Zn−OH2 and Zn−OH Complexes with Hydroborate-Derived Tripod Ligands: A Comprehensive Study

Tris-(2-pyridyl)-pyrazolyl Borate Zinc(II) Complexes: Synthesis, DNA/Protein Binding and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Studies

Zn(II) complexes bearing tris[3-(2-pyridyl)-pyrazolyl] borate (Tppy) ligand (1-3) was synthesized and examined by spectroscopic and analytical tools. Mononuclear [TppyZnCl] (1) has a Zn(II) centre with one arm (pyrazolyl-pyridyl) dangling outside the coordination sphere which is a novel finding in TppyZn(II) chemistry. In complex [TppyZn(H2O)][BF4] (2) hydrogen bonding interaction of aqua moiety stabilizes the dangling arm. In addition, solution state behaviour of complex 1 confirms the tridentate binding mode and reactivity studies show the exogenous axial substituents used to form the [TppyZnN3] (3). The complexes (1-3) were tested for their ability to bind with Calf thymus (CT) DNA and Bovine serum albumin (BSA) wherein they revealed to exhibit good binding constant values with both the biomolecules in the order of 104-105 M-1. The intercalative binding mode with CT DNA was confirmed from the UV-Visible absorption, viscosity, and ethidium bromide (EB) DNA displacement studies. Further, the complexes were tested for in vitro cytotoxic ability on four triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, HCC1937, and Hs 578T). All three complexes (1-3) exhibited good IC50 values (6.81 to 16.87 μM for 24 h as seen from the MTS assay) results which indicated that these complexes were found to be potential anticancer agents against the TNBC cells.

Mono- and Hexanuclear Zinc Halide Complexes with Soft Thiopyridazine Based Scorpionate Ligands

Scorpionate ligands with three soft sulfur donor sites have become very important in coordination chemistry. Despite its ability to form highly electrophilic species, electron-deficient thiopyridazines have rarely been used, whereas the chemistry of electron-rich thioheterocycles has been explored rather intensively. Here, the unusual chemical behavior of a thiopyridazine (6-tert-butylpyridazine-3-thione, HtBuPn) based scorpionate ligand towards zinc is reported. Thus, the reaction of zinc halides with tris(6-tert-butyl-3-thiopyridazinyl)borate Na[TntBu] leads to the formation of discrete torus-shaped hexameric zinc complexes [TntBuZnX]6 (X = Br, I) with uncommonly long zinc halide bonds. In contrast, reaction of the sterically more demanding ligand K[TnMe,tBu] leads to decomposition, forming Zn(HPnMe,tBu)2X2 (X = Br, I). The latter can be prepared independently by reaction of the respective zinc halides and two equiv of HPnMe,tBu. The bromide compound was used as precursor which further reacts with K[TnMe,tBu] forming the mononuclear complex [TnMe,tBu]ZnBr(HPnMe,tBu). The molecular structures of all compounds were elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Characterization in solution was performed by means of 1H, 13C and DOSY NMR spectroscopy which revealed the hexameric constitution of [TntBuZnBr]6 to be predominant. In contrast, [TnMe,tBu]ZnBr(HPnMe,tBu) was found to be dynamic in solution.

Spectroscopic, electrochemical, and alkylation reactions: tert-butyl N-(2-mercaptoethyl)carbamate copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes as structural mimics for the active site of thiolate-alkylating enzymes

Two new dithiolate copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes with the ligand tert-butyl N-(2-mercaptoethyl)-carbamate (Boc-SH) were prepared. Their structures were established to be [(Boc-S)2M], where M=Cu (1) and Ni (2) by using elemental analysis, thermal analysis, molar conductivity, FT-IR, Raman, UV/VIS, and ESR as well as EI-mass spectroscopic methods. The X-ray structure of the ligand Boc-SH was also determined. Spectral data showed that the carbamate ligand act as anioinic bidentate through one immine nitrogen and one thiolate sulfur donor atoms. The spectral techniques suggest that both complexes appear to have square planar geometries. The very low electrical conductance of the two complexes supports their neutral nature. The redox behaviors of the obtained complexes were also investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The monomeric nature of both complexes was assessed from their magnetic susceptibility values. The thermoanalytical data evidence that complex (2) is stable up to 165°C and undergo complete decomposition, resulting in NiO as a residual product. The TEM image of the obtained oxide residue showed its nanosize cluster, suggesting that complex (2) may be used as a precursor for the formation of nanooxide. The methylation reactions of the two dithiolate complexes (1) and (2) with methyl iodide appear to occur intramolecularly at the metal(II)-bound dithiolates, forming the metal(II)-bound dithioether complexes [M(Boc-SCH3)2]I2 with clean second-order constants of 7.95×10(-2) and 10.59×10(-2) M(-1) s(-1), respectively.

A structure and reactivity analysis of monomeric Ni(II)-hydroxo complexes prepared from water

The nickel(ii) chemistry with the tridentate ligands bis[(N'-R-ureido)-N-ethyl]-N-methylamine (H(4)(R), R = isopropyl, tert-butyl) is described. The Ni(ii)-OH complexes, [Ni(II)H(2)(R)(OH)](-) were generated using water as the source of the hydroxo ligand. These complexes are pseudo-square planar, in which the primary coordination sphere contains three nitrogen donors from [H(2)(R)](2-) and the oxygen atom from the hydroxide (Ni-O(H), 1.857(1) A). The Ni(ii)-OH unit also is involved in two intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the urea groups of the [H(2)(R)](2-) and the hydroxo oxygen atom. Attempts to deprotonate the Ni(ii)-OH unit to produce Ni(ii)-oxo complexes were unsuccessful. A variety of bases with pK(a) of less than 15 (in DMSO) were unable to deprotonate the hydroxo ligand. Treating the Ni(ii)-OH complexes with KOBu(t) (pK(a) approximately 29) afforded the ligand substitution product, [Ni(II)H(2)(R)(OBu(t))](-). Ni(ii)-siloxide complexes were isolated when the [Ni(II)H(2)(R)(OH)](-) complexes were allowed to react with K[N(TMS)(2)].

Why does nature use zinc--a personal view

In this perspective some results from the work by the author's research group on the coordination chemistry of zinc are presented. They are selected so as to highlight the principles which, in the opinion of the author, make zinc unique in its ability to function as the catalytic center for an ever-increasing number of biological processes. In essence, the "non-properties" of zinc are the basis of its success: no redox chemistry, no ligand field effects, no typical coordination numbers or geometries, no stability or inertness of its complexes, no typical "hard" or "soft" characteristics. The chemistry presented here is centered around the "Freiburg Enzyme Model", the pyrazolylborate-ligated zinc-hydroxide complex. The topics discussed in detail include the zinc-water combination, the non-similarity between the Zn-OH and the Zn-SH, Zn-OR or Zn-SR complexes, and the functionalization of CO(2) by zinc-bound nucleophiles. The value of structure correlation analysis for the elucidation of mechanistic details is demonstrated, and the first examples of catalysis by the TpZn-OH complexes are presented.

The Missing Link in COS Metabolism: A Model Study on the Reactivation of Carbonic Anhydrase from its Hydrosulfide Analogue

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is known to react with carbonyl sulfide, an atmospheric trace gas, whereby H(2)S is formed. It has been shown that, in the course of this reaction, the active catalyst, the His(3)ZnOH structural motif, is converted to its hydrosulfide form: His(3)ZnOH+COS-->His(3)ZnSH+CO(2). In this study, we elucidate the mechanism of reactivation of carbonic anhydrase (CA) from its hydrosulfide analogue by using density functional calculations, a model reaction and in vivo experimental investigation. The desulfuration occurs according to the overall equation His(3)ZnSH+H(2)O right harpoon over left harpoon His(3)ZnOH+H(2)S. The initial step is a protonation equilibrium at the zinc-bound hydrosulfide. The hydrogen sulfide ligand thus formed is then replaced by a water molecule, which is subsequently deprotonated to yield the reactivated catalytic centre of CA. Such a mechanism is thought to enable a plant cell to expel H(2)S or rapidly metabolise it to cysteine via the cysteine synthase complex. The proposed mechanism of desulfuration of the hydrosulfide analogue of CA can thus be regarded as the missing link between COS consumption of plants and their sulfur metabolism.

Zinc and Cobalt(II) Complexes of Tripodal Nitrogen Ligands of the Tris[2-substituted Imidazol-4(5)-yl]phosphane Type. Biomimetic Hydrolysis of an Activated Ester

Novel tris[2-substituted imidazol-4(5)-yl]phosphane (4-TIPR) ligands 2b (R = Ph) and 2c (R = tBu) were prepared as model ligands for the tris(histidine) motif found in many zinc enzymes. They readily form cobalt and zinc nitrato and chloro complexes in protic solvents. The steric requirements of the substituents R in 4(5)-position of the 4-TIPR ligands (R = iPr (2a), Ph (2b), tBu (2c)) is discussed on the basis of their UV/VIS spectra. Zinc complexes of 2a and 2c were studied due to their ability to promote the hydrolysis of the activated ester 4-nitrophenyl pyridine-2-carboxylate (pNpic).