Photoswitchable CuMoIV and CuMoIV cyanido-bridged molecules

Experimental and theoretical insights into the photomagnetic effects in trinuclear and ionic Cu(ii)–Mo(iv) systems

New ionic and trinuclear copper(ii)–octacyanidomolybdate(iv) systems were developed and tested experimentally and theoretically to improve understanding of the photomagnetic effects.

Copper(ii) l/d-valine-(1,10-phen) complexes target human telomeric G-quadruplex motifs and promote site-specific DNA cleavage and cellular cytotoxicity

Chiral l-/d-valine-(1,10-phen)-Cu(ii) complexes that target G-quadruplex DNA were synthesized and thoroughly characterized by UV-vis, IR, EPR, ESI-MS, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray spectroscopy. Complexes 1a and 1b crystallized in the monoclinic P21/c and C2 space groups, respectively. On the basis of Wolfe-Shimer analyses, the binding affinities of 1a and 1b with G-quadruplex telomeric DNA were determined, and 1a exhibited significantly higher binding as compared to 1b. Site selective cleavage of G4-DNA was demonstrated by employing the time-dependent PAGE assay, with 1a exhibiting a significantly higher cleavage rate from A1 to G22 (4.32 (±0.13) μM h-1) than 1b (4.29 (±0.11) μM h-1). The DNA cleavage profile demonstrated that both complexes perform non-random double-strand cleavage by following first-order kinetics (kobs = 0.9432 min-1 for 1a and kobs = 0.6574 min-1 for 1b). Molecular docking simulations were performed with both parallel and anti-parallel topologies of the quadruplex to provide a clear insight on G-quadruplex-complex interactions. Complexes 1a and 1b were found to interact strongly at the minor groove cavity of the quadruplex with preferential selectivity for the parallel vs. anti-parallel quadruplex. The cytotoxic activities of complexes 1a and 1b were evaluated on a few notably important human cancer cell lines, viz, breast (MCF-7), pancreatic strains (BxPC3, AsPC1) and liver (Huh7) by an MTT assay. Both 1a and 1b exhibited pronounced cytotoxic activity with remarkably low IC50 values (1-3 μM) for all tested cancer strains.

Octacyanidometallates for multifunctional molecule-based materials

Octacyanidometallates have been successfully employed in the design of heterometallic coordination systems offering a spectacular range of desired physical properties with great potential for technological applications. The [M(CN)8]n- ions comprise a series of complexes of heavy transition metals in high oxidation states, including NbIV, MoIV/V, WIV/V, and ReV. Since the discovery of the pioneering bimetallic {MnII4[MIV(CN)8]2} and {MnII9[MV(CN)8]6} (M = Mo, W) molecules in 2000, octacyanidometallates were fruitfully explored as precursors for the construction of diverse d-d or d-f coordination clusters and frameworks which could be obtained in the crystalline form under mild synthetic conditions. The primary interest in [M(CN)8]n--based networks was focused on their application as molecule-based magnets exhibiting long-range magnetic ordering resulting from the efficient intermetallic exchange coupling mediated by cyanido bridges. However, in the last few years, octacyanidometallate-based materials proved to offer varied and remarkable functionalities, becoming efficient building blocks for the construction of molecular nanomagnets, magnetic coolers, spin transition materials, photomagnets, solvato-magnetic materials, including molecular magnetic sponges, luminescent magnets, chiral magnets and photomagnets, SHG-active magnetic materials, pyro- and ferroelectrics, ionic conductors as well as electrochemical containers. Some of these materials can be processed into the nanoscale opening the route towards the development of magnetic, optical and electronic devices. In this review, we summarise all important achievements in the field of octacyanidometallate-based functional materials, with the particular attention to the most recent advances, and present a thorough discussion on non-trivial structural and electronic features of [M(CN)8]n- ions, which are purposefully explored to introduce desired physical properties and their combinations towards advanced multifunctional materials.

Heterotrimetallic Cyanide-Bridged 3d-4d-5d Frameworks Based on a Photomagnetic Secondary Building Unit

The rational design of coordination frameworks combining more than two different metal ions using a self-assembly approach is challenging because it rarely offers sufficient control over the building blocks at the actual self-assembly stage. In this work, we present a successful two-step strategy toward heterotrimetallic coordination frameworks by employing a new bimetallic [(NC)₇Mo^IV-CN-Pt^IV(NH₃)₄-NC-Mo^IV(CN)₇]^4– secondary building unit (SBU). This anionic moiety has been isolated and characterized as a simple salt with an organic dppipH₂²⁺ cation (dppipH₂)₂[(NC)₇Mo^IV-CN-Pt^IV(NH₃)₄-NC-Mo^IV(CN)₇]·15H₂O (1) (dppip = 1,4-di(4-pyridinyl)piperazine). The salt presents a second-order phase transition related to cation conformational change around 250 K and a photomagnetic effect after irradiation with 450 nm light at 10 K. When combined with aqueous solutions of Mn^II or Cu^II complexes, it forms either a one-dimensional chain [Mn^II(dpop)][Mn^II(dpop)(H₂O)][(NC)₇Mo^IV-CN-Pt^IV(NH₃)₄-NC-Mo^IV(CN)₇]·36H₂O (2) (dpop = 2,13-dimethyl-3,6,9,12,18-pentaazabicyclo-[12.3.1]octadeca-1(18),2,12,14,16-pentaene) or a photomagnetic two-dimensional honeycomb network [Cu^II(cyclam)]₂[(NC)₇Mo^IV-CN-Pt^IV(NH₃)₄-NC-Mo^IV(CN)₇]·40.89H₂O (3) (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane), both characterized by very large cavities in their structure filled with solvent molecules. Both 2 and 3 incorporate three different transition-metal ions and constitute a new family of 3d-4d-5d coordination frameworks. Moreover, compound 3 inherits the photomagnetic properties of the MoPtMo SBU.

A photomagnetic secondary building unit (SBU) Mo^IVPt^IVMo^IV was employed to design and synthesize new heterotrimetallic coordination polymers in a two-step approach, resulting in Mn^II₂Mo^IV₂Pt^IV coordination chains and Cu^II₂Mo^IV₂Pt^IV honeycomb coordination layers.

Redox active ligand and metal cooperation for C(sp2)-H oxidation: extension of the galactose oxidase mechanism in water-mediated amide formation

Redox interplay between a ligand and a metal can provide a profound driving force for the promotion of unprecedented reactions. This work presents an intriguing water-assisted oxidative transformation of imine to amide with no formal change in the metal oxidation state in the copper and nickel complexes of an aminophenol ligand versus a zinc analogue.

The photomagnetic effect in 2-D cyanido-bridged coordination polymer [Cu(aepa)]10[Mo(CN)8]5·30H2O

The 2-D [Cu(aepa)]₁₀[Mo(CN)₈]₅·30H₂O (aepa = N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,3-propanediamine) coordination network exhibits a photomagnetic effect due to singlet–triplet transition on the Mo(iv) centre accompanied by metal–metal charge transfer.