Bis(2,2′-bipyridine)-bis(μ3-phthalato)-dicopper(II) tetrahydrate as molecular sieve with zero-dimensional structure

Structural and solution speciation studies on selected [Cu(NN)(OO)] complexes and an investigation of their biomimetic activity, ROS generation and their cytotoxicity in normoxic, hypoxic and anoxic environments in MCF-7 breast cancer-derived cells

Reactive oxygen species(ROS) generation with subsequent DNA damage is one of the principle mechanisms of action assigned to copper-based anticancer complexes. The efficacy of this type of chemotherapeutic may be reduced in the low oxygen environment of tumours. In this study the cytotoxicity of three complexes, [Cu(dips)(phen)] (1), [Cu(ph)(phen)]·2H2O (2) and [Cu(ph)(bpy)]·H2O (3) (disp: 3,5-diisopropylsalicylate, phen: 1,10- phenanthroline, ph: phthalate, bpy: 2,2'-bipyridyl) were assessed for anticancer activity in the breast-cancer derived MCF-7 line under normoxic, hypoxic and anoxic conditions. In an immortalised keratinocyte HaCaT cell line, the cytotoxicity of complexes 2 and 3 was significantly reduced under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions, whilst the cytotoxicity of complex 1 was increased under hypoxic conditions. The ability of the complexes to generate ROS in the MCF-7 cell line was evaluated as was their ability to act as superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase mimics using a yeast cell assay. ROS generation was significant for complexes 2 and 3, less so for complex 1 though all three complexes had SOD mimetic ability. Given the ternary nature of the complexes, solution speciation studies were undertaken but were only successful for complex 3, due to solubility issues with the other two complexes. The concentration distribution of various species, formed in aqueous solution, was evaluated as a function of pH and confirmed that complex 3 is the dominant species at physiological pH in the mM concentration range. However, as its concentration diminishes, it experiences a progressive dissociation, leading to the formation of binary complexes of bpy alongside unbound phthalate.

Spectrometric measurements and DFT studies on new complex of copper (II) with 2-((E)-9-ethyl-3-(2-(6-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl)vinyl)-9H-carbazole

The molecular structure of a new complex of copper (II) with (E)-9-ethyl-3-(2-(6-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl)vinyl)-9H-carbazole ([Cu2(emppc)2Cl2]Cl2) was optimized with B3LYP/LanL2DZ, PBE1PBE/LanL2DZ and M062X/LanL2DZ theoretical level. The ligand, (E)-9-ethyl-3-(2-(6-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl)vinyl)-9H-carbazole (emppc), binds to Cu(II) ions with a bi-dentate mode, two Cl(-) serve as bridging ligand, each Cu(II) ion has a highly distorted tetrahedron coordination geometry. With M062X/LanL2DZ theoretical level, the calculated interaction energies of Cu(II) with coordination atoms N are between 183.3-200.0kJmol(-1) for α spin and 319.4-324.9kJmol(-1) for β spin, and interaction energies of Cu(II) with coordination atoms Cl atom are 248.0-252.4kJmol(-1) for α spin and 332.6-333.6kJmol(-1) for β spin. The experimental Fourier transform infrared spectrum was assigned. The calculated IR based on B3LYP/LanL2DZ, PBE1PBE/LanL2DZ and M062X/LanL2DZ methods were performed and compared with experimental results. The UV-Vis experimental spectra of [Cu2(emppc)2Cl2]Cl2 was measured in methanol solution. The calculated electronic spectrum was performed with TD/M062X and PCM-TD/M062X methods with LanL2DZ basis set. The nature bond orbital analysis and temperature dependence of the thermodynamic properties were calculated with the same methods.