Comparative kinetic studies on tyrosinase-like catalytic activity of dinuclear imidazole-containing copper(II) complexes

A short review on the structure-function relationship of artificial catecholase/tyrosinase and nuclease activities of Cu-complexes

The synthesis of metal complexes has vastly increased the scope of research for many scientists during the two last decades. Among these compounds, artificial tyrosinases, catecholases, proteases, and nucleases are some of the most studied due to their importance as modern tools in the fields of medicine, scientific research, and industry. Transition metals such as Zn(2+), Cu(2+), Fe(3+), Co(3+), Ni(2+), and lanthanide ions are the most commonly used. Among these ions, copper complexes have been the focus of the majority of studies thanks to their significant activity in comparison with other ions. Studies of copper-based tyrosinases, catecholases, and nucleases have revealed some of the overarching factors affecting reactions of all three types, which has led to improved activity and efficiency for all. Key factors include proper core-core distance, (Cu⋯Cu distance 2.90-2.99 Å), suitable solvent, and ligands with proper hydrophobic structure and geometry. In the present investigation, we review and introduce the proposed mechanisms and the kinetically effective factors of natural catecholase, tyrosinase, and nuclease and their Cu-based synthetic mimics.

Characterization and catechole oxidase activity of a family of copper complexes coordinated by tripodal pyrazole-based ligands

A family of tripodal pyrazole-based ligands has been synthesized by a condensation reaction between 1-hydroxypyrazoles and aminoalcohols. The diversity was introduced both on the substituents of the pyrazole ring and on the side chain. The corresponding copper(II) complexes have been prepared by reaction with CuCl(2) in tetrahydrofuran. They have been characterized by EPR, UV spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The absence of the half-field splitting signals in EPR suggests that the complex exists in solution as mononuclear species. The influence of substituents and side chain of the tripodal ligand on the catecholase activity of the complexes was studied. The reaction rate depends on two factors. First, the presence of an oxygen atom in the third position of the side chain should be avoided to keep the effectiveness of the reaction. Second, the electronic and steric effects of substituents on the pyrazole ring strongly affect the catalytic activity of the complex. Thus, best results were obtained with complexes containing unsubstituted pyrazole based-ligands. Kinetic investigations with the best catalyst based on the Michaelis-Menten model show that the catalytic activity of the mononuclear complex is close to that of some dicopper complexes described in literature.

Copper(ii) complexes of a polydentate imidazole-based ligand. pH effect on magnetic coupling and catecholase activity

A potentially dodecadentate N8O4-donor ligand obtained from 2,2'-biimidazole and l-valine and its tetranuclear Cu(ii) complexes in different degrees of protonation were characterized by chemical and spectroscopic methods. The extensive solution studies performed reveal that the rise in pH media leads successively to the formation of imidazolato (pKa(1) and pKa(2) and hydroxido (pKa(3) and pKa(4)) bridges. A frozen solution EPR study shows a decrease in the signal intensity until an EPR silent spectrum is observed, upon increasing the basicity of the solution. The catalytic performance of the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to its corresponding quinone was studied using UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectroscopic methods in CH3CN-H2O and in CH3OH-H2O at pH = 7.5, 8.0 and 8.5. A marked increase in activity, consistent with the formation of the hydroxide bridged species, is observed at pH = 8.5 in both solvent mixtures, but the activity is significantly higher in CH3OH-H2O.

Evaluation of Hexaniobate Nanoscrolls as Support for Immobilization of a Copper Complex Catalyst

In this work, we report the intercalation properties of the hexaniobate nanoscrolls toward insertion of 2-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethylimino-1-ethyl]pyridine-imidazole copper(II), [Cu(apip)imH]2+, a cationic complex able to promote the catalytic oxidation of organic substrates. Hexaniobate was first transformed into its acidic phase, H2K2Nb6O17, and then exfoliated with n-butylamine in water. The copper complex was immobilized into the nanoscrolls obtained by the acidification of delaminated particle dispersion at pH 3. TEM micrographs of particles after immobilization of the cationic complex show scrolls with external diameters of ca. 25-30 nm and wall thicknesses of about 4.5-7.0 nm. The basal spacing (d(040)) of the copper complex intercalated in hexaniobate is about 11.6 A. The estimated composition, [Cu(apip)imH](0.5)HK2Nb6O17.6H2O, indicates that 50% of the negative charge of interlayer I was neutralized by the copper complex. EPR and IR spectra showed that the ligands and the distorted tetragonal structure of the complex were maintained after immobilization into niobate. The reactivity of this new material toward catechol oxidation using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidizing agent was investigated and compared to the activity of the same complex in solution. The heterogeneous catalyst is initially less effective toward the catechol oxidation but with time, the reaction shows a higher catechol conversion (ca. 82%) than the same copper complex in homogeneous media (ca. 75%). A better reactivity of the heterogeneous catalyst may be related to the stabilization of the immobilized catalyst, preventing its degradation during the reaction course. EPR results show that the kinetics of formation of the DMPO/*OH adduct in homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions corresponds to that observed in the catechol oxidation, suggesting that hydroxyl radicals are involved in the reaction mechanism.