Luminescent Ag(I) scorpionates based on tris(2-pyridyl)phosphine oxide: Synthesis and cytotoxic activity evaluation

From Mono- to Polynuclear 2-(Diphenylphosphino)pyridine-Based Cu(I) and Ag(I) Complexes: Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and DFT Calculations

A series of monometallic Ag(I) and Cu(I) halide complexes bearing 2-(diphenylphosphino)pyridine (PyrPhos, L) as a ligand were synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. The structure of most of the derivatives was unambiguously established by X-ray diffraction analysis, revealing the formation of mono-, di-, and tetranuclear complexes having general formulas MXL3 (M = Cu, X = Cl, Br; M = Ag, X = Cl, Br, I), Ag2X2L3 (X = Cl, Br), and Ag4X4L4 (X = Cl, Br, I). The Ag(I) species were compared to the corresponding Cu(I) analogues from a structural point of view. The formation of Cu(I)/Ag(I) heterobimetallic complexes MM'X2L3 (M/M' = Cu, Ag; X = Cl, Br, I) was also investigated. The X-ray structure of the bromo-derivatives revealed the formation of two possible MM'Br2L3 complexes with Cu/Ag ratios, respectively, of 7:1 and 1:7. The ratio between Cu and Ag was studied by scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) measurements. The structure of the binuclear homo- and heterometallic derivatives was investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, revealing the tendency of the PyrPhos ligands not to maintain the bridging motif in the presence of Ag(I) as the metal center.

Structure of Tris[2-(4-pyridyl)ethyl]phosphine, Tris[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]phosphine, and Their Chalcogenides in Solution: Dipole Moments, IR Spectroscopy, and DFT Study

Tris(hetaryl)substituted phosphines and their chalcogenides are promising polydentate ligands for the design of metal complexes. An experimental and theoretical conformational analysis of tris[2-(4-pyridyl)ethyl]phosphine, tris[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]phosphine, and their chalcogenides was carried out by the methods of dipole moments, IR spectroscopy and DFT B3PW91/6-311++G(df,p) calculations. In solution, these compounds exist as an equilibrium of mainly non-eclipsed (synclinal or antiperiplanar) forms with a predominance of a symmetrical conformer having a gauche-orientation of the Csp3-Csp3 bonds of pyridylethyl substituents relative to the P=X bond (X = lone pair, O, S, Se) and a gauche-orientation of the pyridyl rings relative to the zigzag ethylene bridges. Regardless of the presence and nature of the chalcogen atom (oxygen, sulfur, or selenium) in the studied molecules with many axes of internal rotation, steric factors-the different position of the nitrogen atoms in the pyridyl rings and the configuration of ethylene bridges-determine the realization and spatial structure of preferred conformers.

Synthesis of Phosphorus(V)-Substituted Six-Membered N-Heterocycles: Recent Progress and Challenges

Heterocycles functionalized with pentavalent phosphorus are of great importance since they include a great variety of biologically active compounds and pharmaceuticals, advanced materials, and valuable reactive intermediates for organic synthesis. Significant progress in synthesis of P(O)R2-substituted six-membered heterocycles has been made in the past decade. This review covers the synthetic strategies towards aromatic monocyclic six-membered N-heterocycles, such as pyridines, pyridazines, pyrimidines, and pyrazines bearing phosphonates and phosphine oxides, which were reported from 2012 to 2022.

Biocompatible silver(I) complexes with heterocyclic thioamide ligands for selective killing of cancer cells and high antimicrobial activity - A combined in vitro and in silico study

A series of heteroleptic Ag(I) complexes bearing 4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinethiol (dmp2SH), i.e., [AgCl(dmp2SH)(PPh₃)₂] (1), [Ag(dmp2SH)(PPh₃)₂]NO₃ (2), [Ag(dmp2SΗ)(xantphos)]NO₃ (3), [Ag(μ-dmp2S)(PPh₃)]₂ (4), [Ag(dmp2S)(xantphos)] (5), [Ag(μ-dmp2S)(DPEphos)]₂ (6) (xantphos = 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene and DPEPhos = bis[(2-diphenylphosphino)phenyl]ether) were synthesized. The complexes display systematic variation of particular structural characteristics which were proved to have a significant impact on their in vitro cytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties. A moderate-to-high potential for bacteria growth inhibition was observed for all complexes, with 2, 3 and 5 being particularly effective against Gram-(+) bacteria (IC₅₀ = 1.6-4.5 μM). The three complexes exhibit high in vitro cytotoxicity against HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cells (IC₅₀ = 0.32-3.00 μΜ), suggesting the importance of coordination unsaturation and cationic charge for effective bioactivity. A very low cytotoxicity against HDFa normal cells was observed, revealing a high degree of selectivity (selectivity index ~10) and, hence, biocompatibility. Fluorescence microscopy using 2 showed effective targeting on the membrane of the HeLa cancer cells, subsequently inducing cell death. Binding of the complexes to serum albumin proteins is reasonably strong for potential uptake and subsequent release to target sites. A moderate in vitro antioxidant capacity for free radicals scavenging was observed and a low potential to destroy the double-strand structure of calf-thymus DNA by intercalation, suggesting likely implication of these properties in the bioactivity mechanisms of these complexes. Further insight into possible mechanisms of bioactivity was obtained by molecular modeling calculations, by exploring their ability to act as potential inhibitors of DNA-gyrase, human estrogen receptor alpha, human cyclin-dependent kinase 6, and human papillomavirus E6 oncoprotein.

Toxicity assessment of organophosphorus in Ruditapes decussatus via physiological, chemical and biochemical determination: A case study with the compounds γ-oximo- and γ-amino-phosphonates and phosphine oxides

Organophosphorus derivatives are widely used in human health care and have been detected in aquatic ecosystems. These compounds may pose significant risks to non-target exposed organisms and only limited studies are available on bioconcentration and the effects of organophosphorus derivatives on marine organisms. The aim of this work was to evaluate the possible toxic effects of two concentrations (20 and 40 μg/L) of γ-oximo- and γ-amino-phosphonates and phosphine oxides in mediterranean clams Ruditapes decussatus exposed for 14 days using different biomarkers and the changes of filtration and respiration rate. The use of clams in ecotoxicity evaluation is thus mandatory to assess the feasibility of assessing oxidative stress on R. decussatus after being exposed to γ-oximo- and γ-amino-phosphonates and phosphine oxides. The oxidative status was analyzed by measuring oxidative stress biomarkers RNS and ROS production in mitochondria, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), whose alteration was indicative of organophosphorus exposure, in both gills and digestive gland of the clams. No significant alterations in RNS, ROS production, SOD, CAT and AChE activities and MDA content were observed in both organs of clams treated with γ-oximophosphine oxides. It was possible then to hypothesize that γ-oximophosphine oxides may have probably exerted an incomplete alteration of antioxidant defenses and damage, which was changed by the activation of defense mechanisms. On the contrary, oxidative stress parameters were changed after exposure to γ-amino-phosphonates and phosphine oxides. In addition, metals accumulation, filtration and respiration rates were altered following exposure to all the studied organophosphorus compounds.

Coordination chemistry of the bench-stable tris-2-pyridyl pnictogen ligands [E(6-Me-2-py)3] (E = As, As[double bond, length as m-dash]O, Sb)

Tripodal ligands with main group bridghead units are well established in coordination chemistry and single-site organometallic catalysis. Although a large number of tris(2-pyridyl) main group ligands [E(2-py)₃] (E = main group element, 2-py = 2-pyridyl) spanning across the whole p-block are now synthetically acessible, only limited work has been done on the coordination chemistry on the tris(2-pyridyl) group 15 ligands for the heavier elements (As, Sb). In the current study we investigate the coordination chemistry of the ligand family E(6-Me-2-py)₃ (E = As, Sb) and of the As(v) ligand O[double bond, length as m-dash]As(6-Me-2-py)₃. The air- and mositure-stability of all of these main group ligands makes them especially attractive in future catalytic applications.

Organophosphorus chemistry based on elemental phosphorus: advances and horizons

The results of studies on the application of elemental phosphorus for the synthesis of important organophosphorus compounds are surveyed and summarized. Currently, this trend represents a synthetically, environmentally and technologically attractive alternative to classical organophosphorus chemistry based on toxic and corrosive phosphorus chlorides. Direct phosphination and phosphinylation of organic compounds with elemental phosphorus (discussed in the first part of the review) basically extend the range of available phosphines, phosphine chalcogenides and phosphinic acids and provides further development of their synthetic potential (discussed in the second part of the review). It is shown that the breakthrough in this area is largely due to the discovery of reactions of elemental phosphorus (white and red) with various electrophiles in superbasic suspensions and emulsions derived from alkali metal hydroxides and to the development of electrochemical, electrocatalytic and catalytic activation of white phosphorus.

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