Seven coordinate Co(ii) and six coordinate Ni(ii) complexes of an aromatic macrocyclic triamide ligand as paraCEST agents for MRI

Improving the potential of paraCEST through magnetic-coupling induced line sharpening

Magnetic coupling between paramagnetic centers is a crucial phenomenon in the design of efficient MRI contrast agents. In this study, we investigate the paraCEST properties and magnetic coupling effects of a novel homodinuclear Ni(ii) complex, 1, containing a Robson type macrocyclic ligand. A thorough analysis of the complex's electronic and magnetic properties revealed that the magnetic coupling effect reduces the transverse relaxation rate and enhances the sharpness of the proton resonances, leading to enhanced CEST efficiency. This novel mechanism, which we coined "magnetic-coupling induced line sharpening" (MILS), can be crucial for optimizing the performance of paramagnetic metal complexes in paraCEST imaging. Moreover, magnetic coupling plays a critical role in the relaxation properties of homodinuclear complexes. Our study not only paves the way for the creation of advanced paraCEST agents with enhanced CEST capabilities and sensitivity but also provides valuable guidance for the design of other MRI contrast agents utilizing dinuclear metal complexes.

Study of paraCEST response on six-coordinated Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes of a pyridine-tetraamide-based ligand

This study highlights the successful synthesis of a potential ligand, 2,2',2'',2'''-((pyridine-2,6-diylbis(methylene))bis(azanetriyl))tetraacetamide (PATA), along with its corresponding Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes for paraCEST-based agents. X-ray diffraction data confirmed that both the complexes are six coordinated with distorted octahedral geometries, but only the [Co(PATA)]2+ complex has a good structural feature to show paraCEST activity. After a thorough characterization of the ligand and both of its complexes, various studies, including solution-state magnetic properties, redox properties, temperature, and pH variation studies, were carried out. [Co(PATA)]2+ remained inert in the presence of competing ions, under acidic conditions, at high temperatures, and in the physiological pH range. The paraCEST response of [Co(PATA)]2+ has been measured in the presence of HEPES buffer medium, and a high paraCEST feature was discovered at both 37 and 25 °C. The pH variation paraCEST studies were carried out and the exchange rate constant of the probe at 37 and 25 °C was also determined. However, due to the fast exchange of water protons, the [Ni(PATA)(OH2)]2+ complex remained inactive in the CEST process.

Comparative paraCEST effect of amide and hydroxy groups in divalent cobalt and nickel complexes of tripyridine-based ligands

Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes of two tri-pyridine-based ligands with two hydroxy and two amide exchangeable protons (TDTA) and with six amide exchangeable protons (TMTP) were investigated for application as paraCEST-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. The two hydroxy groups present in the TDTA ligand were found to be passive while the amide group was active towards the CEST process. In the case of the Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes of the TMTP ligand, all three coordinated amide groups participated in the exchange process, and excellent CEST signals were observed. The X-ray structure of the four complexes revealed the seven-coordinate geometry of Co(II) complexes and the six-coordinate geometry of Ni(II) complexes. The presence of amide protons and hydroxy protons in the complexes was detected by the NMR method. The stability of the complexes in solution at high temperatures, in different pH ranges and acidic conditions, in the presence of competing cations, and biologically relevant anions was investigated. Potentiometric titrations were carried out to determine the ligand's protonation constants and the complexes' thermodynamic stability constant at 25.0 °C and I = 0.15 mol L-1 NaClO4. ParaCEST studies of [Co(TMTP)]2+ and [Ni(TMTP)]2+ at variable pH and variable pulse power are highlighted.

Hydrogen Peroxide Disproportionation Activity Is Sensitive to Pyridine Substitutions on Manganese Catalysts Derived from 12-Membered Tetra-Aza Macrocyclic Ligands

The abundance of manganese in nature and versatility to access different oxidation states have made manganese complexes attractive as catalysts for oxidation reactions in both biology and industry. Macrocyclic ligands offer the advantage of substantially controlling the reactivity of the manganese center through electronic tuning and steric constraint. Inspired by the manganese catalase enzyme, a biological catalyst for the disproportionation of H2O2 into water and O2, the work herein employs 12-membered tetra-aza macrocyclic ligands to study how the inclusion of and substitution to the pyridine ring on the macrocyclic ligand scaffold impacts the reactivity of the manganese complex as a H2O2 disproportionation catalyst. Synthesis and isolation of the manganese complexes was validated by characterization using UV-vis spectroscopy, SC-XRD, and cyclic voltammetry. Potentiometric titrations were used to study the ligand basicity as well as the thermodynamic equilibrium with Mn(II). Manganese complexes were also produced in situ and characterized using electrochemistry for comparison to the isolated species. Results from these studies and H2O2 reactivity showed a remarkable difference among the ligands studied, revealing instead a distinction in the reactivity regarding the number of pyridine rings within the scaffold. Moreover, electron-donating groups on the 4-position of the pyridine ring enhanced the reactivity of the manganese center for H2O2 disproportionation, demonstrating a handle for control of oxidation reactions using the pyridinophane macrocycle.

Di-Pyridine-Containing Macrocyclic Triamide Fe(II) and Ni(II) Complexes as ParaCEST Agents

Fe(II) and Ni(II) paraCEST contrast agents containing the di-pyridine macrocyclic ligand 2,2',2″-(3,7,10-triaza-1,5(2,6)-dipyridinacycloundecaphane-3,7,10-triyl)triacetamide (DETA) are reported here. Both [Fe(DETA)]²⁺ and [Ni(DETA)]²⁺ complexes were structurally characterized. Crystallographic data revealed the seven-coordinated distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry of the [Fe(DETA)]·(BF₄)₂·MeCN complex with five coordinated nitrogen atoms from the macrocyclic ring and two coordinated oxygen atoms from two amide pendant arms. The [Ni(DETA)]·Cl₂·2H₂O complex was six-coordinated in nature with a distorted octahedral geometry. Four coordinated nitrogen atoms were from the macrocyclic ring, and two coordinated oxygen atoms were from two amide pendant arms. [Fe(DETA)]²⁺ exhibited well-resolved sharp proton resonances, whereas very broad proton resonances were observed in the case of [Ni(DETA)]²⁺ due to the long electronic relaxation times. The CEST peaks for the [Fe(DETA)]²⁺ complex showed one highly downfield-shifted and intense peak at 84 ppm with another shifted but less intense peak at 28 ppm with good CEST contrast efficiency at body temperature, whereas [Ni(DETA)]²⁺ showed only one highly shifted intense peak at 78 ppm from the bulk water protons. Potentiometric titrations were performed to determine the protonation constants of the ligand and the thermodynamic stability constant of the [M(DETA)]²⁺ (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) species at 25.0 °C and I = 0.15 mol·L^-1 NaClO₄. Metal exchange studies confirmed the stability of the complexes in acidic medium in the presence of physiologically relevant anions and an equimolar concentration of Zn(II) ions.

Stable and inert macrocyclic cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes with paraCEST response

We report the synthesis of the macrocyclic ligands 3,9-PC2AMH (2,2'-(3,6,9-triaza-1(2,6)-pyridinacyclodecaphane-3,9-diyl)diacetamide) and 3,9-PC2AMtBu (2,2'-(3,6,9-triaza-1(2,6)-pyridinacyclodecaphane-3,9-diyl)bis(N-tert-butyl)acetamide) which contain a pyclen platform functionalized with acetamide or tert-butylacetamide pendant arms at positions 3 and 9 of the macrocyclic unit. The corresponding Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes were prepared, isolated and characterised as potential paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer (paraCEST) agents. The X-ray structures of the Ni(II) complexes reveal six-coordination of the ligands to the metal ion. The Co(II) complex with 3,9-PC2AMtBu shows a similar six-coordinate structure in the solid state, while the Co(II) complex with 3,9-PC2AMH contains a seven-coordinate metal ion, seventh coordination being completed by the presence of an inner-sphere water molecule. The structure of the Co(II) complexes was investigated using ¹H NMR spectroscopy and computational methods. The complexes present a seven-coordinate structure in solution, as demonstrated by the analysis of the paramagnetic shifts using density functional theory. Ligand protonation constants and stability constants of the complexes with 3,9-PC2AMH were determined using potentiometric titrations (I = 0,15 M NaCl). The Co(II) complex was found to be more stable than the Ni(II) analogue (log K_CoL = 14.46(5) and log K_NiL = 13.15(3)). However, the Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes display similar rate constants characterizing the proton-assisted dissociation mechanism. The presence of highly shifted ¹H NMR signals due to the amide protons in slow exchange with bulk water results in sizeable CEST signals, which are observed at +67 and +15 ppm for the Co(II) complex with 3,9-PC2AMH and +42 and +7 ppm for the Ni(II) analogue at 25 °C.

The role of hydrogen bonding in tuning CEST contrast efficiency: a comparative study of intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonding

A comparison of different diacetamide isomers shows the influence of hydrogen-bonding networks in tuning the diaCEST MRI contrast efficiency.

Assembly of Polyiodide Networks with Cu(II) Complexes of Pyridinol-Based Tetraaza Macrocycles

Polyiodide networks are currently of great practical interest for the preparation of new electronic materials. The participation of metals in the formation of these networks is believed to improve their mechanical performance and thermal stability. Here we report the results on the construction of polyiodide networks obtained using Cu(II) complexes of a series of pyridinol-based tetraazacyclophanes as countercations. The assembly of these crystalline polyiodides takes place from aqueous solutions on the basis of similar structural elements, the [CuL]²⁺ and [Cu(H_–1L)]⁺ (L = L2, L2-Me, L2-Me₃) complex cations, so that the peculiarities induced by the increase of N-methylation of ligands, the structural variable of ligands, can be highlighted. First, solution equilibria involving ligands and complexes were analyzed (potentiometry, NMR, UV–vis, ITC). Then, the appropriate conditions could be selected to prepare polyiodides based on the above complex cations. Single-crystal XRD analysis showed that the coordination of pyridinol units to two metal ions is a prime feature of these ligands, leading to polymeric coordination chains of general formula {[Cu(H_–1L)]}_nⁿ⁺ (L = L2-Me, L2-Me₃). In the presence of the I^–/I₂ couple, the polymerization tendency stops with the formation of [(CuL)(CuH_–1L)]³⁺ (L = L2-Me, L2-Me₃) dimers which are surrounded by polyiodide networks. Moreover, coordination of the pyridinol group to two metal ions transforms the surface charge of the ring from negative to markedly positive, generating a suitable environment for the assembly of polyiodide anions, while N-methylation shifts the directional control of the assembly from H-bonds to I···I interactions. In fact, an extended concatenation of iodine atoms occurs around the complex dimeric cations, the supramolecular I···I interactions become shorter and shorter, fading into stronger forces dominated by the orbital overlap, which is promising for effective electronic materials.

Polyiodides with high iodine density are generated by Cu(II) complexes of pyridinol-based tetraazacyclophanes. Direct coordination of iodine atoms to Cu(II), anion−π interactions with electron-poor aromatic surfaces, and shift of the directional control of assembly from H-bonds to I···I interactions, governed by N-methylation, are the main elements leading to enhanced iodine chaining and strengthening of I···I contacts.

Paracetamol and other acetanilide analogs as inter-molecular hydrogen bonding assisted diamagnetic CEST MRI contrast agents

Paracetamol and a few other acetanilide derivatives are reported as a special class of diamagnetic Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (diaCEST) MRI contrast agents, that exhibit contrast only when the molecules form inter-molecular hydrogen bonding mediated molecular chains or sheets. Without the protection of the hydrogen bonding their contrast producing labile proton exchanges too quickly with the solvent to produce any appreciable contrast. Through a number of variable temperature experiments we demonstrate that under the conditions when the hydrogen bond network breaks and the high exchange returns back, the contrast drops quickly. The well-known analgesic drug paracetamol shows 12% contrast at a concentration of 15 mM at physiological conditions. With the proven safety track-record for human consumption and appreciable physiological contrast, paracetamol shows promise as a diaCEST agent for in vivo studies.

Tetrakis-(N-methyl-4-pyridinium)-porphyrin as a diamagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer (diaCEST) MRI contrast agent

Easily synthesizable tetrakis-(N-methyl-4-pyridinium)-porphyrin as a diaCEST agent that shows nearly pH independent good contrast in a wide range of pH.

Stabilisation of Exotic Tribromide (Br3-) Anions via Supramolecular Interaction with A Tosylated Macrocyclic Pyridinophane. A Serendipitous Case

Tetraaza-macrocyclic pyridinophane L-Ts, decorated with a p-toluenesulfonyl (tosyl; Ts) group, appear to be a useful tool to provide evidence on how the interplay of various supramolecular forces can help stabilise exotic anionic species such as tribromide (Br₃⁻) anions. Indeed, crystals of (H₂L-Ts)(Br₃)_1.5(NO₃)_0.5 unexpectedly grew from an acidic (HNO₃) aqueous solution of L-Ts in the presence of Br⁻ anions. The crystal structure of this compound was determined by single crystal XRD analysis. Hydrogen bonds, salt-bridges, anion-π, π-π stacking, and van der Waals interactions contribute to stabilising the crystal lattice. The observation of two independent Br₃⁻ anions stuck over the π-electron densities of pyridine and tosyl ligand groups, one of them being sandwiched between two pyridine rings, corroborates the significance of anion-π interactions for N-containing heterocycles. We show herein the possibility of detecting anion-π contacts from fingerprint plots generated by Hirshfeld surface analysis, demonstrating the effective usage of this structural investigation technique to further dissect individual contributions of stabilising supramolecular forces.

Highly fluorinated metal complexes as dual 19F and PARACEST imaging agents

We reported a set of water-soluble transition metal complexes that can serve as both 19F and PARACEST magnetic resonance imaging agents. The high number of equivalent fluorine atoms and the paramagnetic effect of metals offer these complexes high 19F sensitivity as demonstrated by in vitro19F MRI experiments. The complexes contain carboxamide groups appended onto a cyclen macrocycle, which provide 1H CEST peaks well differentiated from bulk water. The Co(ii) agent displays two CEST peaks that can be utilized for ratiometric pH determination and the concept of combining 19F MR and PARACEST as complementary imaging techniques was demonstrated with the Fe(ii) complex.