[Re(III)Cl(3)] core complexes with bifunctional single amino acid chelates

Catalytic Reduction of Dioxygen to Water by a Bioinspired Non-Heme Iron Complex via a 2+2 Mechanism

We report a bioinspired non-heme Fe complex with a tripodal [N3O]- ligand framework (Fe(PMG)(Cl)2) that is electrocatalytically active toward dioxygen reduction with acetic acid as a proton source in acetonitrile solution. Under electrochemical and chemical conditions, Fe(PMG)(Cl)2 selectively produces water via a 2+2 mechanism, where H2O2 is generated as a discrete intermediate species before further reduction to two equivalents of H2O. Mechanistic studies support a catalytic cycle for dioxygen reduction where an off-cycle peroxo dimer species is the resting state of the catalyst. Spectroscopic analysis of the reduced complex FeII(PMG)Cl shows the stoichiometric formation of an Fe(III)-hydroxide species following exposure to H2O2; no catalytic activity for H2O2 disproportionation is observed, although the complex is electrochemically active for H2O2 reduction to H2O. Electrochemical studies, spectrochemical experiments, and DFT calculations suggest that the carboxylate moiety of the ligand is sensitive to hydrogen-bonding interactions with the acetic acid proton donor upon reduction from Fe(III)/(II), favoring chloride loss trans to the tris-alkyl amine moiety of the ligand framework. These results offer insight into how mononuclear non-heme Fe active sites in metalloproteins distribute added charge and poise proton donors during reactions with dioxygen.

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of the complex [ReCl3(tppz)]·MeCN

The paper reports the synthesis, X-ray structure and a deep analysis of the variable-temperature magnetic data of the new complex [ReCl₃(tppz)]·MeCN being a very scarce example of mononuclear Re(iii) complexes incorporating nitrogen donor ligands.

Novel rhenium(III, IV, and V) tetradentate N2O2 Schiff base mononuclear and dinuclear complexes

Reaction of (Bu4N)[ReOCl4] with the tetradentate Schiff base ligand α,α'-[(1,1-dimethylethylene)dinitrilo]di-o-cresol (sal2ibnH2) yields cis-[Re(V)OCl(sal2ibn)], which quickly forms trans-[μ-O(Re(V)O(sal2ibn))2] in solution. The dinuclear complex can also be isolated by the addition of base (Et3N) to the reaction mixture. Conversely, the mononuclear complex can be trapped as cis-[Re(V)O(NCS)(sal2ibn)] by addition of (Bu4N)SCN to the reaction mixture. Reduction of cis-[Re(V)O(NCS)sal2ibn] with triphenylphosphine gives the rare trans-[Re(III)(NCS)(PPh3)(sal2ibn)] and unique μ-oxo Re(IV) dimer trans-[μ-O(Re(IV)(NCS)(sal2ibn))2]. All of the complexes were characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), cyclic voltammetry and single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Optimization of peptide-based inhibitors of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as targeted imaging agents for prostate cancer

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a serine protease biomarker that may play a role in prostate cancer development and progression. The inhibition of PSA's enzymatic activity with small molecule inhibitors is an attractive and, as of yet, unexploited target. Previously, we reported a series of peptidyl aldehyde and boronic acid based inhibitors of PSA. In this study, the structural requirements in the P2 and P3 positions of peptide-based PSA inhibitors are explored through the substitution of a series of natural and unnatural amino acids in these positions. This analysis demonstrated a preference for hydrophobic residues in the P2 position and amino acids with the potential to hydrogen bond in the P3 position. Using this information, a peptide boronic acid inhibitor with the sequence Cbz-Ser-Ser-Gln-Nle-(boro)-Leu was identified with a K(i) for PSA of 25nM. The attachment of a bulky metal chelating group to the amino terminal of this peptide did not adversely affect PSA inhibition. This result suggests that a platform of PSA inhibitor chelates could be developed as SPECT or PET-based imaging agents for prostate cancer.

Development of an optimized activatable MMP-14 targeted SPECT imaging probe

Matrix metalloproteinase-14 (MT1-MMP or MMP-14) is a membrane-associated protease implicated in a variety of tissue remodeling processes and a molecular hallmark of select metastatic cancers. The ability to detect MMP-14 in vivo would be useful in studying its role in pathologic processes and may potentially serve as a guide for the development of targeted molecular therapies. Four MMP-14 specific probes containing a positively charged cell penetrating peptide (CPP) d-arginine octamer (r(8)) linked with a MMP-14 peptide substrate and attenuating sequences with glutamate (8e, 4e) or glutamate-glycine (4eg and 4egg) repeating units were modeled using an AMBER force field method. The probe with 4egg attenuating sequence exhibited the highest CPP/attenuator interaction, predicting minimized cellular uptake until cleaved. The in vitro MMP-14-mediated cleavage studies using the human recombinant MMP-14 catalytic domain revealed an enhanced cleavage rate that directly correlated with the linearity of the embedded peptide substrate sequence. Successful cleavage and uptake of a technetium-99m labeled version of the optimal probe was demonstrated in MMP-14 transfected human breast cancer cells. Two-fold reduction of cellular uptake was found in the presence of a broad spectrum MMP inhibitor. The combination of computational chemistry, parallel synthesis and biochemical screening, therefore, shows promise as a set of tools for developing new radiolabeled probes that are sensitive to protease activity.

Synthesis and evaluation of technetium-99m- and rhenium-labeled inhibitors of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)

The prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is increasingly recognized as a viable target for imaging and therapy of cancer. We prepared seven (99m)Tc/Re-labeled compounds by attaching known Tc/Re chelating agents to an amino-functionalized PSMA inhibitor (lys-NHCONH-glu) with or without a variable length linker moiety. K i values ranged from 0.17 to 199 nM. Ex vivo biodistribution and in vivo imaging demonstrated the degree of specific binding to engineered PSMA+ PC3 PIP tumors. PC3-PIP cells are derived from PC3 that have been transduced with the gene for PSMA. Despite demonstrating nearly the lowest PSMA inhibitory potency of this series, [(99m)Tc(CO)3( L1)] (+) ( L1 = (2-pyridylmethyl)2N(CH2) 4CH(CO2H)NHCO-(CH2) 6CO-NH-lys-NHCONH-glu) showed the highest, most selective PIP tumor uptake, at 7.9 +/- 4.0% injected dose per gram of tissue at 30 min postinjection. Radioactivity cleared from nontarget tissues to produce a PIP to flu (PSMA-PC3) ratio of 44:1 at 120 min postinjection. PSMA can accommodate the steric requirements of (99m)Tc/Re complexes within PSMA inhibitors, the best results achieved with a linker moiety between the epsilon amine of the urea lysine and the chelator.

A convenient solid-phase synthesis methodology for preparing peptide-derived molecular imaging agents — Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro screening of Tc(I) – chemotactic peptide conjugates

A versatile solid-phase synthesis strategy for preparing peptide–chelate conjugates was developed. The methodology was optimized using a series of ligands, designed to bind Tc(I)/Re(I), and a chemotactic peptide fMFL, which was exploited as a model targeting vector. The peptide derivatives were prepared in parallel using a conventional automated peptide synthesizer in multi-milligram quantities, which provided sufficient material to perform complete characterization, radiolabelling, and in vitro screening studies. Because of the robust nature of the metal–chelate complexes, the Re complex of a chelate–peptide conjugate was prepared on the resin using the same methodology employed to prepare the free ligand conjugates. As such, the reported methodology is amenable to the preparation of libraries of novel Tc radiopharmaceutical ligands and their corresponding Re reference standards in which several factors, including peptide sequence, site of derivatization, and both the type and length of the spacer, can be easily varied.Key words: radiopharmaceuticals, technetium, rhenium, peptides, solid-phase synthesis.

New directions in the coordination chemistry of 99mTc: a reflection on technetium core structures and a strategy for new chelate design

Bifunctional chelates offer a general approach for the linking of radioactive metal cations to macromolecules. In the specific case of 99mTc, a variety of technologies have been developed for assembling a metal-chelate-biomolecule complex. An evaluation of these methodologies requires an appreciation of the coordination characteristics and preferences of the technetium core structures and oxidation states, which serve as platforms for the development of the imaging agent. Three technologies, namely, the MAG3-based bifunctional chelates, the N-oxysuccinimidylhydrazino-nicotinamide system and the recently described single amino acid chelates for the {Tc(CO)3}1+ core, are discussed in terms of the fundamental coordination chemistry of the technetium core structures. In assessing the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies, we conclude that the single amino acid analogue chelates (SAAC), which are readily conjugated to small peptides by solid-phase synthesis methods and which form robust complexes with the {Tc(CO)3}1+ core, offer an effective alternative to the previously described methods.

Unusual Reactivity of the {ReVO}3+ Core: Syntheses and Characterization of Novel Rhenium Halide Complexes with N-Methyl-o-diaminobenzene

The reactions of 1 or 2 equiv of N-methyl-o-diaminobenzene with trans-[ReOX(3)(PPh(3))(2)] (X = Cl, Br) in refluxing chloroform gave oxo-free rhenium complexes [Re(VI)X(4)(NC(6)H(4)NHCH(3))(OPPh(3))] (X = Cl, 3; X = Br, 6), [Re(V)X(2)Y(NC(6)H(4)NHCH(3))(PPh(3))(2)] (X, Y = Cl, 4; X = Br, Y = Cl, 7), [Re(IV)Cl(2)(NHC(6)H(4)NCH(3))(2)] (5), and [Re(IV)Br(3)(NHC(6)H(4)NCH(3))(PPh(3))] (8). All complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, (1)H NMR and IR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, EPR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. The complexes all display distorted octahedral coordination geometry. For Re(IV) complexes 5 and 8, the ligands coordinate in the benzosemiquinone diimine form. In Re(VI) complexes 3 and 6 and the Re(V) complexes 4 and 7, the ligands coordinate in the dianionic monodentate imido form. The EPR spectra of Re(VI) species 3 and 6 in dichloromethane solution at room temperature exhibit the characteristic hyperfine pattern of six lines, with evidence of strong second-order effects. The IR spectra of the complexes are characterized by Re=N and Re-N stretching bands at ca. 1090 and 540 cm(-)(1), respectively. The Re(IV) and Re(V) complexes display well-resolved NMR spectra, while the Re(VI) complexes exhibit no observable spectra, due to paramagnetism. The cyclic voltammograms of complexes 3 and 6 display Re(VII)/ Re(VI) and Re(VI)/Re(V) processes, those of 4 and 7 exhibit Re(VI)/Re(V) and Re(V)/Re(IV) couples, and those of 5 and 8 are characterized by Re(V)/Re(IV) and Re(IV)/Re(III) processes.