DNA cleavage by homo- and heterotetranuclear Cu(II) and Mn(II) complexes with tetrathioether-tetrathiol moiety

Novel homotetranuclear Cu(II) and heteronuclear Cu(II)-Mn(II) complexes with tetrathioether-tetrathiol moiety have been prepared and their DNA relaxation activities with plasmid pCYTEXP (5kb) were electrophoretically established. The cleavage products analyzed by neutral agarose gel electrophoresis indicated that the interaction of the metal complexes with supercoiled plasmid DNA yielded linear, nicked or degraded DNA. The relaxation activities of both homo- and heterotetranuclear (SK4) complexes are time- and concentration-dependent. The findings suggest that SK4 with potent nucleolytic activity is a good nuclease substitute in the presence ofcooxidant. Furthermore, the observation of induction of DNA into smaller fragments by SK4 is also significant.

Superoxide dismutase-mimicking activities of dinuclear Cu(II) complexes with ligands containing a tetrathioether-tetraamino moiety

The superoxide scavenging activities of copper(II) complexes with the ligands, 6,6'-methylene- bis(5'-amino-3',4'-benzo-2'-thiapentyl)-1,11-diamino- 2,3:9,10-dibenzo-4,8-dithiaundecane (H4L), and 6,6'- bis(5'-amino-3'4'-benzo-2'-thiapentyl)-1,11-diamino- 2,3:9,10-dibenzo-4,8-dithiaundecane (H4L"), were investigated by xanthine-xanthine oxidase (X/XO) assays using nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) as indicator molecule, and the results were compared with respect to the particular type of anion (ClO4, Cl, NO3) on the apical site of the copper(II) complexes. All of the complexes inhibited the reduction of NBT by superoxide radicals, with the [Cu2(L')](ClO4)2 complex exhibiting the highest scavenging activity against superoxide radicals among the complexes examined. The catalytic efficiency of the complexes for dismutation of superoxide radicals depends on the particular anion liganded to Cu(II) ion in the complexes, and the order of potency was observed to be ClO4 > Cl > NO3 in phosphate buffer at pH 7.40. The Cu(II)-H4L' complexes had the lowest IC50 and catalytic rate constant values indicating that the distorted geometry of the Cu(II)-H4L' complexes influence their catalytic activities for dismutation of superoxide radicals more efficiently. The difference in the activities of the complexes toward superoxide radicals can also be attributed to the nature of the anions on the apical site of the copper(II) complexes and the superoxide dismutase-like activity.

Extraction and spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) with S,S-bis(2-aminophenyl)oxalate

A new selective reagent, S,S'-bis(2-aminophenyl)oxalate (H2L), for the extractive spectrophotometric determination of copper has been prepared. The ligand, H2L, forms a 1:1 complex with copper(II) in methanol. The molar absorptivity of Cu(II)-S,S'-bis(2-aminophenyl)oxalate complex in methanol is 5365 M(-1) cm(-1) at 504 nm. The method has been applied for the determination of copper in pharmaceutical formulations, environmental and foodstuff samples.

Models for superoxide dismutases: characterization of mononuclear Cu(II), Fe(III), and Mn(II) complexes with 4',5'-bis(salicylideneimino)benzo-15-crown-5

Mononuclear Cu(II), Fe(III), and Mn(II) complexes with 4',5'-bis (salicylideneimino)benzo-15-crown-5, (SALH2), were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy and tested spectrometrically as catalysts for superoxide disproportionation by utilizing xanthine-xanthine oxidase (XXO) assays. The results indicate that the examined mononuclear complexes are speculative potent superoxide dismutase mimics.

Determination of relative acidities of some alpha, omega-bis(3-alkyl(aryl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-on-4-yl) alkanes

The solutions of nine alpha, omega-bis(3-alkyl(aryl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-on-4-yl) alkanes were titrated with tetrabutylammoniumhydroxide (TBAH) in methanol, using potentiometric methods. The half neutralization potentials values were found for all cases. Potentiometric titration curves of compounds in methanol with 0.03 M TBAH are similar to those of weak acids obtained in aqueous media with strong bases. Methanol is found to be a suitable medium for the weakly acidic compounds titrated since they are poorly dissolved in other organic solvents. A comparison among the compounds having the same alkyl chains between the two ring systems has shown that basicity increases and acidity decreases as the size of alkyl chains increases. However, the compound with a substituted phenyl group was found to be the most acidic one among the examined compounds indicating that phenyl group donates ring electrons less effectively to the system. This can be attributed to the stability of the benzene ring.