Synthesis of heteroleptic copper(I) complexes with phosphine-functionalized thiosemicarbazones: An efficient catalyst for regioselective N -alkylation reactions

Thiosemicarbazone Complexes of Transition Metals as Catalysts for Cross-Coupling Reactions

Catalysis of cross-coupling reactions under phosphane-free conditions represents an important ongoing challenge. Although transition metal complexes based on the thiosemicarbazone unit have been known for a very long time, their use in homogeneous catalysis has been studied only relatively recently. In particular, reports of cross-coupling catalytic reactions with such complexes have appeared only in the last 15 years. This review provides a survey of the research in this area and a discussion of the prospects for future developments.

Softening the Donor-Set: From [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][PF6] to [Cu(P^P)(N^S)][PF6]

We report the synthesis and characterization of [Cu(P^P)(N^S)][PF6] complexes with P^P = bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl) ether (POP) or 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9- dimethylxanthene (xantphos) and N^S = 2-(iso-propylthio)pyridine (iPrSpy) or 2-(tert-butylthio)pyridine (tBuSpy). The single crystal structures of [Cu(POP)(iPrSPy)][PF6] and [Cu(POP)(tBuSPy)][PF6] have been determined and confirm a distorted tetrahedral copper(I) centre and chelating P^P and N^S ligands in each complex. Variable temperature (VT) 1H and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy reveals dynamic behavior with motion of the POP backbone in [Cu(POP)(iPrSPy)][PF6] and [Cu(POP)(tBuSPy)][PF6] frozen out at 238 K. VT NMR spectroscopic data including EXSY peaks in the ROESY spectrum of [Cu(xantphos)(tBuSPy)][PF6] at 198 K reveal that two conformers exist in an approximate ratio of 5:1. Replacing bpy by the N^S ligands shifts the Cu+/Cu2+ oxidation to a higher potential. The copper(I) compounds are weak emitters in the solid state with PLQY values of <2%. These values are similar to those for [Cu(POP)(bpy)][PF6] and [Cu(xantphos)(bpy)][PF6] in the solid state.

New Silver Complexes with Mixed Thiazolidine and Phosphine Ligands as Highly Potent Antimalarial and Anticancer Agents

Five silver(I) complexes containing a mixed ligand system of phosphine and thiazolidine were successfully synthesized. The structural information of the complexes was assembled using various spectroscopic techniques such as CHN elemental analysis, Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), 1H, 13C, and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). A bidentate phosphine ligand acted as a chelating agent which bond to the silver in 1 : 2 molar ratios. Meanwhile, thiazolidine was attached to the silver in a 1 : 1 molar ratio. The antiplasmodial properties of all synthesized complexes were investigated on chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum parasite via HRP2 assays and cytotoxicity tests on Vero cells. Of all the synthesized complexes, complex 2 showed the highest SI value (more than 12.4) followed by complex 5 (6.6). The potent properties of compounds 2 and 5 were also noted in the in vitro antiproliferative assays involving MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines as well as HT-29 colon cancer cell line. Complex 2 was selective for MDA-MB-231 cells (GI50 = 1.9 ± 0.3 µM), while complex 5 acted predominantly on breast carcinoma cells (GI50 MDA-MB-231 = 4.7 ± 1.1 µM; MCF-7 = 2.9 ± 0.9 µM) instead of colon carcinoma (HT-29) cells (GI50 = 15.1 ± 1.9 µM).