Photoactivated Osmium Arene Anticancer Complexes

Half-sandwich Os-arene complexes exhibit promising anticancer activity, but their photochemistry has hardly been explored. To exploit the photocytotoxicity and photochemistry of Os-arenes, O,O-chelated complexes [Os(η⁶-p-cymene)(Curc)Cl] (OsCUR-1, Curc = curcumin) and [Os(η⁶-biphenyl)(Curc)Cl] (OsCUR-2), and N,N-chelated complexes [Os(η⁶-biphenyl)(dpq)I]PF₆ (OsDPQ-2, dpq = pyrazino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline) and [Os(η⁶-biphenyl)(bpy)I]PF₆ (OsBPY-2, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), have been investigated. The Os-arene curcumin complexes showed remarkable photocytotoxicity toward a range of cancer cell lines (blue light IC₅₀: 2.6-5.8 μM, photocytotoxicity index PI = 23-34), especially toward cisplatin-resistant cancer cells, but were nontoxic to normal cells. They localized mainly in mitochondria in the dark but translocated to the nucleus upon photoirradiation, generating DNA and mitochondrial damage, which might contribute toward overcoming cisplatin resistance. Mitochondrial damage, apoptosis, ROS generation, DNA damage, angiogenesis inhibition, and colony formation were observed when A549 lung cancer cells were treated with OsCUR-2. The photochemistry of these Os-arene complexes was investigated by a combination of NMR, HPLC-MS, high energy resolution fluorescence detected (HERFD), X-ray adsorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, total fluorescence yield (TFY) XANES spectra, and theoretical computation. Selective photodissociation of the arene ligand and oxidation of Os(II) to Os(III) occurred under blue light or UVA excitation. This new approach to the design of novel Os-arene complexes as phototherapeutic agents suggests that the novel curcumin complex OsCUR-2, in particular, is a potential candidate for further development as a photosensitizer for anticancer photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT).

Variable electronic structure and spin distribution in bis(2,2'-bipyridine)-metal complexes (M = Ru or Os) of 4,5-dioxido- and 4,5-diimido-pyrene

The odd-electron compounds [M(bpy)₂(L¹)](ClO₄) M = Ru ([1](ClO₄)) or Os ([2](ClO₄)), and the even-electron species [M(bpy)₂(H₂L²)](ClO₄)₂, M = Ru ([3](ClO₄)₂) or Os ([4](ClO₄)₂) were obtained from pyrene-4,5-dione, L¹, or 4,5-diaminopyrene, H₄L², and were characterised structurally, electrochemically and spectroscopically. Experimental and computational analysis (TD-DFT) revealed rather different electronic structures and spin distributions of the paramagnetic monocations 1⁺-4⁺. EPR investigations and electronic absorption studies exhibit increasing metal contributions to the singly occupied MO along the series 1⁺ < 3⁺ < 4⁺ < 2⁺, illustrated by g value and long-wavelength absorbance. In addition to variations of the metal (Ru,Os) and the donor atoms (O,NH) the extension of the π system of the semiquinone-type ligand has a large effect on the electronic structure of the paramagnetic cations.

Highly covalent metal-ligand π bonding in chelated bis- and tris(iminoxolene) complexes of osmium and ruthenium

The bis(aminophenol) 2,2'-biphenylbis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenylamine) (ClipH₄) forms trans-(Clip)Os(py)₂ upon aerobic reaction of the ligand with {(p-cymene)OsCl₂}₂ in the presence of pyridine and triethylamine. A more oxidized species, cis-β-(Clip)Os(OCH₂CH₂O), is formed from reaction of the ligand with the osmium(vi) complex OsO(OCH₂CH₂O)₂, and reacts with Me₃SiCl to give the chloro complex cis-β-(Clip)OsCl₂. Octahedral osmium and ruthenium tris-iminoxolene complexes are formed from the chelating ligand tris(2-(3',5'-di-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)amino-4-methylphenyl)amine (MeClampH₆) on aerobic reaction with divalent metal precursors. The complexes' structural and electronic features are well described using a simple bonding model that emphasizes the covalency of the π bonding between the metal and iminoxolene ligands rather than attempting to dissect the parts into discrete oxidation states. Emphasizing the continuity of bonding between disparate complexes, the structural data from a variety of Os and Ru complexes show good correlations to π bond order, and the response of the intraligand bond distances to the bond order can be analyzed to illuminate the polarity of the bonding between metal and the redox-active orbital on the iminoxolenes. The osmium compounds'π bonding orbitals are about 40% metal-centered and 60% ligand-centered, with the ruthenium compounds' orbitals about 65% metal-centered and 35% ligand-centered.

Six-coordinate [CoIII(L)2]z (z = 1-, 0, 1+) complexes of an azo-appended o-aminophenolate in amidate(2-) and iminosemiquinonate π-radical (1-) redox-levels: the existence of valence-tautomerism

Aerobic reaction of the ligand H2L1, 2-(2-phenylazo)-anilino-4,6-di-tert-butylphenol, CoCl2·6H2O and Et3N in MeOH under refluxing conditions produces, after work-up and recrystallization, black crystals of [Co(L1)2] (1). When examined by cyclic voltammetry, 1 displays in CH2Cl2 three one-electron redox responses: two oxidative, E11/2 = 0.30 V (peak-to-peak separation, ΔEp = 100 mV) and E21/2 = 1.04 V (ΔEp = 120 mV), and one reductive E1/2 = -0.27 V (ΔEp = 120 mV) vs. SCE. Consequently, 1 is chemically oxidized by 1 equiv. of [FeIII(η5-C5H5)2][PF6], affording the isolation of deep purple crystals of [Co(L1)2][PF6]·2CH2Cl2 (2), and one-electron reduction with [CoII(η5-C5H5)2] yielded bluish-black crystals of [CoIII(η5-C5H5)2][Co(L1)2]·MeCN (3). A solid sample of 1 exhibits temperature-independent (50-300 K) magnetism, revealing the presence of a free radical (S = 1/2), which exhibits an isotropic EPR signal (g = 2.003) at 298 K and at 77 K an eight-line feature characteristic of hyperfine-interaction of the radical with the Co (I = 7/2) nucleus. Based on X-ray structural parameters of 1-3 at 100 K, magnetic and EPR spectral behaviour of 1, and variable-temperature (233-313 K) 1H NMR spectral features of 1-3 and 13C NMR spectra at 298 K of 2 and 3 in CDCl3 point to the electronic structure of the complexes as either [CoIII{(LAP)2-}{(LISQ)}˙-] or [CoIII{(L1)2}˙3-] (delocalized nature favours the latter description) (1), [CoIII{(LISQ)˙-}2][PF6]·2CH2Cl2 (2) and [CoIII(η5-C5H5)2][CoIII{(LAP)2-}2]·MeCN (3) [(LAP)2- and (LISQ)˙- represent the redox-level of coordinated ligands o-amidophenolate(2-) ion and o-iminobenzosemiquinonate(1-) π-radical ion, respectively]. Notably, all the observed redox processes are ligand-centred. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that six-coordinate complexes of a common tridentate o-aminophenolate-based ligand have been structurally characterized for the parent 1, its monocation 2 and the monoanion 3 counterparts. Temperature-dependent 1H NMR spectra reveal the existence of valence-tautomeric equilibria in 1-3. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP-level of theory corroborate the electronic structural assignment of 1-3 from experimental data. The origins of the observed UV-VIS-NIR absorptions for 1-3 have been assigned, based on time-dependent (TD)-DFT calculations.

Nickel(II) Complex of a Hexadentate Ligand with Two o-Iminosemiquinonato(1-) π-Radical Units and Its Monocation and Dication

Aerobic reaction of a hexadentate redox-active o-aminophenol-based ligand, H4L(3) = N,N'-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-2,2'-diamino(diphenyldithio)-ethane, in CH3OH with Ni(II)(O2CCH3)2·4H2O and Et3N afforded isolation of a reddish-brown crystalline solid [Ni(L(3))] 1. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiment exhibits two oxidative responses at E1/2 = 0.09 and 0.53 V vs SCE (saturated calomel electrode). Chemical oxidation of 1 in air by [Fe(III)(η(5)-C5H5)2][PF6] and AgBF4 in CH2Cl2 led to the isolation of one-electron oxidized species [1](1+) as purple [1][PF6]·CH2Cl2 and two-electron oxidized species [1](2+) as dark purple [1][BF4]2·CH2Cl2, respectively. X-ray crystallographic analysis at 100(2) K unambiguously established that the ligand is present in [Ni(II){(L(ISQ)O,N)(•-)}{(L(ISQ)O,N)(•-)}{(LS,S)(0)}] 1, [Ni(II){(L(IBQ)O,N)(0)}{(L(ISQ)O,N)(•-)}{(LS,S)(0)}][PF6]·CH2Cl2, and [Ni(II){(L(IBQ)O,N)(0)}{(L(IBQ)O,N)(0)}{(LS,S)(0)}][BF4]2·CH2Cl2, as monoanionic o-iminosemiquinonate(1-) π-radical (Srad = 1/2) (L(ISQ))(•-) and neutral o-iminoquinone (L(IBQ))(0) redox-levels. Complexes 1, [1][PF6]·CH2Cl2, and [1][BF4]2·CH2Cl2 possess an S = 2, 3/2, and 1 ground-state, respectively, established by temperature-dependent (2-300 K) magnetic behavior of 1 and [1][PF6]·CH2Cl2, and a μeff value of [1][BF4]2·CH2Cl2 at 300 K. Both 1 and [1][PF6]·CH2Cl2 exhibit ferromagnetic exchange-coupling between the two electrons of Ni(II) and two/one ligand π-radicals, respectively. The redox processes are shown to be ligand-based. Spectroscopic and redox properties, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the CAM-B3LYP-level of theory adequately describe the electronic structure of 1, [1](1+), and [1](2+). The observed UV-vis-NIR absorptions for 1, [1][PF6]·CH2Cl2, and [1][BF4]2·CH2Cl2 have been assigned, based on time-dependent (TD)-DFT calculations.

Effect of Geometrical Distortion on the Electronic Structure: Synthesis and Characterization of Monoradical-Coordinated Mononuclear Cu(II) Complexes

Ligand H3Sami(Mixed(tBu)) was composed of two different compartments, a redox-active 2-aminophenol and a salen salicylidene. Both compartments were linked via a benzyl linker. The ligand reacted with CuCl2·2H2O under air in the presence of Et3N and provided the corresponding monoradical-coordinated mononuclear Cu(II) complex (1). Complex 1, in solution, reacted with air and provided complex 2 via ligand-centered oxygenation at the benzyl-CH2 position. Both complexes were characterized via IR, mass spectrometry, X-ray single-crystal diffraction, variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility, cyclic voltammograms (CVs), and UV-vis/NIR spectroscopic techniques. X-ray crystallographic analyses clearly showed almost equally distorted square planar geometry around the Cu(II) atom in both complexes. However, the bending of the radical-containing C6 ring compared to the N1-Cu1-O1 plane was different in both complexes. While complex 1 was paramagnetic and showed a ferromagnetic coupling between the d(x(2)-y(2)) magnetic orbital of Cu(II) ion and the p(z) orbital of coordinated π-radical, complex 2 was diamagnetic by experiencing a strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the two magnetic orbitals. UV-vis/NIR spectra of the complexes were dominated by charge-transfer transitions. CVs of the complexes showed two reversible one-electron oxidations and one reversible one-electron reduction. E(1/2)(ox2) and E(1/2)(red1) potentials were different in both complexes, while E(1/2)(ox1) values were almost the same and the process corresponded to the formation of phenoxyl radical. Theoretical studies were also performed to understand the magnetic coupling phenomena, and TD-DFT calculations were employed for the assignment of charge-transfer absorption bands.

Substituent directed selectivity in anion recognition by a new class of simple osmium-pyrazole derived receptors

The present article deals with the structurally, spectroscopically and electrochemically characterised osmium-bipyridyl derived complexes [(bpy)2Os(II)(HL1)Cl]ClO4 [1]ClO4 and [(bpy)2Os(II)(HL2)Cl]ClO4 [2]ClO4 incorporating neutral and monodentate pyrazole derivatives (HL) with one free NH function (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, HL1 = pyrazole, HL2 = 3,5-dimethylpyrazole). The crystal structures of [1]ClO4 and [2]ClO4 reveal intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions between the free NH proton of HL and the equatorially placed Cl(-) ligand (N-HCl) with donor-acceptor distances of 3.114(7) Å and 3.153(6) Å as well as intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions between the NH proton and one of the oxygen atoms of ClO4(-) (N-HO) with donor-acceptor distances of 2.870(10) Å and 3.024(8) Å, respectively. The effect of hydrogen bonding interactions has translated into the less acidic nature of the NH proton of the coordinated HL with estimated pKa > 12. 1(+) and 2(+) exhibit reversible Os(II)/(III) and irreversible Os(III)/(IV) processes in CH3CN within ± 2.0 V versus SCE. The effect of 3,5-dimethyl substituted HL2 on 2(+) has been reflected in the appreciable lowering (40 mV) of the Os(II/III) potential, along with the further decrease in the acidity of the NH proton (pKa > 13.0) with regard to HL1 coordinated 1(+) (pKa: ∼ 12.3). The electronic spectral features of Os(ii) (1(+)/2(+)) and electrochemically generated Os(III) (1(2+)/2(2+)) derived complexes have been analysed by TD-DFT calculations. The efficacy of the 1(+) and 2(+) encompassing free NH proton towards the anion recognition process has been evaluated by different experimental investigations using a wide variety of anions. It however establishes that receptor 1(+) can recognise both F(-) and OAc(-) in acetonitrile solution, while 2(+) is exclusively selective for the F(-) ion.

Recognition of fractional non-innocent feature of osmium coordinated 2,2′-biimidazole or 2,2′-bis(4,5-dimethylimidazole) and their interactions with anions

The non-innocent feature of osmium coordinated doubly deprotonated 2,2′-biimidazole derivatives in symmetric dimeric complexes leads to a mixed electronic structural configuration.