Cobalt(II) Complexes with Substituted Salen-Type Ligands and Their Dioxygen Affinity inN,N-Dimethylformamide at Various Temperatures

Anticancer activity of Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes based on new unsymmetrical salophen-type ligands: synthesis, characterization and single-crystal X-ray diffraction

The discovery of new coordination compounds with anticancer properties is an active field of research due to the severe side effects of platinum-based compounds currently used in chemotherapy. In the search for new agents for the treatment of cancer, unsymmetrical N2O2-tetradentate ligand (H2L1 and H2L2) and their Ni(II) and Zn(II) asymmetric complexes (NiII-L1-2 and ZnII-L1-2) have been synthesized and fully characterized. 1H NMR studies revealed that the ligands and complexes were stable in mixtures of DMSO : D2O (9 : 1). Complementary UV-Vis studies confirmed that ZnII derivatives also exhibit high stability in mixtures DMSO : buffer (6 : 4) after 24 h. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the molecular structures of H2L1, H2L2, NiII-L1, and NiII-L2. At the molecular level, complexes were completely planar without significant distortions of the square-planar geometry according to τ4 parameter. Furthermore, the crystalline structures revealed non-classical intermolecular interactions of the C-H⋯O and the Ni⋯Ni type. The ligands and complexes were screened against the human osteosarcoma (MG-63), human colon cancer (HCT-116), breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cell lines, and non-cancerous cells (L929). H2L1 and H2L2 ligands not caused cytotoxic effects at a concentration of 100 μM, while NiII-L2, ZnII-L1, and ZnII-L2 complexes induce cytotoxic effects in all cell lines. NiII-L2 was a more active complex against MG-63 (3.9 ± 1.5) and HCT-116 (3.4 ± 1.7) cell lines with IC50 values in the low micromolar range. In addition, this compound was 10-, 5-, and 11-fold more potent than cisplatin in MG-63 (39 ± 1.8), HCT-116 (17.2), and MDA-MB-231 (131 ± 18), respectively. Three complexes exhibited great selectivity for tumoral cells with SI values ranging from 1.6 to 7.4.

Deaggregation properties and transmetalation studies of a zinc(II) salen-type Schiff-base complex

This paper reports the synthesis and the deaggregation properties of a Lewis acidic Zn(II) salen-type Schiff-base complex derivative from diaminomaleonitrile and a systematic detailed study of its transmetalation with other metal ions in solution. In a solution of non-coordinating solvents, the complex is in a dimeric form, while in coordinating solvents or upon addition of a Lewis base it is stabilized as monomeric adducts. Experiments done in two solvents with different Lewis basicities indicate a major role of the stability of the starting adduct in transmetalation. Thus, using nitrate or perchlorate salts, acetonitrile solutions of the complex give an immediate and complete transmetalation with Cu²⁺, while with Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ a much slower transmetalation rate is observed. Instead, using chloride salts a fast and complete transmetalation is observed for divalent ions of the first transition series (Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺), indicating the role of the chloride in stabilizing the transition state of the transmetalation. On the other hand, DMF solutions of the complex are less prone to transmetalation, according with the greater basicity of the solvent and, hence, the greater stability of the related adducts with the complex. Therefore, the nature of the solvent and the counteranion allow controlling the transmetalation process of this Zn(II) Schiff-base complex.

Breaking the symmetry: C1-salans with (N-H) backbones

We disclose a synthetic route that providess an unprecedented library of C₁ salan ligands endowed with (N-H) backbones, previously limited to N-methylated backbones. Efforts to identify a generic complexation protocol to yield the corresponding Cu(II)-salan complexes demonstrate the scope and limitations of this approach.

Dinuclear cobalt complexes supported by biphenol and binaphthol-derived bis(salicylaldimine) ligands: synthesis, characterization and catalytic application in β-enaminone synthesis from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and aliphatic amines

Biaryl scaffolding ligands form dicobalt clusters, which serve as efficient catalysts in enaminone synthesis under ambient conditions.

A well-defined, versatile photoinitiator (salen)Co-CO2CH3 for visible light-initiated living/controlled radical polymerization

The control of the polymerization of a wide range of monomers under mild conditions by a single catalyst remains a major challenge in polymer science. We report a versatile, well-defined organocobalt salen complex to control living radical polymerization of different categories of monomers, including acrylates, acrylamides and vinyl acetate, under visible light irradiation at ambient temperature. Both household light and sunlight were effectively applied in the synthesis of polymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities. Narrowly dispersed block copolymers (Mw/Mn < 1.2) were obtained under various conditions. The structures of the polymers were analyzed by 1H NMR, 2D NMR, 13C NMR, GPC, MALDI-TOF-MS and isotopic labeling experiments, which showed that the ω and α ends of the polymer chains were capped with (salen)Co and -CO2CH3 segments, respectively, from the photoinitiator (salen)Co-CO2CH3. The ω end was easily functionalized through oxygen insertion followed by hydrolysis from 18O2 to -18OH. This robust system can proceed without any additives, and offers a versatile and green way to produce well-defined homo and block copolymers.

Silicon-containing bis-azomethines: synthesis, structural characterization, evaluation of the photophysical properties and biological activity

A new diamine, (dimethylsilanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(4-aminobenzoate) (1), containing dimethylsilane spacer, was prepared by the condensation of p-aminobenzoic acid with bis(chloromethyl)dimethylsilane. This was subsequently reacted with salicylaldehyde, 3-hydroxy-salicylaldehyde, and 3-methoxy-salicyladehyde, when corresponding Schiff bases (E)-(dimethylsilanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(4-((E)-(2-hydroxybenzilidene)amino)benzoate (2), (E)-(dimethylsilanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(4-((E)-(2-hydroxybenzilidene)amino)benzoate (3), and (E)-(dimethylsilanediyl)bis(methylene) bis(4-((E)-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzilidene)amino)benzoate (4), respectively were formed. All the obtained compounds were structurally characterized by spectral (FT-IR, (1)HNMR, (13)CNMR) analyses and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Photophysical studies revealed that the new prepared Schiff bases are good UV light absorbing and fluorescent materials. Thus, they exhibit strong UV/Vis-absorption at 250-400nm and violet or orange emission, in sensitive dependence on the polarity of the solvents and the nature of the substituent (H, OH and OCH3) at the aromatic ring. The antimicrobial activity of these compounds was first studied in vitro by the disk diffusion assay against two species of bacteria and three fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration was then determined with the reference of standard compounds. The results displayed that Schiff bases 3 and 4 having hydroxy- and methoxy-substituents on the aromatic ring were better inhibitors of both types of species (bacteria and fungi) than standard compounds, Caspofungin and Kanamycin.

Spectroscopic, thermal analysis and DFT computational studies of salen-type Schiff base complexes

A new series of metal(II) complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II) have been synthesized from a salen-type Schiff base ligand derived from o-vanillin and 4-methyl-1,2-phenylenediamine and characterized by elemental analysis, spectral (IR, UV-Vis, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and EI-mass), molar conductance measurements and thermal analysis techniques. Coats-Redfern method has been utilized to calculate the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the metal complexes. The molecular geometry, Mulliken atomic charges of the studied compounds were investigated theoretically by performing density functional theory (DFT) to access reliable results to the experimental values. The theoretical (13)C chemical shift results of the studied compounds have been calculated at the B3LYP, PBEPBE and PW91PW91 methods and standard 6-311+G(d,p) basis set starting from optimized geometry. The comparison of the results indicates that B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) yields good agreement with the observed chemical shifts. The measured low molar conductance values in DMF indicate that the metal complexes are non-electrolytes. The spectral and thermal analysis reveals that all complexes have octahedral geometry except Cu(II) complex which can attain the square planner arrangement. The presence of lattice and coordinated water molecules are indicated by thermograms of the complexes. The thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) analyses confirm high stability for all complexes followed by thermal decomposition in different steps.

Formation of peptide radical ions through dissociative electron transfer in ternary metal-ligand-peptide complexes

The formation and fragmentation of odd-electron ions of peptides and proteins is of interest to applications in biological mass spectrometry. Gas-phase redox chemistry occurring during collision-induced dissociation of ternary metal-ligand-peptide complexes enables the formation of a variety of peptide radicals, including the canonical radical cations, M(+•), radical dications, [M+H](2+•), radical anions, [M-2H](-•) and phosphorylated radical cations. In addition, odd-electron peptide ions with well-defined initial location of the radical site are produced through side-chain losses from the radical ions. Subsequent fragmentation of these species provides information regarding the role of charge and location of the radical site on the competition between radical-induced and proton-driven fragmentation of odd-electron peptide ions. This account summarizes current understanding of the factors that control the efficiency of the intramolecular electron transfer (ET) in ternary metal-ligand-peptide complexes resulting in formation of odd-electron peptide ions. Specifically, we discuss the effect of the metal center, the ligand and the peptide structure on the competition between the ET, proton transfer (PT) and loss of neutral peptide and neutral peptide fragments from the complex. Fundamental studies of the structures, stabilities and the energetics and dynamics of fragmentation of these complexes are also important for detailed molecular-level understanding of photosynthesis and respiration in biological systems.

Syntheses, characterization, and photo-hydrogen-evolving properties of tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) derivatives tethered to an H2-evolving (2-phenylpyridinato)platinum(II) unit

With the aim of developing new molecular devices having higher photo-hydrogen-evolving activity, Pt(ppy)ClX units (ppy = 2-phenylpyridinate, X = Cl^- or DMSO; DMSO = dimethylsulfoxide) have been employed as an H₂-evolving site, as the catalytic activity of [Pt(ppy)Cl₂]^- was confirmed to be higher than those of other mononuclear platinum(II) complexes. In the present study, two new heterodinuclear Ru(II)Pt(II) complexes, produced by condensation of [Ru(bpy)₂(5-amino-phen)]²⁺ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) with [Pt(cppy)Cl₂]^- and Pt(cppy)(DMSO)Cl (cppy = 9-carboxy-phenylpyridinate), respectively, have been prepared and their photo-hydrogen-evolving activities have been evaluated in detail. The ineffectiveness of these systems as photo-hydrogen-evolving molecular devices are interpreted in terms of their negative driving forces for the photoinduced electron transfer from the triplet MLCT excited state of the Ru chromophore to the π*(ppy) orbital of the catalyst moiety.