Water-Soluble and Water-Stable Organometallic Gold(II) Complexes

Gold(I) metallocyclophosphazenes with antibacterial potency and antitumor efficacy. Synergistic antibacterial action of a heterometallic gold and silver-cyclophosphazene

One of the most important uses of phosphazenes today involves its biomedical applications. They can also be employed as scaffolds for the design and construction of a variety of ligands in order to coordinate them to metallic drugs. The coordination chemistry of the (amino)cyclotriphosphazene ligand, [N₃P₃(NHCy)₆], towards gold(I) complexes has been studied. Neutral complexes, [N₃P₃(NHCy)₆{AuX}_n] (X = Cl or C₆F₅; n = 1 or 2) (1-4), cationic complexes, [N₃P₃(NHCy)₆{Au(PR₃)}_n](NO₃)_n (PR₃ = PPh₃, PPh₂Me, TPA; n = 1, 2 or 3) (6-12) [TPA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane] and a heterometallic compound [N₃P₃(NHCy)₆{Au(PPh₃)}₂{Ag(PPh₃)}](NO₃)₃ (13) have been obtained and characterized by various methods including single-crystal X-ray diffraction for 7, which confirms the coordination of gold atoms to the nitrogens of the phosphazene ring. Compounds 1, 4, 6-13 were screened for in vitro cytotoxic activity against two tumor human cell lines, MCF7 (breast adenocarcinoma) and HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), and for antimicrobial activity against five bacterial species including Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and Mycobacteria. Both the median inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values are among the lowest found for any gold or silver derivatives against the cell lines and particularly against the Gram-positive (S. aureus) strain and the mycobacteria used in this work. Structure-activity relationships are discussed in order to determine the influence of ancillary ligands and the number and type of metal atoms (silver or gold). Compounds 4 and 8 showed not only maximal potency on human cells but also some tumour selectivity. Remarkably, compound 13, with both gold and silver atoms, showed outstanding activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains (nanomolar range), thus having a cooperative effect between gold and silver, with MIC values which are similar or lower than those of gentamicine, ciprofloxacin and rifampicine. The broad spectrum antimicrobial efficacy of all these metallophosphazenes and particularly of heterometallic compound 13 could be very useful to obtain materials for surfaces with antimicrobial properties that are increasingly in demand.

(Amino)cyclophosphazenes as Multisite Ligands for the Synthesis of Antitumoral and Antibacterial Silver(I) Complexes

The reactivity of the multisite (amino)cyclotriphosphazene ligands, [N₃P₃(NHCy)₆] and [N₃P₃(NHCy)₃(NMe₂)₃], has been explored in order to obtain silver(I) metallophosphazene complexes. Two series of cationic silver(I) metallophosphazenes were obtained and characterized: [N₃P₃(NHCy)₆{AgL}_n](TfO)_n [n = 2, L = PPh₃ (2), PPh₂Me (4); n = 3, L = PPh₃ (3), PPh₂Me (5), TPA (TPA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane, 6)] and nongem-trans-[N₃P₃(NHCy)₃(NMe₂)₃{AgL}_n](TfO)_n [n = 2, L = PPh₃ (7), PPh₂Me (9); n = 3, L = PPh₃ (8), PPh₂Me (10)]. 5, 7, and 9 have also been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, thereby allowing key bonding information to be obtained. Compounds 2-6, 9, and 10 were screened for in vitro cytotoxic activity against two tumor human cell lines, MCF7 (breast adenocarcinoma) and HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), and for antimicrobial activity against five bacterial species including Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and Mycobacteria strains. Both the IC₅₀ and MIC values revealed excellent biological activity for these metal complexes, compared with their precursors and cisplatin and also AgNO₃ and silver sulfadiazine, respectively. Both IC₅₀ and MIC values are among the lowest values found for any silver derivatives against the cell lines and bacterial strains used in this work. The structure-activity relationships were clear. The most cytotoxic and antimicrobial derivatives were those with the triphenylphosphane and [N₃P₃(NHCy)₆] ligands. A significant improvement in the activity was also observed upon a rise in the number of silver atoms linked to the phosphazene ring.

Reusable and highly enantioselective water-soluble Ru(II)-Amm-Pheox catalyst for intramolecular cyclopropanation of diazo compounds

A reusable and highly enantioselective catalyst for the intramolecular cyclopropanation of various diazo ester and Weinreb amide derivatives was developed. The reactions catalyzed by a water-soluble Ru(II)-Amm-Pheox catalyst proceeded smoothly at room temperature, affording the corresponding bicyclic cyclopropane ring-fused lactones and lactams in high yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). After screening of various catalysts, the Ru(II)-Amm-Pheox complex having an ammonium group proved to be crucial for the intramolecular cyclopropanation reaction in a water/ether biphasic medium. The water-soluble catalyst could be reused at least six times with little loss in yield and enantioselectivity.

Photoactivated in Vitro Anticancer Activity of Rhenium(I) Tricarbonyl Complexes Bearing Water-Soluble Phosphines

Fifteen water-soluble rhenium compounds of the general formula [Re(CO)3(NN)(PR3)]+, where NN is a diimine ligand and PR3 is 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA), tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THP), or 1,4-diacetyl-1,3,7-triaza-5-phosphabicylco[3.3.1]nonane (DAPTA), were synthesized and characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. The complexes bearing the THP and DAPTA ligands exhibit triplet-based luminescence in air-equilibrated aqueous solutions with quantum yields ranging from 3.4 to 11.5%. Furthermore, the THP and DAPTA complexes undergo photosubstitution of a CO ligand upon irradiation with 365 nm light with quantum yields ranging from 1.1 to 5.5% and sensitize the formation of 1O2 with quantum yields as high as 70%. In contrast, all of the complexes bearing the PTA ligand are nonemissive and do not undergo photosubstitution upon irradiation with 365 nm light. These compounds were evaluated as photoactivated anticancer agents in human cervical (HeLa), ovarian (A2780), and cisplatin-resistant ovarian (A2780CP70) cancer cell lines. All of the complexes bearing THP and DAPTA exhibited a cytotoxic response upon irradiation with minimal toxicity in the absence of light. Notably, the complex with DAPTA and 1,10-phenanthroline gave rise to an IC50 value of 6 μM in HeLa cells upon irradiation, rendering it the most phototoxic compound in this library. The nature of the photoinduced cytotoxicity of this compound was explored in further detail. These data indicate that the phototoxic response may result from the release of both CO and the rhenium-containing photoproduct, as well as the production of 1O2.

Chiral Imidazolium-Functionalized Au Nanoparticles: Reversible Aggregation and Molecular Recognition

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) stabilized by imidazolium salts derived from amino acids [glycine (1), rac-alanine (2), l-phenylalanine (3), and rac-methionine (4)] were prepared. The AuNPs were stabilized the most by 4, which kept the particles dispersed in water for months at pH > 5.5. These AuNPs exhibited a well-defined absorption band at 517 nm and had an average particle size of 11.21 ± 0.07 nm. The 4-AuNPs were reversibly aggregated by controlling the pH of the solution. Chiral R,R-4-AuNPs and S,S-4-AuNPs were synthesized, and the chiral environment on the nanoparticle surface was confirmed using circular dichroism; these nanoparticles exhibited a molecular recognition of chiral substrates. Furthermore, they showed potential for separating racemic mixtures when supported on a layered double hydroxide.

Gold(iii) tetraarylporphyrin amino acid derivatives: ligand or metal centred redox chemistry?

EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations show that the site of reduction of porphyrinato gold(iii) complexes depends on the counterions X, the meso substituents R and the solvent.

Meso tetraarylporphyrinato gold(iii) cations bearing different substituents at the aryl substituents (COOMe, COOH, NO₂, NH₂, NHAc, H, OⁿBu, CF₃) were prepared and characterised. Their reversible one-electron reductions were studied by (spectro)electrochemical means as well as by selective chemical one-electron reduction using cobaltocene. The preferred location of the spin density, namely gold centred or porphyrin centred, was probed by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (g values, ¹⁹⁷Au hyperfine coupling) as well as by density functional theory calculations (spin densities). In all cases studied experimentally and theoretically, the gold(ii) valence isomer (5d⁹ electron configuration) is preferred over the porphyrin π radical anion. In the hexafluorophosphate salt of the nitro derivative a further nitro π radical anion valence isomeric species is significantly populated. In the presence of chloride ions this nitro π radical anion/Au^II valence isomeric equilibrium evolves towards the porphyrin π radical anion. The electronic structures of the nitro π radical and the Au^II σ radical valence isomers (5d_x²–y² orbital) could be calculated by DFT methods. The electron transfer pathway between the nitro π radical anion and the Au^II valence isomer is well described by the location of the hexfluorophosphate counterion, the Au–N distances (corresponding to the totally symmetric stretching vibration), the symmetric stretching mode of the NO₂ substituent and a meso-nitrophenyl rotation. The specific geometric and electronic properties of the favoured gold(ii) σ radical valence isomer, namely counterion dislocation and σ symmetry of the redox orbital, might stabilise charge-shifted states [(gold(ii) porphyrin)-donor˙⁺] by retarding the back electron transfer to give the ground state (gold(iii) porphyrin)-donor. This will guide the design of (photo-induced) electron transfer pathways with tetraarylporphyrinato gold(iii) complexes as electron acceptors.

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of the heterobimetallic complexes [RuClCp(PPh₃)-μ-dmoPTA-1κP:2κ²N,N'-MCl₂] (M = Co, Ni, Zn; dmoPTA = 3,7-dimethyl-1,3,7-triaza-5-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane)

The synthesis and characterization of three novel heterobimetallic derivatives of general formula [RuClCp(PPh₃)-μ-dmoPTA-1κP:2κ²N,N'-MCl₂] (M = Co (1), Ni (2) and Zn (3), dmoPTA = 3,7-dimethyl-1,3,7-triaza-5-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) are described. The sizes of their diffusing units are in agreement with the solid-state structures of 2 and 3, supporting a similar solid-state structure for complex 1. The diamagnetic ruthenium-zinc derivative 3 was fully characterized in solution at 193 K by NMR. Electrochemical properties of the complexes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, supporting the influence of the {MCl₂} moiety on the electronic properties of the Ru-unit. For the three complexes the GI₅₀ values were in the range 0.8-6.5 μM and comparable to those of the standard anticancer drug cis-platin in the same cell lines.

Oxorhenium complexes bearing the water-soluble tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methanesulfonate, 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane, or related ligands, as catalysts for Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of ketones

New rhenium(VII or III) complexes [ReO3(PTA)2][ReO4] (1) (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane), [ReO3(mPTA)][ReO4]I (2) (mPTA = N-methyl-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane cation), [ReO3(HMT)2][ReO4] (3) (HMT = hexamethylenetetramine), [ReO3(η(2)-Tpm)(PTA)][ReO4] (4) [Tpm = hydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane, HC(pz)3, pz = pyrazolyl], [ReO3(Hpz)(HMT)][ReO4] (5) (Hpz = pyrazole), [ReO(Tpms)(HMT)] (6) [Tpms = tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methanesulfonate, O3SC(pz)3(-)] and [ReCl2{N2C(O)Ph}(PTA)3] (7) have been prepared from the Re(VII) oxide Re2O7 (1-6) or, in the case of 7, by ligand exchange from the benzoyldiazenido complex [ReCl2{N2C(O)Ph}(Hpz)(PPh3)2], and characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopies, elemental analysis and electrochemical properties. Theoretical calculations at the density functional theory (DFT) level of theory indicated that the coordination of PTA to both Re(III) and Re(VII) centers by the P atom is preferable compared to the coordination by the N atom. This is interpreted in terms of the Re-PTA bond energy and hard-soft acid-base theory. The oxo-rhenium complexes 1-6 act as selective catalysts for the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclic and linear ketones (e.g., 2-methylcyclohexanone, 2-methylcyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, cyclobutanone, and 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone or pinacolone) to the corresponding lactones or esters, in the presence of aqueous H2O2. The effects of a variety of factors are studied toward the optimization of the process.

Thiolato gold(I) complexes containing water-soluble phosphane ligands: a characterization of their chemical and biological properties

A series of thiolate gold(I) derivatives bearing water soluble phosphanes--namely sodium triphenylphosphane monosulfonate (TPPMS), sodium triphenylphosphane trisulfonate (TPPTS), 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) and 3,7-diacetyl-1,3,7-triaza-5-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (DAPTA)--is reported and the compounds studied for their luminescence properties in the solid state. Two of these derivatives, [Au(SMe(2)pyrim)(PTA)] and [Au(SBenzoxazole)(DAPTA)], are also structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Strong antiproliferative effects are observed for most of the compounds in the human ovarian carcinoma cell lines (A2780/S) and its cisplatin-resistant variant (A2780/R), which depend on both the type of thiolate and phosphane ligands. ICP-MS studies were also performed to evaluate the influence of the gold uptake on the cytotoxic potency of the compounds.

Comparative study of [RuClCp(HdmoPTA-κP)(PPh3)][CF3SO3] and the heterobimetallic complexes [RuClCp(PPh3)-μ-dmoPTA-1κP:2κ2N,N'-M(acac-κ2O,O')2] (M=Co, Ni, Zn; dmoPTA=3,7-dimethyl-1,3,7-triaza-5-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane)

The synthesis of novel heterobimetallic derivatives of general formula [RuClCp(PPh(3))-μ-dmoPTA-1κP:2κ(2)N,N'-M(acac-κ(2)O,O')(2)] (M = Ni (3), Zn (4); dmoPTA = 3,7-dimethyl-1,3,7-triaza-5-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) is described. The preparations of the ruthenium-cobalt analogue (M = Co (2)) and the starting compound [RuClCp(HdmoPTA-κP)(PPh(3))](CF(3)SO(3)) have been revised and their yield improved. Similar to 2, the solid state structures of 3 and 4 show that the dmoPTA-P and the dmoPTA-N(CH(3)) atoms are involved in the coordination to the {RuCpCl(PPh(3))} and {M(acac)(2)} moieties, respectively. The size of the diffusing units is almost the same for the three binuclear complexes, indicating that they exhibit similar solution structures. The diamagnetic ruthenium-zinc derivative was fully characterized in solution at 193 K by NMR as two diastereomeric pairs of enantiomers (R-Ru, Δ-Zn; R-Ru, Λ-Zn; S-Ru, Δ-Zn; S-Ru, Λ-Zn). Finally, the electrochemical properties of the complexes have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry.

Synthesis and structures of palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes containing heterocyclic thiolate ligands formed by cycloaddition reactions of coordinated azides

The phosphine-stabilized azido complexes [M(N3)2(PTA)2] (M = Pd, Pt; PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) were prepared in high yields by a ligand exchange reaction from cis-[Pd(N3)2(tmeda)] and cis-[Pt(N3)2(cod)], respectively. The Pd and Pt complexes [M(N3)2(PTA)2] undergo cycloaddition reactions with various isothiocyanates to give complexes containing anionic, S-coordinated tetrazole-thiolate ligands of the type trans-[M(SCN4R)2(PTA)2] (M = Pd, Pt; R = Et, allyl, Me, Ph). The molecular structures of several of these derivatives were determined by X-ray crystallography.Key words: palladium, platinum, thiolate, heterocycle, azide, cycloaddition.

New water-soluble azido- and derived tetrazolato-platinum(II) complexes with PTA. Easy metal-mediated synthesis and isolation of 5-substituted tetrazoles

The water-soluble four- and five-coordinate diazido-platinum(II) complexes cis-[Pt(N3)2(PTA)2] (1) (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane), cis-[Pt(N3)2(Me-PTA)2]I2 (2) (Me-PTA = N-methyl-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane cation) and [Pt(N3)2(PTA)3] (3) were obtained by reactions of cis-[Pt(N3)2(PPh3)2] with PTA or [Me-PTA]I in dichloromethane. [2 + 3] cycloadditions of with organonitriles NCR gave the bis(tetrazolato) complexes trans-[Pt(N4CR)2(PTA)2] (R = Ph (4), 4-ClC6H4 (5) or 3-NC5H4 (6)), the reactions being greatly accelerated by microwave irradiation. 5-R-1H-Tetrazoles N4CR (R = Ph, 4-ClC6H4 and 3-NC5H4) were easily liberated from the tetrazolato complexes and isolated in high yields, in a single-pot process, upon reaction with aqueous diluted HCl, with concomitant formation of the water soluble cis-[Pt(Cl)2(PTA-H)2] complex 7. Alternatively, in a less convenient method, the tetrazoles could be liberated on reaction of 4-6 with propionitrile which also leads to the dicyano trans-[Pt(CN)2(PTA)2] complex 8. The compounds were characterized by IR, 1H, 13C and 31P[1H] NMR spectroscopies, FAB+-MS or ESI-MS, elemental analyses and (for and 4) also by X-ray diffraction.