Synthesis of a Novel Class of Trigonal Bipyramidal Nitrido Tc(V) Complexes with Phosphino-Thiol Ligands. Crystal Structure of [(99g)Tc(N)(L(1))(2)] [L(1) = 2-(Diphenylphosphino)ethanethiolato] and [(99g)Tc(N)(L(5))(2)] [L(5) = 2-(Ditolylphosphino)propanethiolato]

Technetium Nitrido Complexes of Tetradentate Thiosemicarbazones: Kit-Based Radiolabeling, Characterization, and In Vivo Evaluation

Bis(thiosemicarbazone) and pyridylhydrazone-thiosemicarbazone chelators have demonstrated utility in nuclear medicine. In particular, the 64Cu2+ complexes have been extensively developed for hypoxia imaging and molecular imaging of peptide and protein markers of disease. However, the chemistry and application of bis(thiosemicarbazone) and pyridylhydrazone-thiosemicarbazone chelators in combination with 99mTc, the most widely used radionuclide in nuclear medicine, is underexplored. Herein, a series of bis(thiosemicarbazone) and pyridylhydrazone-thiosemicarbazone chelators were radiolabeled with nitrido-technetium-99m in an optimized one-pot synthesis from [99mTc]TcO4-. Optimization of the radiochemical syntheses allowed for production of the complexes in >90% radiochemical conversion with apparent molar activities of 3.3-5 GBq/μmol. Competition experiments demonstrated the excellent stability of the complexes. The nitrido-technetium-99 complexes were synthesized, and the chemical identities were investigated using mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. Complexation of nitrido-rhenium(V) was achieved with the N4-dialkylated bis(thiosemicarbazones). Planar imaging and ex vivo biodistribution studies of the five 99mTc complexes were conducted on healthy BALB/c mice to determine in vivo behavior. The lipophilic nature of the complexes resulted in uptake of 1.6-5.7% ID g-1 in the brain at 2 min postinjection and retention of 0.4-1.7% ID g-1 at 15 min postinjection. The stability of the complexes and the biodistribution data demonstrate that these chelators are ideal platforms for future production of radiopharmaceutical candidates.

Nitrido Technetium-99 m Core in Radiopharmaceutical Applications: Four Decades of Research

The knowledge on element 43 (Tc) of the periodic table, built over the years through the contributions given by the close relationship between chemistry and nuclear medicine, allowed the development of new and increasingly effective radiopharmaceuticals useful both as perfusion and target specific imaging agents for SPECT (single photon emission tomography). Among the manifold Tc-compounds, Tc(V) nitrido complexes played a relevant role in the search for new technetium-99m radiopharmaceuticals, providing efficient labeling procedures that can be conveniently exploited for the design and synthesis of agents, also incorporating small organic molecules or peptides having defined structural features. With this work, we present an overview of four decades of research on the chemistry and on the nuclear medicine applications of Tc(V) nitrido complexes.

Technetium and rhenium in five-coordinate symmetrical and dissymmetrical nitrido complexes with alkyl phosphino-thiol ligands. Synthesis and structural characterization

The reactivity of bulky alkylphosphino-thiol ligands (PSH) toward nitride-M(V, VI) (M = Tc/Re) precursors was investigated. Neutral five-coordinate monosubstituted complexes of the type [M(N)(PS)Cl(PPh(3))] (Tc1-4, Re1-2) were prepared in moderate to high yields. It was found that these [M(N)(PS)Cl(PPh(3))] species underwent ligand-exchange reactions under mild conditions when reacted with bidentate mononegative ligands having soft donor atoms such as dithiocarbamates (NaL(n)) to afford stable dissymmetrical mixed-substituted complexes of the type [M(N)(PS)(L(n))] (Tc5,8-10, Re5-9) containing two different bidentate chelating ligands bound to the [M[triple bond]N](2+) moiety. In these reactions, the dithiocarbamate replaced the two labile monodentate ligands (Cl and PPh(3)) leaving the [M(N)(PS)](+) building block intact. In the above reactions, technetium and rhenium were found to behave in a similar way. Instead, under more drastic conditions, reactions of PSH with [M(N)Cl(2)(PPh(3))(2)] gave a mixture of monosubstituted [M(N)(PS)Cl(PPh(3))] and bis-substituted species [M(N)(PS)(2)] (Tc11-14) in the case of technetium, whereas only monosubstituted [M(N)(PS)Cl(PPh(3))] complexes were recovered for rhenium. All isolated products were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and multinuclear ((1)H, (13)C, and (31)P) NMR spectroscopies, ESI MS spectrometry, and X-ray crystal structure determination of the representative monosubstituted [Tc(N)(PStbu)Cl(PPh(3))] (Tc4) and mixed-substituted [Re(N)(PScy)(L(3))] (Re7) and [Re(N)(PSiso)(L(4))] (Re9) complexes. The latter rhenium complexes represent the first example of a square-pyramidal nitrido Re species with the basal plane defined by a PS(3) donor set. Monosubstituted [M(N)(PS)Cl(PPh(3))] species bearing the substitution-inert [M(N)(PS)](+) moieties act as suitable building blocks proposed for the construction of new classes of dissymmetrical nitrido compounds with potential application in the development of essential and target specific (99m)Tc and (188)Re radiopharmaceuticals for imaging and therapy, respectively.

From symmetrical to asymmetrical nitrido phosphino-thiol complexes: a new class of neutral mixed-ligand (99m)Tc compounds as potential brain imaging agents

A general procedure is presented for the preparation of a new class of nitrido asymmetrical Tc-99m complexes containing two different bidentate ligands bound to the same [Tc(N)]2+ core that could be used to design either essential or target specific imaging agents. This procedure is based on the chemical properties of a new monosubstituted [Tc(N)(R2PS)Cl(PPh3)] species composed of a TcN multiple bond and an ancillary phosphine thiol ligand (R2PSH). This intermediate readily reacts with bidentate mononegative ligands (S--Y) containing soft pi-donor coordinating atoms to give neutral pentacoordinate asymmetrical complexes of the type [Tc(N)(R2PS)(S--Y)]. The ability of several bidentate ligands containing different combination of heteroatoms (S, N, O) to form complexes with the [Tc(N)(R2PS)]+ building block was investigated. It was found that mononegative dithiocarbamate (DTC) or cysteine carboxyl derivate ligands promptly react with the monosubstituted species to form the final mixed compound in high yield. Preliminary biodistribution data in rats of some representative [Tc(N)(R2PS)(DTC)] compounds revealed an interesting initial brain uptake (in the range 0.20 +/- 0.01% ID/g and 0.91 +/- 0.06% ID/g), indicating their ability to cross in and out of the intact BBB. In these complexes the dithiocarbamate, or more generally the bidentate ligand (S--Y), can be designed to carry a functional group or a bioactive molecule, which could be involved in a trapping mechanism to increase brain retention for longer time intervals. These results could be conveniently utilized to devise a new procedure for the production of a novel class of brain perfusion and/or brain receptor imaging agents.

Preparation and in vivo evaluation of 99mTcN-tertiary butyl xanthate as a potential myocardial agent

(99m)Tc-tertiary butyl isonitrile (TBI), a complex structurally similar to (99m)Tc-sestamibi, has been reported to be taken up in the myocardium, albeit with significant retention in liver and lungs, thereby leading to obscure heart images when used for in vivo imaging. In the present study, tert-butyl xanthate, which is similar to TBI, but possesses two sulphur donors, has been synthesized in excellent yield by reacting tert-butanol with carbon disulphide and sodium hydroxide in dry ether. The prepared ligand was then labeled with [(99m)TcN]2+ core and the resultant complex was characterized by paper electrophoresis and HPLC. The complex was obtained in more than 95% yield and was found to be neutral. The preparation was evaluated in Swiss mice for its myocardial perfusion characteristics. The maximum heart uptake observed was 2.34%ID/g at 5 min p.i., which was cleared rapidly, with retention of 0.50%ID/g of the activity at 60 min p.i. However, owing to slow clearance from blood, liver and lungs, the heart/blood, heart/liver and heart/lung ratios at all the time points of study were not significantly high.

Synthesis and evaluation of ether containing 99mTc–nitrido dithiocarbamate complexes as brain perfusion imaging agent

In the present study, a series of (99m)Tc-nitrido dithiocarbamate complexes containing ether linkages have been prepared and their brain perfusion characteristics studied. Two primary dithiocarbamates and two secondary dithiocarbamates were synthesized in >80% yield and were characterized by elemental analyses. The ligands were then labeled using a (99m)Tc-nitrido intermediate, prepared from sodium pertechnetate using commercially available nitrido kit-vials, at a low ligand concentration of 0.1 mg. The prepared complexes were obtained in more than 95% yield and were characterized by paper electrophoresis and HPLC. All the complexes were found to be neutral and eluted out as a single species in HPLC. Biodistribution studies were carried out in normal Swiss mice. All the complexes showed uptake in the brain. (99m)TcN complexes of secondary dithiocarbamates showed higher initial brain uptake (5 min p.i.) than their primary amine counterparts. However, all the complexes exhibited rapid washout from the brain.

99mTc-labeling of colchicine using [99mTc(CO)3(H2O)3]+ and [99mTc triple bond N]2+ core for the preparation of potential tumor-targeting agents

Multidrug resistance (MDR) mediated by over-expression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is one of the major causes of failure of chemotherapy in cancer treatment. Colchicine, a naturally occurring alkaloid, is a Pgp substrate and acts as an antimitotic agent by binding to microtubules. Hence, Colchicine and its analogues radiolabeled with 99mTc may have potential for visualization of MDR in tumors. Here we report 99mTc-labeling of colchicine derivatives using [99mTc(CO)3(H2O)3]+ and [99mTc triple bond N]2+ cores. Trimethylcolchicinic acid synthesized from colchicine was used as the precursor to prepare iminodiacetic acid and dithiocarbamate derivatives which were then radiolabeled with [99mTc(CO)3(H2O)3]+ and [99mTc triple bond N]2+ cores, respectively. Radiolabeling yield for both the complexes was > 98% as observed by HPLC and TLC patterns. In vitro studies in tumor cell lines showed significant uptake for 99mTc-carbonyl as well as for 99mTc-nitrido colchicine complexes. Biodistribution studies in Swiss mice bearing fibrosarcoma tumor showed 4.1 +/- 1.2% ID/g of uptake at 30 min pi for 99mTc(CO)3-complex as against 0.42 +/- 0.24% ID/g for the 99mTcN-complex. 99mTc(CO)3-colchicine complex exhibited better pharmacokinetics with lower liver accumulation as compared to the 99mTcN-complex. Thus, colchicine radiolabeled with [99mTc(CO)3(H2O)3]+ core is more promising with respect to in vivo distribution characteristics in tumor model.

99mTcN complexes of tert-butyl dithiocarbamate and methoxyisobutyl dithiocarbamate as myocardial and brain imaging agents

OBJECTIVE

Two ligands viz. tert-butyl dithiocarbamate (TBDTC) and methoxyisobutyl dithiocarbamate (MIBDTC), which are analogous to the tert-butyl isonitrile (TBI) and sestamibi (MIBI) ligands, were synthesized and labelled with the [99mTcN] core to evaluate their potential as myocardial agents. As these complexes have low molecular weights, and are neutral and lipophilic in nature, they have a tendency to cross the blood-brain barrier and thus deserve evaluation as potential brain perfusion imaging agents.

METHODS

The dithiocarbamate ligands were synthesized from their respective amines, i.e., tert-butylamine and methoxyisobutylamine, by reacting with carbon disulfide in dry ether in the presence of crushed sodium hydroxide. The ligands were characterized by elemental analyses. The 99mTc-nitrido intermediate was prepared from 99mTcO(-)4 using commercially available nitrido kits. The complexation was carried out by mixing the freshly prepared 99mTc-nitrido intermediate and the ligand followed by incubation at room temperature for 10 min. These complexes were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a C-18 reversed phase column with acetonitrile:water as the mobile phase, and by paper electrophoresis. Biodistribution studies were carried out in normal Swiss mice.

RESULTS

The ligands were synthesized in near quantitative yields. They were radiolabelled in > 95% yields using the 99mTc-nitrido core, at low ligand concentrations of 0.01 mg . ml(-1) (5.8 x 10(-5) M) for TBDTC and 1 mg . ml(-1) (4.8 x 10(-3) M) for MIBDTC, respectively. Both the complexes were found to be neutral and eluted out as single species in HPLC. Both the complexes showed myocardial as well as brain uptake. The 99mTcN(TBDTC)2 complex showed a better heart/blood and heart/lung ratio when compared to 99mTcN(NOEt)2, an agent in phase III clinical trials proposed for myocardial imaging. This complex also showed brain uptake (3.74%ID/g) at 10 min post-injection (p.i.) with brain/blood ratios better than that of the standard agent 99mTc-D,L-HMPAO at all time points studied. 99mTcN(MIBDTC)2 showed myocardial uptake of 6.41%ID/g at 5 min p.i., which decreased to 1.76%ID/g, 60 min p.i. 99mTcN(MIBDTC)2 also showed good brain uptake (3.21%ID/g at 5 min p.i.) but relatively fast washout (1.33%ID/g at 60 min p.i.) from the target organ.

CONCLUSION

Both the complexes under study showed myocardial as well as brain uptake. The results obtained with 99mTcN(TBDTC)2 shows promise towards its development as a potential brain imaging agent.

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.

The crucial role of the diphosphine heteroatom X in the stereochemistry and stabilization of the substitution-inert [M(N)(PXP)]2+ metal fragments (M = Tc, Re; PXP = diphosphine ligand)

The nature of the heteroatom X incorporated in the five-membered PXP-diphosphine bridging chain was found to play a primary unit role both in the overall stability and in the stereochemical arrangement of nitrido-containing [M(N)(PXP)](2+) metal fragments (M = Tc, Re). Thus, by mixing PXP ligands with labile [Re(N)Cl(4)](-) and Tc(N)Cl(2)(PPh(3))(2) nitrido precursors in CH(2)Cl(2)/MeOH mixtures, a series of neutral M(N)Cl(2)(PXP) complexes (M = Tc, 1-5; M = Re, 8, 9) was collected. In the resulting distorted octahedrons, PXP adopted facial or meridional coordination, and combination with halide co-ligands produced three different stereochemical arrangements, that is, fac,cis, mer,cis, and mer,trans, depending primarily on the nature of the diphosphine heteroatom X. When X = NH, mer,cis-Tc(N)Cl(2)(PNP1), 1, was the only isomer formed. Alternatively, when a tertiary amine nitrogen (X = NR; R = CH(3), CH(2)CH(2)OCH(3)) was introduced in the bridging chain, fac,cis-M(N)Cl(2)(PN(R)P) complexes (M = Tc, 2, 3; M = Re, 8f) were obtained. Isomerization into the mer,cis-Re(N)Cl(2)(PN(R)P), 8m, species was observed only in the case of rhenium when the tertiary amine group carried the less encumbering methyl substituent. fac,cis-Tc(N)Cl(2)(PSP), 4f, was isolated in the solid state when X = S, but a mixture of fac,cis-Tc(N)Cl(2)(PSP) and mer,trans-Tc(N)Cl(2)(PSP), 4m, isomers was found in equilibrium in the solution state. A similar equilibrium between fac,cis-M(N)Cl(2)(POP) (M = Tc, 5f; M = Re, 9f) and mer,trans-M(N)Cl(2)(POP) (M = Tc, 5m; M = Re, 9m) species was detected in POP-containing complexes. The molecular structure of all of these complexes was assessed by means of conventional physicochemical techniques including multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis of representative mer,cis-Tc(N)Cl(2)(PN(H)P), 1, fac,cis-Tc(N)Cl(2)(PSP), 4f, and mer,cis-Re(N)Cl(2)(PN(Me)P), 8m, compounds.

Characterisation via electrospray ionisation multistage mass spectrometry of three related series of nitrido technetium complexes containing phosphinothiolate and dithiocarbamate ligands

Nine nitrido technetium compounds comprising bis-substituted Tc(N)(PS)(2) (1-4) (PS = bidentate phosphinothiolate ligands) and Tc(N)(dtc)(2) (5, 6) derivatives (dtc = bidentate dithiocarbamate), and mixed-ligand Tc(N)(PS)(dtc) (7-9) species, were subjected to electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and MS(n) experiments. Bis-substituted phosphinothiolato complexes 1-4 lead to the straightforward formation of dinuclear species reasonably originating from proton bound dimers. These dinuclear species do not show, under collisionally induced fragmentation processes, the formation of monomeric units but cleavages related to the ligand framework, thereby proving the high stability of the [Tc--H(+)--Tc] bond. Bis-dithiocarbamate compounds 5 and 6 show, instead, abundant [M+H](+), [M+Na](+) and [2M+Na](+) ions, and their collisionally induced fragmentations are highly favoured with cleavages related to the C--N and C--S bonds. During these processes, the coordination of a water molecule to [MH-L](+) product ions is observed, as proved by the collisionally induced H(2)O loss detected for this species. Mixed-ligand compounds 7 and 8 show the protonated molecules and Na(+)-cationised ions with fragmentation processes related to the dithiocarbamate moiety. This behaviour indicates that coordination of ether- and ester-substituted dithiocarbamates to the [Tc [triple chemical bond] N] group is weaker than that of phosphinothiolates. Conversely, diethyldithiocarbamate inserted in mixed complex 9 enhances both C--N and Tc--S bonds, and fragmentation processes suggest that metal-phosphinothiolate and metal-dithiocarbamate show comparable strength.

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.

Contribution of electrospray mass spectrometry for the characterization, design, and development of nitrido technetium and rhenium heterocomplexes as potential radiopharmaceuticals

Diagnostic nuclear medicine (NM) is among the imaging procedures (together with X-ray, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance, and echography) the clinicians can routinely adopt to image organs or tissues and related disorders. (99m)Tc-based agents are the radiopharmaceuticals of election in diagnostic NM because of the ideal physical properties of the 99mTc nuclide (t1/2 6.01 hr; Egamma 142 keV), low cost, and easy availability through the commercial 99Mo/99mTc generator, and chemical versatility of the element. In the last two decades the synergistic work of clinics, pharmacologists, and coordination chemists has had a tremendous impact in the development of new 99mTc-based radiopharmaceuticals through the recognition of the structure at the molecular level of the agent utilized. This has been achieved by studying the physico-chemical properties of the long-lived 99gTc (t1/2 2.11 x 10(5) year; Ebeta 292 keV) and third-row congener Re isostructural compounds. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and collision experiments (MS/MS) represent valuable analytical techniques suitable for the characterization of both technetium and rhenium complexes relevant to NM. Unequivocal structural identification of these bioinorganic compounds, either simple coordination complexes ("essential radiopharmaceuticals") or more sophisticated structures carrying bioactive fragments ("receptor-specific" radiopharmaceuticals), can be realized in combination with multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. MS/MS experiments provide useful information on the different metal-ligand bond strength, and comparison of the fragmentation profiles of isostructural technetium and rhenium compounds give additional details on the role played by the metal in determining preferred decomposition channels. The analysis of these data contribute to design novel synthetic strategies for the obtainment of technetium and rhenium compounds relevant to NM. The chemistry underlying the production of a new class of potential radiopharmaceuticals including a terminal nitrogen bond and a mixed coordination sphere comprising heterodiphosphines and/or dithiocarbamates (DTC) is presented in detail together with the ESI-MS and MS/MS investigations.

Chemistry of the strong electrophilic metal fragment [(99)Tc(N)(PXP)](2+) (PXP = diphosphine ligand). A novel tool for the selective labeling of small molecules

Monosubstituted [M(N)Cl(2)(POP)] [M = Tc, 1; Re, 2] and [M(N)Cl(2)(PNP)] [M = Tc, 3; Re, 4] complexes were prepared by reaction of the precursors [M(N)Cl(4)](-) and [M(N)Cl(2)(PPh(3))(2)] (M = Tc, Re) with the diphosphine ligands bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)ether (POP) and bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)methoxyethylamine (PNP) in refluxing dichloromethane/methanol solutions. In these compounds, the diphosphine acted as a chelating ligand bound to the metal center through the two phosphorus atoms. Considering also the weak interaction of the heteroatom (N or O) located in the middle of the carbon backbone connecting the two P atoms, we found that the coordination arrangement of the diphosphine ligand could be viewed as either meridional (m) or facial (f), and the resulting geometry as pseudooctahedral. The heteroatom of the diphosphine ligand was invariably located trans to the nitrido linkage, as established by X-ray diffraction analysis of the representative compounds 2m and 4f. Density functional theoretical calculations showed that in POP-type complexes the mer form is favored by approximately 6 kcal mol(-1), whereas mer and fac isomers are almost isoenergetic in PNP-type complexes. A possible role of noncovalent interactions between the phosphinic phenyl substituents in stabilizing the fac-isomer was also highlighted. The existence of fac-mer isomerism in this class of complexes was attributed to the strong tendency of the two phosphorus atoms to occupy a reciprocal trans-position within the pseudooctahedral geometry. The switching of P atoms between cis- and trans-configurations was confirmed by the observation that the fac isomers, 1f and 2f, were irreversibly transformed, in solution, into the corresponding mer isomers, 1m and 2m, thus suggesting that fac complexes are more reactive species. Theoretical calculations supported this view by showing that the lowest unoccupied orbitals of the fac isomers are more accessible to a nucleophilic attack with respect to those of the mer ones. Furthermore, the large participation of the Cl orbitals to the HOMO, which is a metal-ligand pi* antibonding in the complex basal plane, shows that the Tc-Cl bonds are labile. As a consequence, facial isomers could be considered as highly electrophilic intermediates that were selectively reactive toward substitution by electron-rich donor ligands. Experimental evidence was in close agreement with this description. It was found that fac-[M(N)Cl(2)(PXP)] complexes easily underwent ligand-exchange reactions with bidentate donor ligands such as mercaptoacetic acid (NaHL(1)), S-methyl 2-methyldithiocarbazate (H(2)L(2)), diethyldithiocarbamate sodium salt (NaL(3)), and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (H(2)L(4)) to afford stable asymmetrical heterocomplexes of the type fac-[M(N)(L(n))(POP)](+/0) (5-8) and fac-[M(N)(L(n))(PNP)](+/0) (9-14) comprising two different polydentate chelating ligands bound to the same metal center. In these reactions, the bidentate ligand replaced the two chloride atoms on the equatorial plane of the distorted octahedron, leaving the starting fac-[M(N)(PXP)](2+) (X = O, N) moieties untouched. No formation of the corresponding symmetrical complexes containing two identical bidentate ligands was detected over a broad range of experimental conditions. Solution-state NMR studies confirmed that the structure in solution of these heterocomplexes was identical to that established in the solid state by X-ray diffraction analysis of the prototype complexes fac-[M(N)(HL(2))(POP)][BF(4)] [M = Tc, 7; Re, 8] and fac-[Tc(N)(HL(2))(PNP)][BF(4)], 11. In conclusion, the novel metal fragment fac-[M(N)(PXP)](2+) could be utilized as an efficient synthon for the preparation of a large class of asymmetrical, nitrido heterocomplexes incorporating a particular diphosphine ligand and a variety of bidentate chelating molecules.

Schiff base chemistry of the rhenium(V)-oxo core with '3+2' ligand donor sets

Reactions of [ReOCl(3)(PPh(3))(2)] with the bidentate ligands 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl) benzoxazole and (2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-thiazoline resulted in the isolation of the complexes [ReOCl(2)(OC(6)H(4)-2-C=NC(6)H(4)-2-O)(PPh(3))] (1) and [ReOCl(2)(OC(6)H(4)-2-C=NCH(2)CH(2)S)(PPh(3))] (2). Reactions of 1 with the tridentate Schiff base ligands salicylaldehyde 2-hydroxyanil (H(2)L(1b)), salicylaldehyde 2-mercaptoanil (H(2)L(2b)) afnd S-benzyl-2-[(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylene] dithiocarbazate (H(2)L(3b)) yielded the '3+2' rhenium(V) oxo species [ReO(OC(6)H(4)-2-C=NC(6)H(4)O) (OC(6)H(4)CH=NC(6)H(4)O)] (3), [ReO(OC(6)H(4)-2-C=NC(6)H(4)O)-(OC(6)H(4)CH=NC(6)H(4)S)] (4) and [ReO(OC(6)H(4)-2-C=NC(6)H(4)O){OC(6)H(4)CH=N-N=C(SCH(2)C(6)H(5))S}] (5). Similarly, the reactions of [ReOCl(2)(OC(6)H(4)-2-C=NC(6)H(4)S)(PPh(3))] (2) with H(2)L(2b), H(2)L(3b) and 2-[(2-hydroxyphenyl) methylene]-N-phenyl-hydrazinecarbothioamide (H(2)L(4b)) were exploited to prepare [ReO(OC(6)H(4)-2-C=NC(6)H(4)S)(OC(6)H(4)CH=NC(6)H(4)O)] (6), [ReO(OC(6)H(4)C=NC(6)H(4)S){OC(6)H(4)CH=N-N=C (SCH(2)C(6)H(5))S}] (7) and [ReO(OC(6)H(4)-2-C=NC(6)H(4)S){OC(6)H(4)CH=N-N=C(NHC(6)H(5))}] (8), respectively.

Synthesis of a novel class of nitrido Tc-99m radiopharmaceuticals with phosphino-thiol ligands showing transient heart uptake

A novel class of technetium-99m radiopharmaceuticals showing high heart uptake is described. These complexes were prepared through a simple and efficient procedure, and their molecular structure fully characterized. They are formed by a terminal Tc(triple bond)N multiple bond and two bidentate phosphine-thiol ligands [R(2)P-(CH(2))(n)SH, n=2,3] coordinated to the metal ion through the neutral phosphorus atom and the deprotonated thiol sulfur atom. The resulting geometry was trigonal bipyramidal. Biodistribution studies were carried out in rats. The complexes exhibited high initial heart uptake and elimination through liver and kidneys. The washout kinetic from heart was dependent on the nature of the lateral R groups on the phosphine-thiol ligands. When R=phenyl, heart activity was rapidly eliminated within 10-20 min. Instead, when R=tolyl, cyclohexyl, persistent heart uptake was observed. Extraction of activity from myocardium tissue showed that no change of the chemical identity of the tracer occurred after heart uptake. On the contrary, metabolization to more hydrophilic species occurred in liver and kidneys.