Follow-Up Study of Trans-C to Cis-C Thermally or Photochemically Induced Isomerization of Terpyridine Adducts of Cycloruthenated 2-Aryl-2'-pyridine Compounds.

The mechanism of isomerization of the known 2-phenyl,pyridine (phpy) derivatives [Ru(phpy-κC,N) (MeCN-trans-N)(terpy)]PF6, 2, to [Ru(phpy-κC,N)(MeCN-trans-C)(terpy)]PF6 (terpy = 2,2';6',2″-terpyridine), 3, at temperatures >50 °C has been investigated both by 1H NMR spectroscopy and by DFT calculations. The photoisomerization of 2 to 3 by UV light occurred also quantitatively in MeCN after 20 h at room temperature. A similar behavior to that of 2 could be established for the related compound [Ru(3-acridine-2'-C5H4N-κC,N)(MeCN-trans-N)(2,2';6',2″-terpyridine)]PF6, 6 (acridine = dibenzo[b,e]pyridine or 2,3-benzoquinoline), that was obtained from the reaction between [Ru(3-acridine-2'-C5H4N-κC,N) (MeCN)4]PF6, 4, and terpy in MeOH/MeCN at 60 °C for 24 h. Similar to 2, the isomerization of 6 to [Ru(3-acridine-2'-C5H4N-κC,N)(MeCN-trans-C) (terpy)]PF6, 7, could be induced thermally (48 h at 60 °C in pure MeOH) or photochemically under UV radiation in MeCN at room temperature. A compound closely related to 7 but in which MeCN was replaced by H2O was described earlier (Tanaka et al. Inorg. Chem. 2012, 51, 5386-539). The presence of water on this compound had a dramatic effect as far as the coordination of terpy was concerned as its isomerization to a compound related to 6 (in which H2O instead of MeCN is coordinated to Ru) occurred indeed photochemically via irradiation with visible light.

Bypassing the Resistance Mechanisms of the Tumor Ecosystem by Targeting the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathway Using Ruthenium- and Osmium-Based Organometallic Compounds: An Exciting Long-Term Collaboration with Dr. Michel Pfeffer.

Metal complexes have been used to treat cancer since the discovery of cisplatin and its interaction with DNA in the 1960's. Facing the resistance mechanisms against platinum salts and their side effects, safer therapeutic approaches have been sought through other metals, including ruthenium. In the early 2000s, Michel Pfeffer and his collaborators started to investigate the biological activity of organo-ruthenium/osmium complexes, demonstrating their ability to interfere with the activity of purified redox enzymes. Then, they discovered that these organo-ruthenium/osmium complexes could act independently of DNA damage and bypass the requirement for the tumor suppressor gene TP53 to induce the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway, which is an original cell death pathway. They showed that other types of ruthenium complexes-as well complexes with other metals (osmium, iron, platinum)-can induce this pathway as well. They also demonstrated that ruthenium complexes accumulate in the ER after entering the cell using passive and active mechanisms. These particular physico-chemical properties of the organometallic complexes designed by Dr. Pfeffer contribute to their ability to reduce tumor growth and angiogenesis. Taken together, the pioneering work of Dr. Michel Pfeffer over his career provides us with a legacy that we have yet to fully embrace.

Further Insight into the Lability of MeCN Ligands of Cytotoxic Cycloruthenated Compounds: Evidence for the Antisymbiotic Effect Trans to the Carbon Atom at the Ru Center.

The two MeCN ligands in [Ru(2-C6H4-2'-Py-κC,N)(Phen, trans-C)(MeCN)2]PF6 (1), both trans to a sp(2) hybridized N atom, cannot be substituted by any other ligand. In contrast, the isomerized derivative [Ru(2-C6H4-2'-Py-κC,N)(Phen, cis-C)(MeCN)2]PF6 (2), in which one MeCN ligand is now trans to the C atom of the phenyl ring orthometalated to Ru, leads to fast and quantitative substitution reactions with several monodentate ligands. With PPh3, 2 affords [Ru(2-C6H4-2'-Py-κC,N)(Phen, cis-C)(PPh3)(MeCN)]PF6 (3), in which PPh3 is trans to the C σ bound to Ru. Compound 3 is not kinetically stable, because, under thermodynamic control, it leads to 4, in which the PPh3 is trans to a N atom of the Phen ligand. Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) can also substitute a MeCN ligand in 2, leading to 5, in which DMSO is coordinated to Ru via its S atom trans to the N atom of the Phen ligand, the isomer under thermodynamic control being the only compound observed. We also found evidence for the fast to very fast substitution of MeCN in 2 by water or a chloride anion by studying the electronic spectra of 2 in the presence of water or NBu4Cl, respectively. An isomerization related to that observed between 3 and 4 is also found for the known monophosphine derivative [Ru(2-C6H4-2'-Py-κC,N)(PPh3, trans-C)(MeCN)3]PF6 (10), in which the PPh3 is located trans to the C of the cyclometalated 2-phenylpyridine, since, upon treatment by refluxing MeCN, it leads to its isomer 11, [Ru(2-C6H4-2'-Py-κC,N)(PPh3, cis-C)(MeCN)3]PF6. Further substitutions are also observed on 11, whereby N^N chelates (N^N = 2,2'-bipyridine and phenanthroline) substitute two MeCN ligands, affording [Ru(2-C6H4-2'-Py-κC,N)(PPh3, cis-C)(N^N)(MeCN)]PF6 (12a and 12b). Altogether, the behavior of the obtained complexes by ligand substitution reactions can be rationalized by an antisymbiotic effect on the Ru center, trans to the C atom of the cyclometalated unit, leading to compounds having the least nucleophilic ligand trans to C whenever an isomerization, involving either a monodentate or a bidentate ligand, is possible.

Complexation of DNA with ruthenium organometallic compounds: the high complexation ratio limit.

Interactions between DNA and ruthenium organometallic compounds are studied by using visible light absorption and circular dichroism measurements. A titration technique allowing for the absolute determination of the advancement degree of the complexation, without any assumption about the number of complexation modes is developed. When DNA is in excess, complexation involves intercalation of one of the organometallic compound ligands between DNA base pairs. But, in the high complexation ratio limit, where organometallic compounds are in excess relative to the DNA base pairs, a new mode of interaction is observed, in which the organometallic compound interacts weakly with DNA. The weak interaction mode, moreover, develops when all the DNA intercalation sites are occupied. A regime is reached in which one DNA base pair is linked to more than one organometallic compound.

Experimental and theoretical investigations of the self-association of oxaliplatin.

Self-aggregation in water of anti-cancer agents such as oxaliplatin (1) or its palladium-containing parent (2) is suspected to be the main reason for the exceptional resistance of concentrated infusions of these complexes to hydrolysis; this hypothesis, i.e. the self-association of metal chelates, was investigated in a systematic manner by experimental and theoretical means. (1)H diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY NMR) and UV-visible absorption titration were inconclusive as to the formation of a dimer of 1 in water or DMSO. Further isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) methods allowed the accurate determination of the enthalpy of formation of only the homodimer [2]2 and putative heterodimer [1·2] together with an estimation of the formation constants, which indicate that dimer formation is not a spontaneous process in solution, whereas electrospray ESI mass spectroscopy tends to suggest the contrary in the gas phase. A dispersion-corrected DFT method, i.e. DFT-D (BLYP-D3), was used to model the aggregation in solution (COSMO) and to investigate the assisting role of London force in the cohesion of bimolecular aggregates. The concordance of experimental and theoretical thermodynamic parameters was judged reasonably even though the treatment of solvation by conventional continuum models does not account for specific interactions of the solute with molecules of solvent; nonetheless these results outline the importance of dispersion, a.k.a. London force. The role of the latter was further stressed by computing the affinities of 1 and 2 for the lipophilic cavity of cucurbit[7]uril in modeled water (COSMO-RS), which were preliminarily determined experimentally by ITC methods using pure water as solvent. From our investigations carried out in pure water the connection between the notorious chemical stability of "concentrated" infusions of 1 in aqueous media and the formation of oligomers remains unsettled.

First stabilization of 14-electron rhodium(I) complexes by hemichelation.

Hemichelation is emerging as a new mode of coordination where non-covalent interactions crucially contribute to the cohesion of electron-unsaturated organometallic complexes. This study discloses an unprecedented demonstration of this concept to a Group 9 metal, that is, Rh(I). The syntheses of new 14-electron Rh(I) complexes were achieved by choosing the anti-[(η(6):η(6)-fluorenyl){Cr(CO)3}2] anion as the ambiphilic hemichelating ligand, which was treated with [{Rh(nbd)Cl}2] (nbd=norbornadiene) and [{Rh(CO)2Cl}2]. The new T-shaped Rh(I) hemichelates were characterized by analytical and structural methods. Investigations using the methods of the DFT and electron-density topology analysis (NCI region analysis, QTAIM theory) confirmed the closed-shell, non-covalent and attractive characters of the interaction between the Rh(I) center and the proximal Cr(CO)3 moiety. This study shows that, by appropriate tuning of the electronic properties of the ambiphilic ligand, truly coordination-unsaturated Rh(I) complexes can be synthesized in a manageable form.

Cancer cell cytotoxicity of cyclometalated compounds obtained with osmium(II) complexes.

A library of 29 organoosmium compounds has been built up with known and novel cyclometalated compounds obtained with C-N, N(∧)C(∧)N, and C(∧)N(∧)N ligands. All compounds have been tested for their in vitro cytotoxic properties against A172, a tumor cell line derived from a human glioblastoma, this affording a contrasted picture of the activities of the compounds gathered in this study. Some compounds displayed good to excellent activities, some of them showing IC50 in the nanomolar range. The level of activity was tentatively correlated to several physicochemical properties of the compounds such as their E(0)1/2(Os(III/II)) redox potential and their lipophilicity (log Po/w). A parallel with related ruthenium derivatives was tentatively proposed.

Synthesis of planar chiral iridacycles by cationic metal π-coordination: facial selectivity, and conformational and stereochemical consequences.

Facial selectivity during the π-coordination of pseudo-tetrahedral iridacycles by neutral (Cr(CO)(3)), monocationic (Cp*Ru(+)), and biscationic (Cp*Ir(2+)) metal centers was directly influenced by the coulombic imbalance in the coordination sphere of the chelated Ir center. We also showed by using theoretical calculations that the feasibility of the related metallacycles that displayed metallocenic planar chirality was dependent to the presence of an electron-donating group, such as NMe(2), which contributed to the overall stability of the complexes. When the π-bonded moiety was the strongly electron-withdrawing Cp*Ir(2+) group, the electron donation from NMe(2) resulted in major conformational changes, with a barrier to rotation of about 17 kcal mol(-1) for this group that became spectroscopically diastereotopic (high-field (1)H NMR spectroscopy). This peculiar property is proposed as a means to introduce a new type of constitutional chirality at the nitrogen center: planar chirality at tertiary aromatic amines.

The stereospecific ligand exchange at a pseudo-benzylic T-4 iridium centre in planar-chiral cycloiridium (eta(6)-arene)tricarbonylchromium complexes.

The stereospecificity of ligand exchange at the Ir(III) centre of a cycloiridium arenetricarbonylchromium complex has been established experimentally by various analytical methods as well as by X-ray diffraction structural analysis and computational investigations. Two new cases of phenyl and methyl iridium(III) complexes have been prepared by reaction of (S(P)*,R(Ir)*-chlorido{2-[(tricarbonyl)(eta(6)-phenylene-kappaC(1'))chromium(0)]pyridine-kappaN}(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)iridium(III) with PhMgBr and MeMgBr. The determining influence of electrostatic repulsion has been established by means of density functional theory at the Becke-Perdew/TZP(ZORA) level by using, among other means, energy partitioning analysis. It is also shown that the Cr(CO)(3) fragment is likely to ease the ionic cleavage of the Ir-Cl bond in chlorido cycloiridium tricarbonylchromium complexes in a way similar to that already established for the solvolysis of benzyl halide complexes, that is, through a direct interaction of the Cr(0) centre with the cationic Ir(III) centre.

Fast racemisation of chiral amines and alcohols by using cationic half-sandwich ruthena- and iridacycle catalysts.

The lipase-catalysed resolution of alcohols and amines yields only 50 % of the desired enantiopure product. However, addition of a racemisation catalyst leads to 100 % yield in what is called a dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR). There is a need for new racemisation catalysts that are fast and compatible with the conditions of the enzymatic reaction. We show that cationic half-sandwich ruthena- and iridacycle complexes are highly active and efficient in the racemisation of chiral alcohols and amines. Upon activation with base, these complexes are able to selectively racemise alcohols, whereas the non-activated complexes are selective catalysts for the racemisation of amines. We have applied the iridacycles in the DKR of racemic beta-chloroalcohols to produce chiral epoxides in a biphasic system in good yields and high ee (ee=enantiomeric excess).

A redox ruthenium compound directly targets PHD2 and inhibits the HIF1 pathway to reduce tumor angiogenesis independently of p53.

Targeting specific tumor metabolic needs represents an actively investigated therapeutic strategy to bypass tumor resistance mechanisms. In this study, we describe an original approach to impact the cancer metabolism by exploiting the redox properties of a ruthenium organometallic compound. This organometallic complex induced p53-independent cytotoxicity and reduced size and vascularization of patients-derived tumor explants that are resistant to platinum drugs. At the molecular level, the ruthenium complex altered redox enzyme activities and the intracellular redox state by increasing the NAD+/NADH ratio and ROS levels. Pathway analysis pointed to HIF-1 as a top deregulated metabolite pathway. Unlike cisplatin, treatment with the ruthenium complex decreased HIF1A protein levels and expression of HIF1A target genes. The rapid downregulation of HIF1A protein levels involved a direct interaction of the ruthenium compound with the redox enzyme PHD2, a HIF1A master regulator. HIF1A inhibition led to decreased angiogenesis in patient-derived xenografted using fragments of primary human colon tumors. Altogether, our results show that a ruthenium compound impacts metabolic pathways acting as anticancer agents in colon cancer via an original mechanism of action that affects redox enzymes differently than platinum-based drugs.

Dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic beta-haloalcohols: direct access to enantioenriched epoxides.

The direct chemo-enzymatic DKR of racemic beta-haloalcohols is reported, yielding the corresponding optically active epoxides in a single step. The mutant haloalcohol dehalogenase HheC Cys153Ser Trp249Phe is used for the asymmetric ring closure, whereas racemization of the remaining enantiomer of the haloalcohol is achieved using the new iridacycle 3, one of the most effective racemization catalysts to date for beta-haloalcohols.

µ(3)-Carbonato-κO:O':O''-tris-{(η-ben-zene)[(R)-1-(1-amino-ethyl)naphthyl-κC,N]ruthenium(II)} hexa-fluorido-phosphate dichloro-methane solvate.

The title compound, [Ru(3)(C(12)H(12)N)(3)(CO(3))(C(6)H(6))(3)]PF(6)·CH(2)Cl(2), was obtained unintentionally as the product of an attempted deprotonation of the monomeric parent ruthenium complex [Ru(C(12)H(12)N)(C(6)H(6))(C(2)H(3)N)]PF(6). The carbonate ligand bridges three half-sandwich cyclo-ruthenated fragments, each of them exhibiting a pseudo-tetra-hedral geometry. The configuration of the Ru atoms is S. The naphthyl groups of the enanti-opure cyclo-ruthenated benzylic amine ligands point in the same direction, adopting a propeller shape.

Calix[4]arene-fused phospholes.

An upper rim, o-(diphenylphosphinyl)phenyl-substituted calix[4]arene has been prepared and its coordinative properties investigated. When heated in the presence of palladium, the new biarylphosphine undergoes conversion into two diastereomeric, calixarene-fused phospholes. In both, the P lone pair adopts a fixed orientation with respect to the calixarene core. The more hindered phosphole (8), i.e. the one with the endo-oriented lone pair (cone angle 150°-175°), forms complexes having their metal centre positioned very near the calixarene unit but outside the cavity, thus inducing an unusual chemical shift of one of the methylenic ArCH2Ar protons owing to interactions with the metal centre. As expected for dibenzophospholes, the complex [Rh(acac)(CO)·8], when combined with one equivalent of free 8, efficiently catalyses the hydroformylation of styrene, the catalytic system displaying high regioselectivity in favour of the branched aldehyde (b/l ratio up to 30). The optical and redox properties of the derivatives have also been investigated.

trans-cis C-Pd-C rearrangement in hemichelates.

Kinetically unstable heteroleptic trans-bispalladacycles were isolated by using hemichelation. Three structures of trans isomers and five of cis isomers were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. The ready trans-to-cis isomerization of such hemichelates that was monitored by variable temperature NMR experiments is facilitated dynamically because the Pd(ii) center can preserve its square planar coordination in a rather low lying transition state, which was localized by methods of the density functional theory. This process is not achievable in the isomerization of conventional homoleptic trans-bispalladacycles since it involves the preliminary partial chelate decoordination and an unfavorable high-lying planar trigonal coordinated - or Y-shaped-Pd(ii) transition state according to DFT investigations.

A ruthenium anticancer compound interacts with histones and impacts differently on epigenetic and death pathways compared to cisplatin.

Ruthenium complexes are considered as potential replacements for platinum compounds in oncotherapy. Their clinical development is handicapped by a lack of consensus on their mode of action. In this study, we identify three histones (H3.1, H2A, H2B) as possible targets for an anticancer redox organoruthenium compound (RDC11). Using purified histones, we confirmed an interaction between the ruthenium complex and histones that impacted on histone complex formation. A comparative study of the ruthenium complex versus cisplatin showed differential epigenetic modifications on histone H3 that correlated with differential expression of histone deacetylase (HDAC) genes. We then characterized the impact of these epigenetic modifications on signaling pathways employing a transcriptomic approach. Clustering analyses showed gene expression signatures specific for cisplatin (42%) and for the ruthenium complex (30%). Signaling pathway analyses pointed to specificities distinguishing the ruthenium complex from cisplatin. For instance, cisplatin triggered preferentially p53 and folate biosynthesis while the ruthenium complex induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and trans-sulfuration pathways. To further understand the role of HDACs in these regulations, we used suberanilohydroxamic acid (SAHA) and showed that it synergized with cisplatin cytotoxicity while antagonizing the ruthenium complex activity. This study provides critical information for the characterization of signaling pathways differentiating both compounds, in particular, by the identification of a non-DNA direct target for an organoruthenium complex.

Palladium-benzodiazepine derivatives as promising metallodrugs for the development of antiepileptic therapies.

We synthesized two organometallic diazepam-palladium(II) derivatives by C-H activation of diazepam (DZP) with palladium salts, i.e., PdCl2 and Pd(OAc)2 (OAc=acetate). Both compounds obtained are air stable and were isolated in good yields. The anticonvulsant potential of the complexes, labeled [(DZP)PdCl]2 and [(DZP)PdOAc]2, was evaluated through two animal models: pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)- and picrotoxin (PTX)-induced convulsions. The organometallic DZP-palladium(II) acetate complex, [(DZP)PdOAc]2, significantly increased (p<0.01 or p<0.001) latencies and protected the animals against convulsions induced by PTZ and PTX, while the analogous chloro derivative, [(DZP)PdCl]2, was effective (p<0.01) only in the PTZ model. These effects appear to be mediated through the GABAergic system. The possible mechanism of action of the DZP-palladium(II) complexes was also confirmed with the use of flumazenil (FLU), a GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor complex site antagonist. Herein, we present the first report of the anticonvulsant properties of organometallic DZP-palladium(II) complexes as well as evidence that these compounds may play an important role in the study of new drugs to treat patients with epilepsy.

Cycloruthenated primary and secondary amines as efficient catalyst precursors for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation.

[reaction: see text] Ruthenacycles obtained by cyclometalation of enantiopure aromatic primary or secondary amines with [(eta6-benzene)RuCl2]2 or with [(eta6-p-cymene)RuCl2]2 are efficient catalysts for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (TOF up to 190 h(-1) at room temperature). Enantioselectivities in the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone ranged from 38% to 89%. It is possible to prepare the catalysts in situ, which allows the use of high throughput experimentation.

Expression of the prohelicity of bis-cyclomanganated 2,3-diphenylquinoxaline through reactions with diaryldiazomethanes.

The reactions of bis-cyclomanganated 2,3-diphenylquinoxaline with diazodiphenylmethane and 9-diazofluorene allowed the formation of a new oligomeric and dinuclear manganospiralene and the ready preparation of a pentacyclic helix comprising two (eta 5-fluorenyl)Mn(CO)3 fragments, whose helicity can be locked upon one-dimensional linear coordination to silver cation.

Novel heteroleptic cis-(C--N)2Pd(II) chelates for the preparation of enantiopure planar chiral cyclopalladated 2-[tricarbonyl(eta6-phenyl)chromium]pyridine.

In the presence of large amounts of [Me4N]Cl, the reaction of ortho-chloromercurated 2-[(eta6-phenyl)tricarbonylchromium]pyridine with mu-chloro cyclopalladated aromatic compounds yields a series of new heteroleptic heterodinuclear cis-(C--N)2Pd(II) complexes, which are valuable precursors of planar chiral cyclopalladated (eta6-arene)Cr(CO)3 complexes.