Functional copper complexes with benzofurans tridentate ligand: Synthesis, crystal structure, DNA binding and anticancer studies

Metal complexes, particularly copper(II) complexes, are often used as anticancer drugs due to their ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells. Four copper(II) complexes have been designed based on ligands for triplet pyridine derivatives (complexes 1-4), and their structures have been determined using X-ray single crystal analysis. The interactions of these complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) have been investigated using various techniques, including UV-vis absorption, viscosity measurements, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The results indicate that complexes 1-4 strongly interact with DNA through partial intercalations. Further investigation using agarose gel electrophoresis shows that all four complexes can cleave pBR322 DNA in the presence of ascorbic acid as a reducing agent, and the DNA cleavage mechanism is through the generation of singlet oxygen (1O2). In vitro anticancer activities of these complexes have been evaluated using A549, MDA-MB-231, HeLa, and HepG2 cells. The calculated IC50 values indicate significant efficacy against cancer cells. Additionally, AO/EB staining assays reveal that these complexes induce cell apoptosis in HeLa cell line.

Antitumor activity of copper(II) complexes with Schiff bases derived from N'-tosylbenzene-1,2-diamine

The electrochemical oxidation of anodic metal copper in a solution of the ligands N-[(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidine]-N'-tosylbenzene-1,2-diamine [H₂L¹] and N-[(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidine]-N'-tosylbenzene-1,2-diamine, [H₂L²] afforded homoleptic [CuL] compounds or solvate [CuLS] complexes. The addition to the electrochemical cell of coligands (L') such as 2,2'-bipyridine (2-bpy), 4,4'-bipyridine(4-bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) allowed the synthesis, in one step, of heteroleptic [CuLL'] compounds, namely [CuL¹(H₂O)] (1), [CuL¹(2,2'-bpy)]⋅CH₃CN (2), [CuL¹(phen)]·H₂O (3), [Cu₂L¹₂(4,4'-bpy)] (4), [CuL²(CH₃OH)] (5), [CuL²(2,2'-bpy)] (6), [CuL²(phen)] (7) and [Cu₂L²₂(4,4'-bpy)] (8). The crystal structures of both ligands, H₂L¹, H₂L², and those of the complexes (2), (4), (5), (6) and (7) have been determined by X-ray diffraction techniques. Coordination polyhedron around metal atom is square planar for [CuL²(CH₃OH)] (5) and [Cu₂L¹₂(4,4'-bpy)] (4) and square pyramid for the other complexes with additional chelating ligands. The cytotoxic activity of this new series of copper(II) complexes against the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line and U87-MG and U373-MG glioblastoma cell lines has been investigated. Most of the test compounds showed higher activity than cisplatin in the three cell lines. Among this series, compound [CuL¹(phen)] (3) displayed the highest activity with IC₅₀ equal to 1.77 μM on SH-SY5Y whereas compound [Cu₂L¹₂(4.4'-bpy)] (4) resulted the most potent compounds on U87 MG and U373 MG glioblastoma cell lines. Studies on the cytotoxic activity of these derivatives suggest that these compounds induce cell death by a mechanism other than apoptosis.

Ditopic binuclear copper(II) complexes for DNA cleavage

Herein we present the synthesis of two ligands containing two di(2-picolyl)amine (DPA) units linked by either a 1,1'-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(3-ethylurea) (L1) or a 1,1'-(1,3-phenylene)bis(3-ethylurea) (L2) spacer. The corresponding binuclear Cu^II and Zn^II complexes were prepared and isolated. The X-ray structures of the L1 ligand and the [Cu₂L1Cl₂]²⁺ complex evidence an unusual cis/trans conformation of one of the urea groups stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond with the nitrogen atom of the pyridyl spacer. The Cu^II complexes form rather strong ternary complexes with phosphorylated anions. The [Cu₂L1]⁴⁺ complex presents a rather high affinity for pyrophosphate (logK₁₁ = 8.19 at pH 7, 25 °C), while [Cu₂L2]⁴⁺ stands out because of its strong binding to AMP^2- (logK₁₁ = 9.3 at pH 7, 25 °C). The interaction of the Cu^II complexes with deoxyribonucleic acid from calf thymus (ct-DNA) was monitored using circular dichroism (CD) and luminescence spectroscopies. These studies revealed a quite strong interaction of the complexes with ct-DNA (K_b = (6.4 ± 0.7) × 10³ for [Cu₂L1]⁴⁺ and K_b = (6.3 ± 1.0) × 10³ for [Cu₂L2]⁴⁺). Competition experiments carried out in the presence of methyl green and BAPPA (N¹,N³-Bis(4-amidinophenyl)propane-1,3-diamine) as major and minor groove competitors, respectively, confirm that the interaction of both complexes with DNA takes place through the minor groove, in agreement with docking studies. The [Cu₂L2]⁴⁺ complex is quite efficient in promoting the cleavage of the double-stranded pUC19 plasmid DNA, by favoring the conversion of the supercoiled form to the nicked form following a hydrolytic mechanism.

Structure elucidation {spectroscopic, single crystal X-ray diffraction and computational DFT studies} of new tailored benzenesulfonamide derived Schiff base copper(II) intercalating complexes: Comprehensive biological profile {DNA binding, pBR322 DNA cleavage, Topo I inhibition and cytotoxic activity}

New tailored copper(II)-based intercalating complexes [Cu(L1)2] (1) and [Cu(L2)2] (2) were synthesized from Schiff base scaffold HL1 and HL2(E)-4-(2-((2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)amino)ethyl)benzenesulfonamide and (E)-4-(2-((2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino)ethyl)benzenesulfonamide, respectively. The structure elucidation of complexes 1 and 2 was carried out by employing various spectroscopic techniques viz., FT-IR, UV-vis, ESI-MS, EPR and single X-ray crystal diffraction studies. The complexes 1 and 2 were crystallized in monoclinic P21/n and triclinic P-1 space group, respectively possessing square planar geometry around Cu(II) coordinated with N,O-donor Schiff base ligands. An analysis of Hirshfeld surfaces of complexes 1 and 2 were performed to ascertain different intra and intermolecular non-covalent interactions (H-bonding, CH⋯ πetc.) responsible for the stabilization of crystal lattices. Calculations based on Density functional theory (B3LYP/DFT), have been carried out to obtain energies of Frontier molecular orbitals. Comparative in vitro binding profile of complexes 1 and 2 with ct-DNA was evaluated employing various biophysical techniques viz., UV-vis, fluorescence, circular dichroism and cyclic voltammetry which suggested non-covalent intercalative binding mode with more avid binding propensity of complex 1 compared to complex 2. The cleavage experiments of complex 1 was performed by gel electrophoretic assay which revealed efficient cleavage mediated via oxidative pathway. Furthermore, topoisomerase I enzymatic activity of complex 1 was carried out employing gel electrophoretic assay which demonstrated significant inhibitory effects at a low concentration of 25 µM. The cytotoxic potential of complex 1 was analyzed by SRB assay on a panel of selected human cancer cell lines which revealed selective activity for MCF-7 (breast cancer) cell line with GI50 = 16.21 µg/ml.

Synthesis of Two Mononuclear Schiff Base Metal (M = Fe, Cu) Complexes: MOF Structure, Dye Degradation, H2O2 Sensing, and DNA Binding Property

O-Vanillin and ethylenediamine were used for the synthesis of N,N'-bis(O-vanillinidene)ethylenediamine (O-VEDH2) Schiff base ligand, which was characterized by UV-visible and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The Schiff base ligand O-VEDH2 has been employed to synthesize novel [C18H22FeN2O6]NO3 (1) and C18H16CuN2O5 (2) complexes by the simple slow evaporation method. The single crystals were characterized by X-ray crystallography, as well as Fourier-transform infrared and UV-visible spectroscopy techniques. Complexes 1 and 2 crystallize in monoclinic and orthorhombic space groups with P121/n1 (14) and Pnma (62) point groups, respectively, and both show metal-organic frameworks like structures. Complexes 1 and 2 have optical band gaps of 4.1 and 2.9 eV, respectively, indicating their semiconducting properties. The dye degradation activity and H2O2 sensing of the complexes 1 and 2 were determined in different conditions. The photocatalytic test was performed in the presence of sunlight, methylene blue (MB), and complexes 1 and 2. An interesting result was obtained that complex 2 has degradation ability against MB and the rate constant (K) is 5.46 × 10-5 s-1, whereas complex 1 has H2O2 sensing properties. Both complexes are bound to Calf-thymus DNA by intercalation binding mode, and binding constants (K b) of complexes 1 and 2 are 3.77 × 103 and 1.49 × 104 M-1, respectively.

Green electrochemical synthesis of silver sulfadiazine microcrystals

Electrochemical synthesis of silver sulfadiazine (AgSD) microcrystals was carried out galvanostatically in a special two-electrode cell equipped with a sacrificial silver rod anode and a stainless steel plate cathode. The cell used in this work consists of a small cylindrical chamber containing aqueous sulfadiazine/sodium nitrate as the anode compartment inside a larger cylindrical chamber containing nitric acid solution as the cathode compartment. The ionic connection of two chambers is carried out through a solvent surface layer. In this study, the effect of the experimental parameters such as applied current density and sodium nitrate concentration as well as nitric acid concentration on the yield and energy consumption of AgSD is discussed. The proposed method is fast and green and has unique features including synthesis in a single step, and no need for a metal salt.

Electrochemical synthesis of silver sulfadiazine (AgSD) microcrystals was carried out galvanostatically in a special two-electrode cell equipped with a sacrificial silver rod anode and a stainless steel plate cathode.