The dichloromethane induced fragmentation of ferrocenylmethyldimethylamine. Mechanistic aspects and crystallographic and electrochemical investigation of the (FcCH2)2NMe2+ and FcCH2NMe2H+ ions

Repurposing a polymer precursor: Synthesis and in vitro medicinal potential of ferrocenyl 1,3-benzoxazine derivatives

Cancer and malaria remain relevant pathologies in modern medicinal chemistry endeavours. This is compounded by the threat of development of resistance to existing clinical drugs in use as first-line option for treatment of these diseases. To counter this threat, strategies such as drug repurposing and hybridization are constantly adapted in contemporary drug discovery for the expansion of the drug arsenal and generation of novel chemotypes with potential to avert or delay resistance. In the present study, a polymer precursor scaffold, 1,3-benzoxazine, has been repurposed by incorporation of an organometallic ferrocene unit to produce a novel class of compounds showing in vitro biological activity against breast cancer, malaria and trypanosomiasis. The resultant ferrocenyl 1,3-benzoxazine compounds displayed high potency and selectivity against the investigated diseases, with IC₅₀ values in the low and sub-micromolar range against both chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and resistant (Dd2) strains of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. On the other hand, antitrypanosomal (Trypanosoma brucei brucei) potencies were observed between 0.15 and 38.6 μM. The majority of the compounds were not active against breast cancer cells (HCC70), however, for the toxic compounds, IC₅₀ values ranged from 11.0 to 30.5 μM. Preliminary structure-activity relationships revealed the basic oxazine sub-ring and lipophilic benzene substituents to be conducive for biological efficacy of the ferrocenyl 1,3-benzoxazines reported in the study. DNA interaction studies performed on the most promising compound 4c suggested that DNA damage may be one possible mode of action of this class of compounds.

Crystal structure of {[1'-(di-phenyl-phosphino)ferrocen-yl]meth-yl}di-methyl-ammonium chloride monohydrate

Individual ions and the solvating water mol-ecule constituting the structure of the title compound, [Fe(C8H13N)(C17H14P)]Cl·H2O, assemble into dimeric units located around crystallographic inversion centers via N-H⋯Cl and O-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds. These discrete fragments are further inter-connected into chains by C-H⋯O inter-actions. The disubstituted ferrocene core in the {[1'-(di-phenyl-phosphino)ferrocen-yl]meth-yl}di-methyl-ammonium cation has an approximate synclinal eclipsed conformation and is tilted by 3.40 (11)°.

Crystal structure of (ferrocenylmeth-yl)di-methyl-ammonium hydrogen oxalate

The crystal structure of the title salt, [Fe(C5H5)(C8H13N)](HC2O4), consists of discrete (ferrocenylmeth-yl)di-methyl-ammonium cations and hydrogen oxalate anions. The anions are connected through a strong O-H⋯O hydrogen bond, forming linear chains running parallel to [100]. The cations are linked to the anions through bifurcated N-H⋯(O,O') hydrogen bonds. Weak C-H⋯π inter-actions between neighbouring ferrocenyl moieties are also observed.

(Ferrocenylmethyl)dimethylammonium bromide

The title compound, [Fe(C₅H₅)(C₈H₁₃N)]Br, is isotypic with the analogous chloride compound. The Fe—C bond lengths are in the range 2.020 (6)–2.048 (7) Å. In the crystal, the cations and bromide anions are connected by N⁺—H⋯Br⁻ hydrogen bonds.

Chemical and Electrochemical Formation of Pseudorotaxanes Composed of Alkyl(ferrocenylmethyl)ammmonium and Dibenzo[24]crown-8

Protonation of p-xylylaminomethylferrocene (1) and n-hexylaminomethylferrocene (2) by HCl and NH(4)PF(6) forms the ferrocenylmethyl(alkyl)ammonium salt. Inclusion of the compounds by dibenzo[24]crown-8 (DB24C8) produces [2]pseudorotaxanes, [(DB24C8)(1-H)](+)(PF(6)) and [(DB24C8)(2-H)](+)(PF(6)), respectively. X-ray diffraction of the former product indicates an interlocked structure composed of the axis and the macrocyclic molecule. Intermolecular N-H...O and C-H...O interactions and stacking of the aromatic planes are observed. [(DB24C8)(1-H)](+)(PF(6)), in the solid state, is characterized by IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. A similar reaction of 1,1'-bis(p-xylylaminomethyl)ferrocene (3) forms a mixture of [2] and [3]pseudorotaxanes, [(DB24C8)(3-H(2))](2+)(PF(6))(2) and [(DB24C8)(2)(3-H(2))](2+)(PF(6))(2). The latter product having two DB24C8 molecules is isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Formation of these pseudorotaxanes in a CD(3)CN solution is evidenced by (1)H NMR and mass spectrometry. Electrochemical oxidation of 1-3 at 0.4 V (vs Ag(+)/Ag) in the presence of TEMPOH (1-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine) and DB24C8 affords the corresponding pseudorotaxanes. The ESR spectrum of the reaction mixture indicates the formation of a TEMPO radical in high yield. Details of the conversion of the dialkylamino group of the ligand to the dialkylammonium group are investigated by using a flow electrolysis method linked to spectroscopic measurements. The proposed mechanism for the reaction involves the ferrocenium species, formed by initial oxidation, which undergoes electron transfer from nitrogen to the Fe(III) center, producing a cation radical at the nitrogen. Transfer of hydrogen from TEMPOH to the cation radical and inclusion of the resulting dialkylammonium species by DB24C8 yields the pseudorotaxanes.

Formation of Pseudorotaxane Induced by Electrochemical Oxidation of Ferrocene-Containing Axis Molecule in the Presence of Crown Ether

The electrochemical oxidation of aminomethylferrocenes in the presence of dibenzo[24]crown-8 affords pseudorotaxanes containing a ferrocenyl group in its axis moiety. The formation of the pseudorotaxanes results from formation of secondary ammonium ions by rapid electron transfer from the N atom to the initially formed Fe(III) state, followed by hydrogen atom transfer from TEMPOH to the N+*.