Preparation and crystal structure of a dimolybdenum(II) complex with the drug ibuprofen

Dimolybdenum (II,II) paddlewheel complexes bearing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ligands: Insights into the chemico-physical profile and first biological assessment

Multinuclear complexes are metal compounds featured by adjacent bound metal centers that can lead to unconventional reactivity. Some M2L4-type paddlewheel dinuclear complexes with monoanionic bridging ligands feature promising properties, including therapeutic ones. Molybdenum has been studied for the formation of multiple-bonded M2+ compounds due to their unique scaffold, redox, and spectroscopic properties as well as for applications in several fields including catalysis and biology. These latter are much less explored and only sporadic studies have been carried out. Here, a series of four dimolybdenum (II,II) carboxylate paddlewheel complexes were synthesized using different Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) as ligands. The reaction of (NH4)5[Mo2Cl9]·H2O with the selected NSAIDs in methanol produced the complexes Mo2(μ-O2CR)4 where RCO2 is ibuprofen (1), naproxen (2), aspirin (3) and indomethacin (4). The products were obtained in good yields and extensively characterized with integrated techniques. Stability and solution behaviour were studied using a mixed experimental and computational approach. Finally, the biological activity of 1 and 3 (i.e. the most reactive and the most stable compounds of the series, respectively) was preliminarily assessed confirming the disassembling of the molecules in the biological milieu. Overall, some very interesting results emerged for these unconventional compounds from a mechanistic point of view.

Synthesis and characterization of a diruthenium-ibuprofenato complex comparing its anti-inflammatory activity with that of a copper(II)-ibuprofenato complex

The ibuprofen complex of diruthenium(II,III) was prepared and characterized by electronic (UV-Vis) and vibrational (FTIR) spectroscopies and thermogravimetry. The copper(II)-ibuprofenato complex was prepared by a different route from that described in the literature. Both complexes were tested in vivo for anti-inflammatory activity. Oral administration of the two complexes inhibited development of carrageenin-induced edema in rats, this inhibition being similar to that observed for oral administration of the parent drug (free ibuprofen). However, gastric irritation was lower as compared to that of ibuprofen. Diruthenium-ibuprofenato exhibited a protective effect at light intensity ulceration while the copper-ibuprofenato complex was more effective in the protection of severe intensity ulceration.