Chemical and biological profiles of novel copper(II) complexes containing S-donor ligands for the treatment of cancer.

In the last years, we have synthesized some new platinum(II), palladium(II), gold(I/III) complexes with dithiocarbamato derivatives as potential anticancer drugs, to obtain compounds with superior chemotherapeutic index in terms of increased bioavailability, higher cytotoxicity, and lower side effects than cisplatin. On the basis of the obtained encouraging results, we have been studying the interaction of CuCl2 with methyl-/ethyl-/tert-butylsarcosine-dithiocarbamato moieties in a 1:2 molar ratio; we also synthesized and studied the N,N-dimethyl- and pyrrolidine-dithiocarbamato copper complexes for comparison purposes. The reported compounds have been successfully isolated, purified, and fully characterized by means of several spectroscopic techniques. Moreover, the electrochemical properties of the designed compounds have been studied through cyclic voltammetry. In addition, the behavior in solution was followed by means of UV-vis technique to check the stability with time in physiological conditions. To evaluate their in vitro cytotoxic properties, preliminary biological assays (MTT test) have been carried out on a panel of human tumor cell lines. The results show that cytotoxicity levels of all of the tested complexes are comparable or even greater than that of the reference drug (cisplatin).

Structural characterization, solution studies, and DFT calculations on a series of binuclear gold(III) oxo complexes: relationships to biological properties.

A series of structurally related oxo-bridged binuclear gold(III) compounds, [Au2(mu-O)2(N;N)2](PF6)2, where N;N is 2,2'-bipyridine or a substituted 2,2'-bipyridine, have recently been shown to exhibit appreciable stability under physiological-like conditions and to manifest important antiproliferative effects toward selected human tumor cell lines (J. Med. Chem. 2006, 49, 5524). The crystal structures of four members of this series, namely, [Au2(mu-O)2(bipy)2](PF6)2, cis-[Au2(mu-O)2(6-Mebipy)2](PF6)2, trans-[Au2(mu-O)2(6-oXylbipy)2](PF6)2, and [Au2(mu-O)2(6,6'-Me2bipy)2](PF6)2, have been solved here and the respective structural parameters comparatively analyzed. Remarkably, all of the compounds contain a common structural motif consisting of a Au2O2 "diamond core" linked to two bipyridine ligands in a roughly planar arrangement. Interestingly, introduction of different kinds of alkyl or aryl substituents on the 6 (and 6') position(s) of the bipyridine ligand leads to small structural changes that nonetheless greatly affect the reactivity of the metal centers. The chemical behavior of these compounds in solution has been studied in detail, focusing in particular on the electrochemical properties. Some initial correlations among the structural parameters, the chemical behavior in solution, and the known cytotoxic effects of these compounds are proposed. Notably, we have found that the 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine derivative, which showed the largest structural deviations with respect to the model compound [Au2(mu-O)2(bipy)2](PF6)2, also had the highest oxidizing power, the least thermal stability, and the greatest cytotoxic activity. The positive correlation that exists between the oxidizing power and the antiproliferative effects seems to be of particular interest. Moreover, the electronic structures of these compounds were extensively analyzed using DFT methods, and the effects of the various substituents on reactivity were predicted; overall, very good agreement between theoretical expectations and experimental data was achieved. In turn, theoretical predictions offer interesting hints for the design of new, more active binuclear gold(III) compounds.

New copper(II)/cyclic tetrapeptide system that easily oxidizes to copper(III) under atmospheric oxygen.

A 13-membered ring cyclic tetrapeptide was synthesized by the solid-phase peptide synthesis method, and its copper(II) coordination properties were analyzed by optical spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and electrochemistry. All collected data strongly support the presence, at alkaline pH, of a stable peptide/copper(III) complex that is formed in solution by atmospheric dioxygen oxidation. On the basis of previous studies on cyclic peptide/copper systems, we suggest that the copper(III) ion is at the center of the ligand's cavity being coordinated to four deprotonated amide nitrogen atoms. This donor set would greatly lower the redox potential for the CuIII/CuII couple, thus allowing easy oxidation of the coordinated copper(II) by atmospheric oxygen.