Decomplexation of Cyclopentadienylmanganese Tricarbonyls under Very Mild Conditions: A Novel Route to Substituted Cyclopentadienes and Their Application in Organometallic Synthesis

Cymantrenyl-Nucleobases: Synthesis, Anticancer, Antitrypanosomal and Antimicrobial Activity Studies

The synthesis of four cymantrene-5-fluorouracil derivatives (1-4) and two cymantrene-adenine derivatives (5 and 6) is reported. All of the compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods and the crystal structure of two derivatives (1 and 6), together with the previously described cymantrene-adenine compound C was determined by X-ray crystallography. While the compounds 1 and 6 crystallized in the triclinic P-1 space group, compound C crystallized in the monoclinic P2₁/m space group. The newly synthesized compounds 1-6 were tested together with the two previously described cymantrene derivatives B and C for their in vitro antiproliferative activity against seven cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MCF-7/DX, MDA-MB-231, SKOV-3, A549, HepG2m and U-87-MG), five bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-sensitive, methicillin-resistant and vancomycin-intermediate strains), Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia coli, including clinical isolates of S. aureus and S. epidermidis, as well as against the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei. The most cytotoxic compounds were derivatives 2 and C for A549 and SKOV-3 cancer cell lines, respectively, with 50% growth inhibition (IC50) values of about 7 µM. The anticancer activity of the cymantrene compounds was determined to be due to their ability to induce oxidative stress and to trigger apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells. Three derivatives (1, 4 and 5) displayed promising antitrypanosomal activity, with GI50 values in the low micromolar range (3-4 µM). The introduction of the 5-fluorouracil moiety in 1 enhanced the trypanocidal activity when compared to the activity previously reported for the corresponding uracil derivative. The antibacterial activity of cymantrene compounds 1 and C was within the range of 8-64 µg/mL and seemed to be the result of induced cell shrinking.

Anodic properties of diarylethene derivatives having organometallic piano-stool tags

The half-sandwich tamoxifen derivative, Mn(CO)(3)(η(5)-C(5)H(4)(Et)C=C(C(6)H(5))(2)), gives a radical cation which is charge-delocalized between the "cymantrenyl" and diphenylethene moieties and undergoes facile metal-carbonyl substitution reactions. Mn and Re complexes with finely tuned redox potentials can be obtained for cancer cell inhibition studies.

Photochemistry of group 6 Fischer carbene complexes: beyond the photocarbonylation reaction

The seminal report by Hegedus in 1982, showing that alkoxychromium(0) carbenes reacted with imines under bright Colorado sunlight to yield β-lactams, marked the beginning of a key reaction in organometallic chemistry. Very little was known about the mechanism of this reaction. In fact, Hegedus proposed the reversible generation of a chromium-coordinated ketene, which would react with nucleophiles. This coordinated species would show all the advantages of ketenes without their shortcomings, namely, dimerization, formation of undesired adducts, and so forth. The quest for the detection of these species and the pursuit of the mechanism of the photocarbonylation (a reaction exclusive to Cr(0) and Mo(0) carbene complexes, not W(0) carbene complexes) remained unabated over the next 15 years. In fact, all attempts to experimentally determine the mechanism of this useful reaction have been fruitless. At the same time, the photocarbonylation of Cr(0) carbenes matured into a valuable synthetic reaction, allowing access to several families of organic compounds. Unfortunately, reactions other than photocarbonylation remained elusive. We used a combination of experimental and computational methodologies to study the photocarbonylation of Cr(0) carbene complexes and the subsequent reaction of the photogenerated ketenes with nucleophiles. In parallel, we discovered new photochemical processes and succeeded in making photoreactive the so-called "unreactive" W(0) carbene complexes. In this Account, we discuss the disentangling of the mechanisms of these transformations, thereby shedding some light onto the photochemistry of group 6 metal (Fischer) carbene complexes. The original designation of the electronic transitions of group 6 carbene complexes was reassigned, and the photocarbonylation step was analyzed again, resulting in the sequence S(0)-T(1)-S(0), which is far removed from conventional organic photochemistry. The T(1) species is a chromacyclopropanone; its unpaired electrons are primarily localized in the metal fragment and in the former carbene carbon atom. The T(1)-S(0) intersystem crossing occurs with the participation of the solvent through an unusual loose-bolt radiationless mechanism. The photogenerated S(0) species reacts with imines to form the final β-lactams in a mechanism that resembles the organic Staudinger reaction, but here the metal is present during the entire reaction coordinate. The selectivity of these reactions is defined by the nucleophilic attack on the O-bonded metallaketene instead of the subsequent conrotatory ring closure, a distinct departure from the organic reaction. Appropriate modification of the substituents of the carbene ligand or in the coordination sphere of the complex results in new photoprocesses; these include 1,2-metalladyotropic rearrangements as well as α-fragmentations in which W(0) carbene complexes become photoreactive. Moreover, the inclusion of additional metal centers usually results in new reactions, such as the formation of fulvenes by η(5)→ η(3) photoslippage, or in the complete inhibition of the photoreactivity. The photochemistry of group 6 metal-carbene complexes thus offers unexplored territory for pursuing new reactions and reaction mechanisms.

“Heavy Fluorous” Cyclopentadienes and Cyclopentadienyl Complexes with Three to Five Ponytails: Facile Syntheses from Polybromocyclopentadienyl Complexes, Phase Properties, and Electronic Effects

The reactions between [(eta5-C5H(5-x)Br(x))M(CO)3] (M = Re, Mn; x = 1, 3, 4, 5) and [IZn[(CH2)(n)R(f8)]] (n = 2, 3; R(f8) = (CF2)7CF3) in the presence of [Cl2PdL2] catalysts give the title complexes [[eta5-C5H(5-x)[(CH2)(n)R(f8)]x]M(CO)3]. In the case of x = 5, the major product is actually [[eta5-C5H[(CH2)(n)R(f8)]4]M(CO)3], in which one of the bromides has been substituted by hydride. Minor amounts of multiple hydride substitution products are formed, all of them readily separable on fluorous silica gel. Irradiation of the manganese complexes in CF3C6H5/MeOH/ether gives uncoordinated cyclopentadienes, which can be deprotonated and reattached to other metals. Partition coefficients have been measured (CF3C6F11/toluene): complexes with three or more ponytails are highly fluorophilic, with values of > 99.8: < 0.2. The IR [symbol: see text]CO bands have been used to probe the inductive effects of the ponytails at the metal centers.

Convenient syntheses of “heavy fluorous” cyclopentadienes and cyclopentadienyl complexes with three to five ponytails

Reactions of (eta5-C5H(5-x)Brx)M(CO)3(M = Re, Mn; x= 1, 3, 4, 5) and IZn(CH2)2R(f8) in the presence of Cl2PdL2 catalysts give the title complexes (eta5)-C5H(5-x)(CH2)2R(f8)x)M(CO3), accompanied in the case of x= 5 by hydride-transfer byproducts. Extremely high fluorophilicities are realized, and the cyclopentadienyl ligands are readily detached (hnu) from the manganese complexes.

Photoinduced face-inversion of conjugated tetraene ligands on a Pd-Pd-Pd moiety

The linear sandwich tripalladium complexes [Pd3{Ar(CH=CH)4Ar}2[BArf]2 (Ar = Ph, p-t-Bu-C6H4, p-styryl-C6H4) undergo photoinduced isomerization involving face-inversion of the tetraene ligands. Irradiation of these complexes with visible light (>510 nm) resulted in rac (staggered sandwich) to meso (eclipsed sandwich) isomerization. The structures of rac and meso isomers are determined by X-ray crystallographic analyses.