Switching between Inner- and Outer-Sphere PCET Mechanisms of Small-Molecule Activation: Superoxide Dismutation and Oxygen/Superoxide Reduction Reactivity Deriving from the Same Manganese Complex

Readily exchangeable water molecules are commonly found in the active sites of oxidoreductases, yet the overwhelming majority of studies on small-molecule mimics of these enzymes entirely ignores the contribution of water to the reactivity. Studies of how these enzymes can continue to function in spite of the presence of highly oxidizing species are likewise limited. The mononuclear Mn^II complex with the potentially hexadentate ligand N-(2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl)-N,N',N'-tris(2-pyridinylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (L^OH) was previously found to act as both a H₂O₂-responsive MRI contrast agent and a mimic of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Here, we studied this complex in aqueous solutions at different pH values in order to determine its (i) acid-base equilibria, (ii) coordination equilibria, (iii) substitution lability and operative mechanisms for water exchange, (iv) redox behavior and ability to participate in proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions, (v) SOD activity and reductive activity toward both oxygen and superoxide, and (vi) mechanism for its transformation into the binuclear Mn^II complex with ^(H)OL-L^OH and its hydroxylated derivatives. The conclusions drawn from potentiometric titrations, low-temperature mass spectrometry, temperature- and pressure-dependent ¹⁷O NMR spectroscopy, electrochemistry, stopped-flow kinetic analyses, and EPR measurements were supported by the structural characterization and quantum chemical analysis of proposed intermediate species. These comprehensive studies enabled us to determine how transiently bound water molecules impact the rate and mechanism of SOD catalysis. Metal-bound water molecules facilitate the PCET necessary for outer-sphere SOD activity. The absence of the water ligand, conversely, enables the inner-sphere reduction of both superoxide and dioxygen. The L^OH complex maintains its SOD activity in the presence of ^•OH and Mn^IV-oxo species by channeling these oxidants toward the synthesis of a functionally equivalent binuclear Mn^II species.

DNA binding properties, histidine interaction and cytotoxicity studies of water soluble ruthenium(ii) terpyridine complexes

In this study, two representatives of previously synthesized ruthenium(ii) terpyridine complexes, i.e., [Ru(Cl-tpy)(en)Cl][Cl] (1) and [Ru(Cl-tpy)(dach)Cl][Cl] (2), were chosen and a detailed study of the kinetic parameters of their reactivity toward l-histidine (l-His), using the UV-Vis and (1)H NMR techniques, was developed. The inner molecular rearrangement from N3-coordinated l-His to the N1 bound isomer, observable in the NMR data, was corroborated by DFT calculations favoring N1 coordination by nearly 4 kcal mol(-1). These two ruthenium(ii) terpyridine complexes were investigated for their interactions with DNA employing UV-Vis spectroscopy, DNA viscosity measurements and fluorescence quenching measurements. The high binding constants obtained in the DNA binding studies (Kb = 10(4)-10(5) M(-1)) suggest a strong binding of the complexes to calf thymus (CT) DNA. Competitive studies with ethidium bromide (EB) showed that the complexes can displace DNA-bound EB, suggesting strong competition with EB (Ksv = 1.5-2.5 × 10(4) M(-1)). In fact, the results indicate that these complexes can bind to DNA covalently and non-covalently. In order to gain insight of the behavior of a neutral compound, besides the four previously synthesized cationic complexes [Ru(Cl-tpy)(en)Cl][Cl] (1), [Ru(Cl-tpy)(dach)Cl][Cl] (2), [Ru(Cl-tpy)(bpy)Cl][Cl] (3) and [Ru(tpy)Cl3] (P2), a new complex, [Ru(Cl-tpy)(pic)Cl] (4), was used in the biological studies. Their cytotoxicity was investigated against three different tumor cell lines, i.e., A549 (human lung carcinoma cell line), HCT116 (human colon carcinoma cell line), and CT26 (mouse colon carcinoma cell line), by the MTT assay. Complexes 1 and 2 showed higher activity than complexes 3, 4 and P2 against all the selected cell lines. The results on in vitro anticancer activity confirmed that only compounds that hydrolyze the monodentate ligand at a reasonable rate show moderate activity, provided that the chelate ligand is a hydrogen bond donor.

Phosphine-free chiral iridium catalysts for asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation of simple ketones

Phosphine free iridium catalysts with simple structures show efficient enantioselectivities and activities in the asymmetric hydrogenation of simple ketones by using chiral iridium catalysts to chiral alcohols with up to 96% ee.

Role of π-acceptor effects in controlling the lability of novel monofunctional Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes: crystal structure of [Pt(tripyridinedimethane)Cl]Cl

The kinetics and mechanism of substitution reactions of novel monofunctional [Pt(tpdm)Cl](+) and [Pd(tpdm)Cl](+) complexes (where tpdm = tripyridinedimethane) and their aqua analogues with thiourea (tu), L-methionine (L-met), glutathione (GSH), and guanosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP) were studied in 0.1 M NaClO(4) at pH = 2.5 (in the presence of 10 mM NaCl for reactions of the chlorido complexes). The reactivity of the investigated nucleophiles follows the order tu > l-met > GSH > 5'-GMP. The reported rate constants showed the higher reactivity of the Pd(II) complexes as well as the higher reactivity of the aqua complex than the corresponding chlorido complex. The negative values reported for the activation entropy as well as the activation volume confirmed an associative substitution mode. In addition, the molecular and crystal structure of [Pt(tpdm)Cl]Cl was determined by X-ray crystallography. The compound crystallizes in a monoclinic space group C2/c with two independent molecules of the complex and unit cell dimensions of a = 38.303(2) Å, b = 9.2555(5) Å, c = 27.586(2) Å, β = 133.573(1)°, and V = 7058.3(8) Å(3). The cationic complex [Pt(tpdm)Cl](+) exhibits square-planar coordination around the Pt(II) center. The lability of the [Pt(tpdm)Cl](+) complex is orders of magnitude lower than that of [Pt(terpyridine)Cl](+). Quantum chemical calculations were performed on the [Pt(tpdm)Cl](+) and [Pt(terpyridine)Cl](+) complexes and their reactions with thiourea. Theoretical computations for the corresponding Ni(II) complexes clearly demonstrated that π-back-bonding properties of the terpyridine chelate can account for acceleration of the nucleophilic substitution process as compared to the tpdm chelate, where introduction of two methylene groups prevents such an effective π-back bonding.

Synthesis, characterization, and application of palladium complexes containing 8-quinolylphosphinite ligands

Palladium complexes containing 8-quinolylphosphinite ligands have been synthesized and characterized. Their solid state structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. They were found to be active catalysts for Suzuki coupling reactions of phenylboronic acid and various aryl halides.