Metal-mediated C–C bond formation in a platinum(II)-coordinated dipyridylmethane ligand: an unusual example of “ipso-coupling” with solvent involvement

We report the chelation-assisted oxidative CH2 extrusion from a PtII-coordinated dipyridylmethane, resulting in the formation of a 2,2′-bipyridyl ligand. This unusual one-pot reaction (solvent: dimethylformamide, DMF), which is quantitative, proceeds in air at mildly elevated temperature, with CH2 → C=O conversion, decarbonylation, and ipso-ipso C–C coupling of the two pyridyl residues (“fragment coupling”). It constitutes, in effect, a chelate ring contraction by one member.

Synthesis of Silsesquioxanes with Substituted Triazole Ring Functionalities and Their Coordination Ability

A synthesis of a series of mono-T8 and difunctionalized double-decker silsesquioxanes bearing substituted triazole ring(s) has been reported within this work. The catalytic protocol for their formation is based on the copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) process. Diverse alkynes were in the scope of our interest-i.e., aryl, hetaryl, alkyl, silyl, or germyl-and the latter was shown to be the first example of terminal germane alkyne which is reactive in the applied process' conditions. From the pallet of 15 compounds, three of them with pyridine-triazole and thiophenyl-triazole moiety attached to T8 or DDSQ core were verified in terms of their coordinating properties towards selected transition metals, i.e., Pd(II), Pt(II), and Rh(I). The studies resulted in the formation of four SQs based coordination compounds that were obtained in high yields up to 93% and their thorough spectroscopic characterization is presented. To our knowledge, this is the first example of the DDSQ-based molecular complex possessing bidentate pyridine-triazole ligand binding two Pd(II) ions.

Luminescent terpyridine appended geminal bisazide and bistriazoles: multinuclear Pt(II) complexes and AIPE-based DNA detection with the naked eye

We report square planar Pt(ii) complexes as luminescent biosensors for DNA detection in solution. The sensing is attributed to the aggregation induced bright red photoluminescence (AIPE) of the complexes in the presence of DNA that can be seen with the naked eye using only a 360 nm light source. Terpyridine appended luminescent geminal bistriazoles (L1-L4, from geminal bisazide A through azide-alkyne 'click' cycloaddition) with versatile chelating sites were explored for metal coordination and reaction with Pt(dmso)2Cl2 yielding tetranuclear and dinuclear complexes of Pt(ii) with different N∩N ligand environments. Thermally stable gem-bisazide and bistriazoles are hardly reported in the literature and this is the first report of terpyridine appended geminal bisazide and bistriazoles.

Multivalent Copper(II)-Conjugated Phosphorus Dendrimers with Noteworthy In Vitro and In Vivo Antitumor Activities: A Concise Overview

Dendrimers are macromolecules with well-defined, homogeneous, and monodispersed structures that form a branch-like structure. In general, they have a symmetric core, inner shells, and an outer shell. Over the past decade, metallodendritic architectures have developed into a new area in nanomedicine. Due to their versatility and facile customization, phosphorus dendrimers represent interesting platforms for biomedical applications. Metallo-conjugated phosphorus dendrimers have been developed within the dendrimer space, an important part of the chemical space. The first investigation was made using phosphorus dendrimers bearing copper(II) groups on their surface as the original anticancer drug candidates. The aim of this minireview is to present our powerful strategy to find and develop original multivalent copper(II)-conjugated phosphorus dendrimers. The most potent of them is G3 dendrimers with N-(pyridine-2-ylmethylene)ethanamine as the chelating motif complexed with Cu(II) (1G3-Cu), showing very good in vitro and in vivo antiproliferative efficacy. On the basis of these results, 1G3-Cu is a potential clinical candidate having progressed from hit to preclinical candidate status.

Interplay of Spin Crossover and Coordination-Induced Spin State Switch for Iron Bis(pyrazolyl)methanes in Solution

Bis(pyrazolyl)bipyridinylmethane iron(II) complexes show a versatile spin state switching behavior in different solvents. In the solid, the magnetic properties of the compounds have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, Mößbauer spectroscopy, and SQUID magnetometry and point toward a high spin state. For nitrilic solvents, the solvation of the complexes leads to a change of the coordination environment from {N₅O} to {N₆} and results in a temperature-dependent SCO behavior. Thermodynamic properties of this transformation are obtained via UV/vis spectroscopy, SQUID measurements, and the Evans NMR method. Moreover, a coordination-induced spin state switch (CISSS) to low spin is observed by using methanol as solvent, triggered through a rearrangement of the coordination sphere. The same behavior can be observed by changing the stoichiometry of the ligand-to-metal ratio in MeCN, where the process is reversible. This transformation is monitored via UV/vis spectroscopy, and the resulting new bis-meridional coordination motif, first described for bis(pyrazolyl)methanes, is characterized in the solid state via X-ray diffraction, Mößbauer spectroscopy, and SQUID measurements. The sophisticated correlation of these switchable properties in dependence on different types of solvents reveals that the influence of the solvent on the coordination environment and magnetic properties should not be underestimated. Furthermore, careful investigation is necessary to differentiate between a thermally-induced spin crossover and a coordination-induced spin state switch.

Appended Aromatic Moieties Determine the Cytotoxicity of Neutral Cyclometalated Platinum(II) Complexes Derived from 2-(2-Pyridyl)benzimidazole

A new family of neutral chiral cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes with formula [Pt(κ²-(C^N))Cl(κ¹-(L))], where (C^N) = 2-phenylpyridinate and (L) = 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole (L1) or (N-(CH₂)-Ar-(2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole) ligands; (Ar = phenyl (L2), naphthyl (L3), pyrenyl (L4)), have been synthesized and completely characterized. The unexpected κ¹ coordination mode of the 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole-derived ligands has been confirmed by spectroscopic techniques and X-ray diffraction. The aromatic moieties on the ligands in the new platinum(II) complexes have a remarkable influence on the cytotoxicity and in the binding mode to DNA. [Pt-L1]-[Pt-L4] complexes internalized more than cisplatin in the SW480 cancer cells even though only [Pt-L1] and [Pt-L2] display high cytotoxicity. ¹H NMR and ¹³P{¹H}NMR pointed out that [Pt-L1] and [Pt-L2] complexes bind covalently to dGMP, while the electrophoresis assays and CD experiments indicate that only [Pt-L2] is able to covalently interact with DNA, inducing the same conformational changes in the plasmid DNA as cisplatin. Although the complex [Pt-L4] intercalates into DNA, probably through the pyrenyl moiety, no biological activity is observed.

Structural and chemical properties of half-sandwich rhodium complexes supported by the bis(2-pyridyl)methane ligand

[Cp*Rh] complexes (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) supported by bidentate chelating ligands are a useful class of compounds for studies of redox chemistry and catalysis. Here, we show that the bis(2-pyridyl)methane ligand, also known as dipyridylmethane or dpma, can support [Cp*Rh] complexes in the formally +iii and +ii rhodium oxidation states. Specifically, two new rhodium complexes ([Cp*Rh(dpma)(L)]ⁿ⁺, L = Cl^-, CH₃CN) have been isolated and structurally characterized, and the properties of the complexes have been compared with those of [Cp*Rh] complexes bearing the related dimethyldipyridylmethane (Me₂dpma) ligand. Complex [Cp*Rh(dpma)(NCCH₃)]²⁺ displays a quasireversible rhodium(iii/ii) reduction by cyclic voltammetry; related electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic studies confirm access to the unusual rhodium(ii) oxidation state. Further reduction to the formally rhodium(i) oxidation state, however, is followed by deprotonation of dpma, as observed in electrochemical studies and chemical reduction experiments. This reactivity can be understood to occur as a consequence of the presence of doubly benzylic protons in the dpma ligand, since use of the analogous Me₂dpma enables reduction to rhodium(i) without involvement of ligand deprotonation. These findings highlight the important role of the ligand backbone substitution pattern in influencing the stability of highly-reduced complexes, a key class of metal species for study of electron and proton management in catalysis.