroptical Probing of Lanthanide-Directed Self-Assembly Formation Using btp Ligands Formed in One-Pot Diazo-Transfer/Deprotection Click Reaction from Chiral Amines.

A series of enantiomeric 2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridines (btp)-containing ligands was synthesized by a one-pot two-step copper-catalyzed amine/alkyne click reaction. The Eu(III) - and Tb(III) -directed self-assembly formation of these ligands was studied in CH3 CN by monitoring their various photophysical properties, including their emerging circular dichroism and circularly polarized luminescence. The global analysis of the former enabled the determination of both the stoichiometry and the stability constants of the various chiral supramolecular species in solution.

Healable luminescent self-assembly supramolecular metallogels possessing lanthanide (Eu/Tb) dependent rheological and morphological properties.

Herein we present the use of lanthanide directed self-assembly formation (Ln(III) = Eu(III), Tb(III)) in the generation of luminescent supramolecular polymers, that when swelled with methanol give rise to self-healing supramolecular gels. These were analyzed by using luminescent and (1)H NMR titrations studies, allowing for the identification of the various species involved in the subsequent Ln(III)-gel formation. These highly luminescent gels could be mixed to give a variety of luminescent colors depending on their Eu(III):Tb(III) stoichiometric ratios. Imaging and rheological studies showed that these gels prepared using only Eu(III) or only Tb(III) have different morphological and rheological properties, that are also different from those determined upon forming gels by mixing of Eu(III) and Tb(III) gels. Hence, our results demonstrate for the first time the crucial role the lanthanide ions play in the supramolecular polymerization process, which is in principle a host-guest interaction, and consequently in the self-healing properties of the corresponding gels, which are dictated by the same host-guest interactions.

Supramolecular approach to enantioselective DNA recognition using enantiomerically resolved cationic 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide-based Tröger's bases.

The synthesis and photophysical studies of two cationic Tröger's base (TB)-derived bis-naphthalimides 1 and 2 and the TB derivative 6, characterized by X-ray crystallography, are presented. The enantiomers of 1 and 2 are separated by cation-exchange chromatography on Sephadex C25 using sodium (-)-dibenzoyl-l-tartarate as the chiral mobile phase. The binding of enantiomers with salmon testes (st)-DNA and synthetic polynucleotides are studied by a variety of spectroscopic methods including UV/vis absorbance, circular dichroism, linear dichroism, and ethidium bromide displacement assays, which demonstrated binding of these compounds to the DNA grooves with very high affinity (K ∼ 10(6) M(-1)) and preferential binding of (-)-enantiomer. In all cases, binding to DNA resulted in a significant stabilization of the double-helical structure of DNA against thermal denaturation. Compound (±)-2 and its enantiomers possessed significantly higher binding affinity for double-stranded DNA compared to 1, possibly due to the presence of the methyl group, which allows favorable hydrophobic and van der Waals interactions with DNA. The TB derivatives exhibited marked preference for AT rich sequences, where the binding affinities follow the order (-)-enantiomer > (±) > (+)-enantiomer. The compounds exhibited significant photocleavage of plasmid DNA upon visible light irradiation and are rapidly internalized into malignant cell lines.

Understanding the Factors That Influence the Antioxidant Activity of Manganosalen Complexes with Neuroprotective Effects.

Manganosalen complexes are a class of catalytic antioxidants with beneficial effects against different neurological disorders according to various in vitro and in vivo studies. The interest in the factors that determine their antioxidant activity is based on the fact that they are key to achieving more efficient models. In this work, we report a set of new manganosalen complexes, thoroughly characterized in the solid state and in solution by different techniques. The chelating Schiff base ligands used were prepared from condensation of different substituted hydroxybenzaldehydes with 1,2-diaminoethane and 1,3-diaminopropane. The antioxidant activity of the new models was tested through superoxide dismutase and catalase probes in conjunction with the studies about their neuroprotective effects in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells in an oxidative stress model. The ability to scavenge excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) varied depending on the manganosalen models, which also yielded different improvements in cell survival. An assessment of the different factors that affect the oxidant activity for these complexes, and others previously reported, revealed the major influence of the structural factors versus the redox properties of the manganosalen complexes.

Ligand Chirality Transfer from Solution State to the Crystalline Self-Assemblies in Circularly Polarized Luminescence (CPL) Active Lanthanide Systems.

The synthesis of a family of chiral and enantiomerically pure pyridyl-diamide (pda) ligands that upon complexation with europium [Eu(CF3SO3)3] result in chiral complexes with metal centered luminescence is reported; the sets of enantiomers giving rise to both circular dichroism (CD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) signatures. The solid-state structures of these chiral metallosupramolecular systems are determined using X-ray diffraction showing that the ligand chirality is transferred from solution to the solid state. This optically favorable helical packing arrangement is confirmed by recording the CPL spectra from the crystalline assembly by using steady state and enantioselective differential chiral contrast (EDCC) CPL Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (CPL-LSCM) where the two enantiomers can be clearly distinguished.

Targeting cancer stem cell OXPHOS with tailored ruthenium complexes as a new anti-cancer strategy.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies by our group have shown that oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is the main pathway by which pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs) meet their energetic requirements; therefore, OXPHOS represents an Achille's heel of these highly tumorigenic cells. Unfortunately, therapies that target OXPHOS in CSCs are lacking. METHODS: The safety and anti-CSC activity of a ruthenium complex featuring bipyridine and terpyridine ligands and one coordination labile position (Ru1) were evaluated across primary pancreatic cancer cultures and in vivo, using 8 patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). RNAseq analysis followed by mitochondria-specific molecular assays were used to determine the mechanism of action. RESULTS: We show that Ru1 is capable of inhibiting CSC OXPHOS function in vitro, and more importantly, it presents excellent anti-cancer activity, with low toxicity, across a large panel of human pancreatic PDXs, as well as in colorectal cancer and osteosarcoma PDXs. Mechanistic studies suggest that this activity stems from Ru1 binding to the D-loop region of the mitochondrial DNA of CSCs, inhibiting OXPHOS complex-associated transcription, leading to reduced mitochondrial oxygen consumption, membrane potential, and ATP production, all of which are necessary for CSCs, which heavily depend on mitochondrial respiration. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the coordination complex Ru1 represents not only an exciting new anti-cancer agent, but also a molecular tool to dissect the role of OXPHOS in CSCs. Results indicating that the compound is safe, non-toxic and highly effective in vivo are extremely exciting, and have allowed us to uncover unprecedented mechanistic possibilities to fight different cancer types based on targeting CSC OXPHOS.

Deactivation of a dimeric DNA-binding peptide through a palladium-mediated self-immolative cleavage.

Herein, we describe an approach for the on-demand disassembly of dimeric peptides using a palladium-mediated cleavage of a designed self-immolative linker. The utility of the strategy is demonstrated for the case of dimeric basic regions of bZIP transcription factors. While the dimer binds designed DNA sequences with good affinities, the peptide-DNA complex can be readily dismounted by addition of palladium reagents that trigger the cleavage of the spacer, and the release of unfunctional monomeric peptides.

Hydrolysis of a carbamate triggered by coordination of metal ions.

The mechanism of carbamate activation promoted by different metal ions has been explored in this work. The reaction of the carbamate ligand H2L with chloride metal salts (M = Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd) leads to the coordination of the metal ions to the ligand, causing hydrolysis of the systems. This self-immolation process results in mononuclear dihydrazone complexes, carbon dioxide and the release of alcohol species from the pendant groups of the carbamate ligand. The conditions under which this process occurs have been studied in detail.

Endogenous arene hydroxylation promoted by copper(I) cluster helicates.

A novel neutral triple-stranded hexanuclear copper(I) cluster helicate [Cu(I)(6)L(3)]·2CH(3)CN derived from a thiosemicarbazone ligand could be synthesized and crystallographically characterized. The MALDI mass spectrum of this complex suggests that the tetranuclear copper(I) cluster helicate [Cu(I)(4)L(2)] is also present in solution. These copper(I) cluster helicates are capable, in the presence of O(2), of hydroxylating the arene linker of their supporting ligand strands. The resulting dinuclear complex [Cu(II)(2)L'(OH)] is formed by two copper(II) centers, a new ligand arising from the hydroxylation reaction, and one hydroxide group. The magnetic investigation of this compound shows a strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the two Cu(II) centers. The kinetic studies for the hydroxylation process show values of ΔH(≠)=-70 kJ mol(-1), similar to those mediated by the tyrosinase enzymes.

Sulfonamide-imines as selective fluorescent chemosensors for the fluoride anion.

Two new sulfonamide-type fluorescent chemosensors in organic media are reported. The two receptors, [N,N'-bis(2-tosylaminobenzylidene)-1,2-diaminoethane and N,N'-bis(2-tosylaminobenzylidene)-1,3-diamino-2-propanol], display marked changes in the fluorescence emission intensities as a result of deprotonation by basic anions, and show high selectivity for fluoride over other inorganic anions, such as acetate or dihydrogenphosphate. These results suggest that the presence of the imine group as an intramolecular H-bond acceptor enhances the selectivity of these sensors compared to previous examples in the literature. The deprotonation mechanism has been demonstrated by spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric titrations as well as by NMR spectroscopy. The X-ray structures of both receptors are also discussed.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection of Nucleic Acids Exhibiting Sterically Accessible Guanines Using Ruthenium-Polypyridyl Reagents.

Here, we report the application of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy as a rapid and practical tool for assessing the formation of coordinative adducts between nucleic acid guanines and ruthenium polypyridyl reagents. The technology provides a practical approach for the wash-free and quick identification of nucleic acid structures exhibiting sterically accessible guanines. This is demonstrated for the detection of a quadruplex-forming sequence present in the promoter region of the c-myc oncogene, which exhibits a nonpaired, reactive guanine at a flanking position of the G-quartets.

Reversible Control of Protein Corona Formation on Gold Nanoparticles Using Host-Guest Interactions.

When nanoparticles (NPs) are exposed to biological media, proteins are adsorbed, forming a so-called protein corona (PC). This cloud of protein aggregates hampers the targeting and transport capabilities of the NPs, thereby compromising their biomedical applications. Therefore, there is a high interest in the development of technologies that allow control over PC formation, as this would provide a handle to manipulate NPs in biological fluids. We present a strategy that enables the reversible disruption of the PC using external stimuli, thereby allowing a precise regulation of NP cellular uptake. The approach, demonstrated for gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), is based on a biorthogonal, supramolecular host-guest interactions between an anionic dye bound to the AuNP surface and a positively charged macromolecular cage. This supramolecular complex effectively behaves as a zwitterionic NP ligand, which is able not only to prevent PC formation but also to disrupt a previously formed hard corona. With this supramolecular stimulus, the cellular internalization of AuNPs can be enhanced by up to 30-fold in some cases, and even NP cellular uptake in phagocytic cells can be regulated. Additionally, we demonstrate that the conditional cell uptake of purposely designed gold nanorods can be used to selectively enhance photothermal cell death.