Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Solution Properties ofN-Methylene(phenyl)phosphinic Acid Derivatives of Cyclen and Cyclam

Complexes of divalent europium with dotp and dotpph

Structures, electron spectroscopy and theoretical (DFT and TD DFT) analyses of two complexes of Eu(ii) with phosphonate and phosphinate ligands based on cyclen ring are presented.

Protolysis and Complex Formation of Organophosphorus Compounds-Characterization by NMR-Controlled Titrations

Phosphonic acids, aminophosphonic acids, and phosphonocarboxylic acids are characterized by an advanced hyphenated technique, combining potentiometric titration with NMR spectroscopy. Automated measurements involving 13C, 19F and 31P nuclei lead to "pseudo 2D NMR" spectra, where chemical shifts or coupling constants are correlated with analytical parameters. Dissociation constants, stability constants, dynamic and specific chemical shifts are determined. Macroscopic and microscopic dissociation equilibria are discussed.

KEV: A free software for calculating the equilibrium composition and determining the equilibrium constants using UV-Vis and potentiometric data

Present paper reports on an algorithm for calculating the equilibrium composition of several compounds mixture if their total (equilibrium) concentrations and the equilibrium constants of reactions between them are known. The algorithm for determining the unknown equilibrium constants from UV-Vis or potentiometric experimental data using minimizing function (maximal likelihood method) is described. The recommendations on the evaluating of equilibrium constants from experimental results are given. The algorithms described are realized as free-of-charge distributed software/scripts bundle/source code.

Rapid Dissolution of BaSO4 by Macropa, an 18-Membered Macrocycle with High Affinity for Ba2

Insoluble BaSO4 scale is a costly and time-consuming problem in the petroleum industry. Clearance of BaSO4-impeded pipelines requires chelating agents that can efficiently bind Ba2+, the largest nonradioactive +2 metal ion. Due to the poor affinity of currently available chelating agents for Ba2+, however, the dissolution of BaSO4 remains inefficient, requiring very basic solutions of ligands. In this study, we investigated three diaza-18-crown-6 macrocycles bearing different pendent arms for the chelation of Ba2+ and assessed their potential for dissolving BaSO4 scale. Remarkably, the bis-picolinate ligand macropa exhibits the highest affinity reported to date for Ba2+ at pH 7.4 (log K' = 10.74), forming a complex of significant kinetic stability with this large metal ion. Furthermore, the BaSO4 dissolution properties of macropa dramatically surpass those of the state-of-the-art ligands DTPA and DOTA. Using macropa, complete dissolution of a molar equivalent of BaSO4 is reached within 30 min at room temperature in pH 8 buffer, conditions under which DTPA and DOTA only achieve 40% dissolution of BaSO4. When further applied for the dissolution of natural barite, macropa also outperforms DTPA, showing that this ligand is potentially valuable for industrial processes. Collectively, this work demonstrates that macropa is a highly effective chelator for Ba2+ that can be applied for the remediation of BaSO4 scale.

Synthesis of Symmetrical Tetrameric Conjugates of the Radiolanthanide Chelator DOTPI for Application in Endoradiotherapy by Means of Click Chemistry

Due to its 4 carbonic acid groups being available for bioconjugation, the cyclen tetraphosphinate chelator DOTPI, 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7, 10-tetrakis[methylene(2-carboxyethylphosphinic acid)], represents an ideal scaffold for synthesis of tetrameric bioconjugates for labeling with radiolanthanides, to be applied as endoradiotherapeuticals. We optimized a protocol for bio-orthogonal DOTPI conjugation via Cu(I)-catalyzed Huisgen-cycloaddition of terminal azides and alkynes (CuAAC), based on the building block DOTPI(azide)₄. A detailed investigation of kinetic properties of Cu(II)-DOTPI complexes aimed at optimization of removal of DOTPI-bound copper by transchelation. Protonation and equilibrium properties of Ca(II)-, Zn(II), and Cu(II)-complexes of DOTPI and its tetra-cyclohexylamide DOTPI(Chx)₄ (a model for DOTPI conjugates) as well as kinetic inertness (transchelation challenge in the presence of 20 to 40-fold excess of EDTA) were investigated by pH-potentiometry and spectrophotometry. Similar stability constants of Ca^II-, Zn^II, and Cu^II-complexes of DOTPI (logK_(CaL) = 8.65, logK_(ZnL = 15.40, logK_(CuL) = 20.30) and DOTPI(Chx)₄ (logK_(CaL) = 8.99, logK_(ZnL) = 15.13, logK_(CuL) = 20.42) were found. Transchelation of Cu(II)-complexes occurs via proton-assisted dissociation, whereafter released Cu(II) is scavenged by EDTA. The corresponding dissociation rates [k_d = 25 × 10⁻⁷ and 5 × 10⁻⁷ s⁻¹ for Cu(DOTPI) and Cu(DOTPI(Chx)₄), respectively, at pH 4 and 298 K] indicate that conjugation increases the kinetic inertness by a factor of 5. However, demetallation is completed within 4.5 and 7.2 h at pH 2 and 25°C, respectively, indicating that Cu(II) removal after formation of CuAAC can be achieved in an uncomplicated manner by addition of excess H₄EDTA. For proof-of-principle, tetrameric DOTPI conjugates of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeting motif Lys-urea-Glu (KuE) were synthesized via CuAAC as well as dibenzo-azacyclooctine (DBCO) based, strain-promoted click chemistry (SPAAC), which were labeled with Lu-177 and subsequently evaluated in vitro and in SCID mice bearing subcutaneous LNCaP tumor (PSMA+ human prostate carcinoma) xenografts. High affinities (3.4 and 1.4 nM, respectively) and persistent tumor uptakes (approx. 3.5% 24 h after injection) confirm suitability of DOTPI-based tetramers for application in targeted radionuclide therapy.

Enantiomeric Recognition of d- and l-Lactate by CEST with the Aid of a Paramagnetic Shift Reagent

A previous report demonstrated that EuDO3A could be used as an NMR shift reagent for imaging extracellular lactate produced by cancer cells using CEST imaging. In this work, a series of heptadentate macrocyclic YbDO3A-trisamide complexes with δ-chiral carbons in the three pendant side-arms were examined as shift reagents for lactate detection. High resolution 1H NMR spectra and DFT calculations provided evidence for the formation of stereoselective lactate·YbDO3A-trisamide complexes each with a different CEST signature. This stereoselectivity allowed discrimination of d- versus l-lactate by both high-resolution NMR and CEST. This work demonstrates that lanthanide-based paramagnetic shift reagents can be designed to detect important metabolites by CEST MRI selectively.

Eu(III) Complex with DO3A-amino-phosphonate Ligand as a Concentration-Independent pH-Responsive Contrast Agent for Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)

A new DOTA-like ligand H₅do3aNP with a 2-[amino(methylphosphonic acid)]ethyl-coordinating pendant arm was prepared, and its coordinating properties were studied by NMR spectroscopy and potentiometry. The study revealed a rare slow exchange (on the ¹H and ³¹P NMR time scale) between protonated and unprotonated complex species with a corresponding acidity constant pK_A ∼ 8.0. This unusually slow time scale associated with protonation is caused by a significant geometric change from square-antiprismatic (SA) arrangement observed for protonated complex SA-[Eu(Hdo3aNP)]^- to twisted-square-antiprismatic (TSA) arrangement found for deprotonated complex TSA-[Eu(do3aNP)]^2-. This behavior results in simultaneous occurrence of the signals of both species in the ³¹P NMR spectra at approximately -118 and +70 ppm, respectively. Such an unprecedented difference in the chemical shifts between species differing by a proton is caused by a significant movement of the principal magnetic axis and by a change of phosphorus atom position in the coordination sphere of the central Eu(III) ion (i.e., by relative movement of the phosphorus atom with respect to the principal magnetic axis). It changes the sign of the paramagnetic contribution to the ³¹P NMR chemical shift. The properties discovered can be employed in the measurement of pH by MRS techniques as presented by proof-of-principle experiments on phantoms.

A cyclen-based tetraphosphinate chelator for the preparation of radiolabeled tetrameric bioconjugates

The cyclen-based tetraphosphinate chelator 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetrakis[methylene(2-carboxyethyl)phosphinic acid] (DOTPI) comprises four additional carboxylic acid moieties for bioconjugation. The thermodynamic stability constants (logK(ML)) of metal complexes, as determined by potentiometry, were 23.11 for Cu(II), 20.0 for Lu(III), 19.6 for Y(III), and 21.0 for Gd(III). DOTPI was functionalized with four cyclo(Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Phe-Lys) (RGD) peptides through polyethylene glycol (PEG4) linkers. The resulting tetrameric conjugate DOTPI(RGD)4 was radiolabeled with (177)Lu and (64)Cu and showed improved labeling efficiency compared with 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA). The labeled compounds were fully stable in transchelation challenges against trisodium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA) and disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (ETDA), in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and human plasma. Integrin αvβ3 affinities of the non-radioactive Lu(III) and Cu(II) complexes of DOTPI(RGD)4 were 18 times higher (both IC50 about 70 picomolar) than that of the c(RGDfK) peptide (IC50 = 1.3 nanomolar). Facile access to tetrameric conjugates and the possibility of radiolabeling with therapeutic and diagnostic radionuclides render DOTPI suitable for application in peptide receptor radionuclide imaging (PRRI) and therapy (PRRT).

Bisphosphonates as radionuclide carriers for imaging or systemic therapy

Bisphosphonates (BP's), biologically stable analogs of naturally occurring pyrophosphates, became the treatment of choice for pathologic conditions characterized by increased osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, namely Paget's disease, osteoporosis and tumor bone disease. Moreover, the clinical success of BP's is also associated with their use in (99m)Tc-based radiopharmaceuticals for bone imaging. In addition to the successful delivery of (99m)Tc (γ-emitter) to bone, BP's have also been used to deliver β(-)-particle emitting radiometals (e.g.(153)Sm, (186/188)Re) for bone-pain palliation. The main goal of this Review is to update the most recent research efforts toward the synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of novel BP-containing radiometal complexes and radiohalogenated compounds for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The structure and in vivo properties of those compounds will be discussed and compared to the clinically available ones, namely in terms of image quality and therapeutic effect. We will also mention briefly the use of BP's as carriers of multimodal nuclear and optical imaging probes.

Lanthanide(III) complexes of 4,10-bis(phosphonomethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,7-diacetic acid (trans-H6do2a2p) in solution and in the solid state: structural studies along the series

Complexes of 4,10-bis(phosphonomethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,7-diacetic acid (trans-H(6)do2a2p, H(6)L) with transition metal and lanthanide(III) ions were investigated. The stability constant values of the divalent and trivalent metal-ion complexes are between the corresponding values of H(4)dota and H(8)dotp complexes, as a consequence of the ligand basicity. The solid-state structures of the ligand and of nine lanthanide(III) complexes were determined by X-ray diffraction. All the complexes are present as twisted-square-antiprismatic isomers and their structures can be divided into two series. The first one involves nona-coordinated complexes of the large lanthanide(III) ions (Ce, Nd, Sm) with a coordinated water molecule. In the series of Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Er, Yb, the complexes are octa-coordinated only by the ligand donor atoms and their coordination cages are more irregular. The formation kinetics and the acid-assisted dissociation of several Ln(III)-H(6)L complexes were investigated at different temperatures and compared with analogous data for complexes of other dota-like ligands. The [Ce(L)(H(2)O)](3-) complex is the most kinetically inert among complexes of the investigated lanthanide(III) ions (Ce, Eu, Gd, Yb). Among mixed phosphonate-acetate dota analogues, kinetic inertness of the cerium(III) complexes is increased with a higher number of phosphonate arms in the ligand, whereas the opposite is true for europium(III) complexes. According to the (1)H NMR spectroscopic pseudo-contact shifts for the Ce-Eu and Tb-Yb series, the solution structures of the complexes reflect the structures of the [Ce(HL)(H(2)O)](2-) and [Yb(HL)](2-) anions, respectively, found in the solid state. However, these solution NMR spectroscopic studies showed that there is no unambiguous relation between (31)P/(1)H lanthanide-induced shift (LIS) values and coordination of water in the complexes; the values rather express a relative position of the central ions between the N(4) and O(4) planes.

Chemical and biological evaluation of 153Sm and 166Ho complexes of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetrakis(methylphosphonic acid monoethylester) (H4 dotp OEt)

The novel methylphosphonic acid monoethylester (H(4)dotp(OEt)) has been synthesized and characterized and their complexes with Sm(III) and Ho(III) ions were studied. Dissociation constants of the ligand are lower than those of H(4)dota. The stability constants of the Ln(III)-H(4)dotp(OEt) complexes are surprisingly much lower that those of H(4)dota (H(4)dota=1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid) probably due to a lower coordination ability of the phosphonate monoester groups. Acid-assisted decomplexation studies have shown that both complexes are less kinetically inert than the H(4)dota complexes, but still much more inert than complexes of open-chain ligands. Nevertheless, the synthesis of (153)Sm and (166)Ho complexes with this ligand led to stable complexes both in vitro and in vivo. A very low binding of these complexes to hydroxyapatite (HA) and calcified tissues was observed confirming the assumption that a fully ionized phosphonate group(s) is necessary for a strong bone affinity. Both complexes show similar behaviour in vivo and, in general, follow the biodistribution trend of the H(4)dota complexes with the same metals.

Thermodynamic study of lanthanide(iii) complexes with bifunctional monophosphinic acid analogues of H4dota and comparative kinetic study of yttrium(iii) complexes

New bifunctional H(4)dota-like ligands with three acetic acid and one phosphinic acid pendant arms and propionate (H(5)do3ap(PrA)) or 4-aminobenzyl (H(4)do3ap(ABn)) reactive groups bound to the phosphorus atom were investigated. Potentiometric studies showed that the ligands have a similar basicity to the parent H(4)dota and the stability constants of their complexes with sodium(i) and selected lanthanide(III) ions are also similar. Formation and acid-assisted decomplexation kinetics of yttrium(III) complexes with a series of H(4)dota-like ligands (H(4)dota and its phosphinic/phosphonic acid analogues) were studied and the reactions are sensitive to a slight modification of the ligand structure. The (2-carboxyethyl)phosphinic acid derivative H(5)do3ap(PrA) and the phosphonic acid ligand H(5)do3ap form complexes faster than H(4)dota. The most kinetically inert complex is that with H(4)do3ap(ABn). Rates of complexation and decomplexation can depend on the ability to transfer proton(s) outside/inside the complex cavity and, therefore, on the hydrophobicity of the ligands. The results demonstrate that the new bifunctional ligands are suitable for labelling biomolecules with yttrium(iii) radioisotopes for utilization in nuclear medicine.

Metal complexes of cyclen and cyclam derivatives useful for medical applications: a discussion based on thermodynamic stability constants and structural data

A series of the most common chelators used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and in radiopharmaceuticals for medical diagnosis and tumour therapy, H(4)dota, H(4)teta, H(8)dotp and H(8)tetp, is examined from a chemical point of view. Differences between 12- and 14-membered tetraazamacrocyclic derivatives with methylcarboxylate and methylphosphonate pendant arms and their chelates with divalent first-series transition metal and trivalent lanthanide ions are discussed on the basis of their thermodynamic stability constants, X-ray structures and theoretical studies.

Thermodynamic, kinetic and solid-state study of divalent metal complexes of 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam) bearing two trans (1,8-)methylphosphonic acid pendant arms

Divalent metal complexes of macrocyclic ligand 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-bis(methylphosphonic acid)) (1,8-H4te2p, H4L) were investigated in solution and in the solid state. The majority of transition-metal ions form thermodynamically very stable complexes as a consequence of high affinity for the nitrogen atoms of the ring. On the other hand, complexes with Mn2+, Pb2+ and alkaline earth ions interacting mainly with phosphonate oxygen atoms are much weaker than those of transition-metal ions and are formed only at higher pH. The same tendency is seen in the solid state. Zinc(II) ion in the octahedral trans-O,O-[Zn(H2L)] complex is fully encapsulated within the macrocycle (N4O2 coordination mode with protonated phosphonate oxygen atoms). The polymeric {[Pb(H2L)(H2O)2].6H2O}n complex has double-protonated secondary amino groups and the central atom is bound only to the phosphonate oxygen atoms. The phosphonate moieties bridge lead atoms creating a 3D-polymeric network. The [{(H2O)5Mn}2(micro-H2L)](H2L).21H2O complex contains two pentaaquamanganese(II) moieties bridged by a ligand molecule protonated on two nitrogen atoms. In the complex cation, oxygen atoms of the phosphonate groups on the opposite sites of the ring occupy one coordination site of each metal ion. The second ligand molecule is diprotonated and balances the positive charge of the complex cation. Complexation of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) by the ligand shows large differences in reactivity of differently protonated ligand species similarly to other cyclam-like complexes. Acid-assisted dissociations of metal(II) complexes occur predominantly through triprotonated species [M(H3L)]+ and take place at pH < 5 (Zn2+) and pH < 6 (Cd2+).

Cyclam (1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) with one methylphosphonate pendant arm: a new ligand for selective copper(ii) binding

The new ligand, [(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecan-1-yl)methyl]phosphonic acid (H(2)te1P, H(2)L), was synthesized and its complexing properties towards selected metal ions were studied potentiometrically. The ligand forms a very stable complex with copper(ii)(logbeta(CuL)= 27.34), with a high selectivity over binding of other metal ions (i.e. logbeta(ZnL)= 21.03). The crystal structures of the free ligand (in its protonated form with bromide as counter-ion) and two copper(ii) complexes (obtained by crystallization at various pH) were determined. The free ligand adopts the common conformation for such macrocycles with the protonated nitrogen atoms in the corners of a virtual rectangle. In the trans-Br,O-[Cu(Br)(Hte1P)].H(2)O species, the central metal ion is surrounded by four in plane nitrogen atoms, one oxygen atom of the pendant moiety in the apical position and a bromide anion positioned trans to the oxygen atom, forming a distorted octahedral coordination sphere. In the compound [Cu(H(2)te1P)][Cu(Hte1P)]Br(3).6H(2)O, obtained from a highly acidic solution, the bromide anions are placed further away from the copper(ii) ion and the coordination environment (N(4)O) is thus square-pyramidal. In both structures, the protons are associated with non-coordinated phosphonate oxygen atoms.

Thermodynamic and Kinetic Studies of Lanthanide(III) Complexes with H5do3ap (1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic-10-(methylphosphonic Acid)), a Monophosphonate Analogue of H4dota

Solution properties of complexes of a new H4dota-like ligand containing three acetate and one methylphosphonate pendant arms (H5do3ap, H5L) were studied. The ligand exhibits a high last dissociation constant (pKA = 13.83) as a consequence of the presence of phosphonate moiety. In solution, successive attachment of protons leads to several reorganizations of protonation sites and the neutral zwitterionic species H5do3ap has the same solution structure as in the solid state, where the nitrogen atom binding methylphosphonate and the opposite nitrogen atoms are protonated. Stability constants with Na+ and trivalent lanthanide ions (La3+, Ce3+, Eu3+, Gd3+, Lu3+) and Y3+ have been determined. The constants are comparable or higher than those of H4dota due to the higher overall basicity of H5do3ap. Formation of the stable protonated complexes, as well as complexes with the L:M = 1:2 stoichiometry, was proved. Formation and decomplexation kinetics of the Ce3+ and Gd3+ complexes were investigated. The mechanism of formation of the H5do3ap complexes is similar to that observed for H4dota complexes and the complex species with mono- or diprotonated ligand on the cyclen ring are considered as the reaction intermediates. Acid-assisted decomplexation of H5do3ap complexes is faster in comparison with those of H4dota. This is caused by higher basicity of the phosphonate pendant arm and the ring nitrogen atoms, which facilitates the proton transfer from the bulk solution to the nitrogen atoms of cyclen ring.

Application of multivariate resolution methods to the study of biochemical and biophysical processes

Multivariate resolution methods make up a set of mathematical tools that may be applied to the analysis and interpretation of spectroscopic data recorded when monitoring a physical or chemical process with multichannel detectors. The goal of resolution methods is the recovery of chemical and/or physical information from the experimental data. Such data include, for example, the number of intermediates present in a reaction, the rate or equilibrium constants, and the spectra for each one of those intermediates. Multivariate resolution methods have been shown to be useful for the study of biophysical and biochemical processes such as folding/unfolding of proteins or nucleic acids. The present article reviews the most frequently used resolution methods, the limitations on their use, and their latest applications in protein and nucleic acid research.

Ligand-tetrahydrofuran coupling in chelated aluminum phosphinates

When the reagents LAlMe (L = N,N'-(alkylene or arylene)bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl)salicylideneimine (alkylene = ethylene (Salen(tBu))(1), propylene (Salpen(tBu))(2), and butylene (Salben(tBu)) (3); arylene = phenylene (Salophen(tBu) (4), 3,4-dimethylphenylene (Salomphen(tBu) (5)) are combined with Ph(H)P(O)OH in tetrahydrofuran (thf) the unique aluminophosphinate compounds, [L(tBu)Al[O(2)P(H)Ph]](n) with L, n = Salen,(infinity)(6), Salpen, 2 (7), Salben, 2 (8), Salophen, (infinity)(9) and Salomphen, (infinity)(10) are produced. The yields for the latter two reactions are low, and it was subsequently found that the unique thf-coupled compounds appear in the thf filtrates of the original reaction mixture. These compounds are, [L-thf(tBu)Al[O(2)P(H)Ph]](2), L = Salophen (13) and Salomphen (14). The thf connects through an alpha-carbon to only one of the two possible imine carbons of the ligand. While trying to determine how this coupling proceeds, the six-coordinate, solution-state species LAlMe(thf) (L = Salophen (11) and Salomphen (12) were discovered and implicated as intermediates. All of the compounds are characterized by melting point, NMR, IR, and X-ray analyses for 5-8, 13, and 14. A possible mechanism for the thf coupling event is presented.

Unusual cis/trans Isomerism in Octahedral Nickel(II) Complexes with 1,4,8,11-Tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-bis(methylphosphonic Acid) as a Ligand

Nickel(II) ion reacts with 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-bis(methylphosphonic acid) (H4L1) at room temperature with formation of cis-[Ni(L1)]2- complex. The complex was crystallised in several forms in dependence on conditions of isolation (temperature, pH, solvent mixture). Crystal structures of cis-O,O-[Ni(H2L1)] (1), cis-O,O-[Ni(H2L1)]·2H2O (2), cis-O,O-[Ni(H3L1)]Cl·H2O (3) and cis-O,O-[Ni(H4L1)]Cl2·2H2O (4) were determined by X-ray diffraction. In all the compounds, Ni2+ is in octahedral cis-O1,O2-trans-N1,N8-cis-O1,N4-[Ni(L1)]2- (hereafter abbreviated as cis-O,O-[Ni(L1)]2-) arrangement with V conformation of the cyclam ring. Complexes 3 and 4 exhibit very unusual coordination through the phosphoryl group of double-protonated phosphonate moiety. Tetraethylester of H4L1 having only poorly coordinating phosphoryl oxygen atoms also forms nickel(II) complex 5 with cis arrangement. Corresponding trans-O,O-[Ni(L1)]2- complex is formed only in strongly acidic medium through conversion of the cis complex; it was characterised by X-ray diffraction as dihydrochloride dihydrate, trans-O,O-[Ni(H4L1)]Cl2·2H2O (6). The analogous compound (NH4)2(trans-O,O-[Ni(L2)])·H2O (7) is obtained quantitatively by reaction of Ni2+ with 4,11-dibenzyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-bis(methylphosphonic acid) (H4L2). Formation of this complex 7 in the III cyclam ring conformation is preferred to the cis complex due to steric hindrance of bulky benzyl groups in cis-[Ni(L2)]2- complex with the V cyclam ring conformation.

Crystal Structures and Reactivity of 3a,5a,8a,10a-Tetraazaperhydropyrene Derivatives. An Alternative Approach to Selective Nitrogen Alkylation of 1,4,8,11-Tetraazacyclotetradecane (Cyclam)

1-Alkyl and 1,8-dialkyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecanes (alkyl = benzyl or methyl) were synthesised through cis-aminal of cyclam which was obtained by reaction of glyoxal and cyclam. The corresponding trans-aminal was synthesised from the respective linear tetraamine and glyoxal followed by cyclisation using 1,2-dibromoethane. The trans-aminal derivatives cannot be used for preparation of cyclam or its derivatives due to exceptional stability of the aminal bridge. The different reactivity of both cis- and trans-aminals is discussed on the basis of the X-ray structures determined for a series of the cyclam derivatives and could be explained by steric hindrance in the trans-aminals.

Bis(methylphosphonic Acid) Derivatives of 1,4,8,11-Tetraazacyclotetradecane (Cyclam). Synthesis, Crystal and Molecular Structures, and Solution Properties

Cyclam derivatives with methylphosphonic acid arms in position 1,8 and substituent R = H, Me, CH2Ph in positions 4 and 11 are synthesised by Mannich reaction of an appropriate cyclam derivative, formaldehyde and phosphonic acid/diethyl phosphite followed by removal of protecting benzyl groups from nitrogen atoms. Mono(methylphosphonic acid) derivative of cyclam can be obtained by a similar route. Crystal structures of four phosphonic acid derivatives show the same ring conformation and orientation pendants due to strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds between phosphonate oxygen atoms and protonated nitrogen atoms adjacent over ethylene chains. The hydrogen bonds are stable even in aqueous solution. Activation parameters for destabilisation of the conformation are estimated from temperature-dependent NMR measurement. The protonation constants determined confirm the expected high basicity of the compounds and its dependence on the nitrogen atom substituents. The enhanced basicity of the nitrogen atoms non-bonded to methylenephosphonic acid moiety, is explained by the presence of the strong hydrogen bonds.