Mixed adenine/guanine quartets with three trans-a2 Pt(II) (a=NH(3) or MeNH(2)) cross-links: linkage and rotational isomerism, base pairing, and loss of NH(3).

Of the numerous ways in which two adenine and two guanines (N9 positions blocked in each) can be cross-linked by three linear metal moieties such as trans-a2 Pt(II) (with a=NH3 or MeNH2 ) to produce open metalated purine quartets with exclusive metal coordination through N1 and N7 sites, one linkage isomer was studied in detail. The isomer trans,trans,trans-[{Pt(NH3 )2 (N7-9-EtA-N1)2 }{Pt(MeNH2 )2 (N7-9-MeGH)}2 ][(ClO4 )6 ]⋅3H2 O (1) (with 9-EtA=9-ethyladenine and 9-MeGH=9-methylguanine) was crystallized from water and found to adopt a flat Z-shape in the solid state as far as the trinuclear cation is concerned. In the presence of excess 9-MeGH, a meander-like construct, trans,trans,trans-[{Pt(NH3 )2 (N7-9-EtA-N1)2 }{Pt(MeNH2 )2 (N7-9-MeGH)2 }][(ClO4 )6 ]⋅[(9-MeGH)2 ]⋅7 H2 O (2) is formed, in which the two extra 9-MeGH nucleobases are hydrogen bonded to the two terminal platinated guanine ligands of 1. Compound 1, and likewise the analogous complex 1 a (with NH3 ligands only), undergo loss of an ammonia ligand and formation of NH4 (+) when dissolved in [D6 ]DMSO. From the analogy between the behavior of 1 and 1 a it is concluded that a NH3 ligand from the central Pt atom is lost. Addition of 1-methylcytosine (1-MeC) to such a DMSO solution reveals coordination of 1-MeC to the central Pt. In an analogous manner, 9-MeGH can coordinate to the central Pt in [D6 ]DMSO. It is proposed that the proton responsible for formation of NH4 (+) is from one of the exocyclic amino groups of the two adenine bases, and furthermore, that this process is accompanied by a conformational change of the cation from Z-form to U-form. DFT calculations confirm the proposed mechanism and shed light on possible pathways of this process. Calculations show that rotational isomerism is not kinetically hindered and that it would preferably occur previous to the displacement of NH3 by DMSO. This displacement is the most energetically costly step, but it is compensated by the proton transfer to NH3 and formation of U(-H(+) ) species, which exhibits an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the deprotonated N6H(-) of one adenine and the N6H2 group of the other adenine. Finally the question is examined, how metal cross-linking patterns in closed metallacyclic quartets containing two adenine and two guanine nucleobases influence the overall shape (square, rectangle, trapezoid) and the planarity of a metalated purine quartet.

Stepwise coordination of Pt(II)-180° and Pd(II)-90° metal fragments to the purine nucleobase 9-methylhypoxanthine affords a closed octadecanuclear Pt6Pd12 cluster.

Crossing the line: A pH-induced "crossover" in 3D shapes of supramolecular constructs derived from trans(NH3)2Pt(II), [Pd(II)(en)], and the purine model nucleobase 9-methylhypoxanthine (see figure) is reported in which [Pd(en)(H2O)](2+) and [Pd(en)(OH)](+) are the decisive players (en = ethylenediamine).

Metallomacrocycles as anion receptors: combining hydrogen bonding and ion pair based hosts formed from Ag(I) salts and flexible bis- and tris-pyrimidine ligands.

Two self-assembled hosts are formed from Ag(I) salts and bis-pyrimidyl ligands and X-ray characterized. Both are able to incorporate two anions into the structure combining hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions.

Multiple metal binding to the 9-methyladenine model nucleobase involving N1, N6, and N7: discrete di- and trinuclear species with different combinations of monofunctional Pd(II) and Pt(II) entities.

Several di- and trinuclear metal complexes consisting of the model nucleobase 9-methyladenine (9-MeA) or its mono-deprotonated form (9-MeA(-)) and monofunctional (dien)Pd(II), (dien)Pt(II), (NH(3))(3)Pt(II), or (trpy)Pd(II) in different combinations have been prepared and/or studied in solution by NMR spectroscopy: [{Pd(dien)}(3)(9-MeA(-)-N1,N6,N7)]Cl(3.5)(PF(6))(1.5)·3H(2)O (1), [(dien)Pd(N1-9-MeA-N7)Pt(NH(3))(3)](ClO(4))(4)·9.33H(2)O (2), [(dien)Pt(N1-9-MeA-N7)Pt(NH(3))(3)](ClO(4))(4)·H(2)O (3), and [{(trpy)Pd}(2)(N1,N6-9-MeA(-)-N7)Pt(NH(3))(3)](ClO(4))(5)·3H(2)O (4). A migration product of 3, [(dien)Pt(N6-9-MeA(-)-N7)Pt(NH(3))(3)](3+) (3a), has been identified in solution. Unlike Pt-adenine bonds, Pd-adenine bonds are substantially labile, and consequently all Pd-containing complexes discussed here (1, 2, 4) exist in aqueous solution in equilibria of slowly interconverting species, which give rise to individual resonances in the (1)H NMR spectra. For example, 1 exists in an equilibrium of five adenine-containing species when dissolved in D(2)O, 2 undergoes dissociation to [Pt(NH(3))(3)(9-MeA-N7)](2+) or forms the migration product [(dien)Pd(N6-9-MeA(-)-N7)Pt(NH(3))(3)](3+) (2a), depending on pD, and 4 loses both (trpy)Pd(II) entities as the pD is increased. In no case is Pd binding to N3 of the adenine ring observed. A comparison of the solid-state structures of the two trinuclear complexes 1 and 4 reveals distinct differences between the Pd atoms bonded to N1 and N6 in that these are substantially out of the nucleobase plane in 1, by ca. 0.6 Å and -1.0 Å, respectively, whereas they are coplanar with the 9-MeA(-) plane in 4. These out-of-plane movements of the two (dien)Pd(II) units in 1 are not accompanied by changes in hybridization states of the N1 and N6 atoms.

Exploring the metal coordination properties of the pyrimidine part of purine nucleobases: isomerization reactions in heteronuclear Pt(II)/Pd(II) of 9-methyladenine.

The synthesis and characterization of three heteronuclear Pt(2)Pd(2) (4, 5) and PtPd(2) (6) complexes of the model nucleobase 9-methyladenine (9-MeA) is reported. The compounds were prepared by reacting [Pt(NH(3))(3)(9-MeA-N7)](ClO(4))(2) (1) with [Pd(en)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2) at different ratios r between Pt and Pd, with the goal to probe Pd(II) binding to any of the three available nitrogen atoms, N1, N3, N6 or combinations thereof. Pd(II) coordination occurs at N1 and at the deprotonated N6 positions, yet not at N3. 4 and 5 are isomers of [{(en)Pd}(2){N1,N6-9-MeA(-)-N7)Pt(NH(3))(3)}(2)](ClO(4))(6)·nH(2)O, with a head-head orientation of the two bridging 9-MeA(-) ligands in 4 and a head-tail orientation in 5. 6 is [{(en)Pd}(2)(OH)(N1,N6-9MeA(-)-N7)Pt(NH(3))(3)](ClO(4))(4)·4H(2)O, hence a condensation product between [Pt(NH(3))(3)(9-MeA-N7)](2+) and a µ-OH bridged dinuclear (en)Pd-OH-Pd(en) unit, which connects the N1 and N6 positions of 9-MeA(-) in an intramolecular fashion. 4 and 5, which slowly interconvert in aqueous solution, display distinct structural differences such as significantly different intramolecular Pd···Pd contacts (3.124 0(16) Å in 4; 2.986 6(14) Å in 5), among others. Binding of (en)Pd(II) to the exocyclic N6 atom in 4 and 5 is accompanied by a large movement of Pd(II) out of the 9-MeA(-) plane and a trend to a further shortening of the C6-N6 bond as compared to free 9-MeA. The packing patterns of 4 and 5 reveal substantial anion-π interactions.

Pt(II) coordination to N1 of 9-methylguanine: why it facilitates binding of additional metal ions to the purine ring.

The preparation and X-ray crystal structure analysis of {trans-[Pt(MeNH(2))(2)(9-MeG-N1)(2)]}⋅{3 K(2)[Pt(CN)(4)]}⋅6 H(2)O (3 a) (with 9-MeG being the anion of 9-methylguanine, 9-MeGH) are reported. The title compound was obtained by treating [Pt(dien)(9-MeGH-N7)](2+) (1; dien=diethylenetriamine) with trans-[Pt(MeNH(2))(2)(H(2)O)(2)](2+) at pH 9.6, 60 °C, and subsequent removal of the [(dien)Pt(II)] entities by treatment with an excess amount of KCN, which converts the latter to [Pt(CN)(4)](2-). Cocrystallization of K(2)[Pt(CN)(4)] with trans-[Pt(MeNH(2))(2)(9-MeG-N1)(2)] is a consequence of the increase in basicity of the guanine ligand following its deprotonation and Pt coordination at N1. This increase in basicity is reflected in the pK(a) values of trans-[Pt(MeNH(2))(2)(9-MeGH-N1)(2)](2+) (4.4±0.1 and 3.3±0.4). The crystal structure of 3 a reveals rare (N7,O6 chelate) and unconventional (N2,C2,N3) binding patterns of K(+) to the guaninato ligands. DFT calculations confirm that K(+) binding to the sugar edge of guanine for a N1-platinated guanine anion is a realistic option, thus ruling against a simple packing effect in the solid-state structure of 3 a. The linkage isomer of 3 a, trans-[Pt(MeNH(2))(2)(9-MeG-N7)(2)] (6 a) has likewise been isolated, and its acid-base properties determined. Compound 6 a is more basic than 3 a by more than 4 log units. Binding of metal entities to the N7 positions of 9-MeG in 3 a has been studied in detail for [(NH(3))(3)Pt(II)], trans-[(NH(3))(2)Pt(II)], and [(en)Pd(II)] (en=ethylenediamine) by using (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Without exception, binding of the second metal takes place at N7, but formation of a molecular guanine square with trans-[(Me(2)NH(2))Pt(II)] cross-linking N1 positions and trans-[(NH(3))(2)Pt(II)] cross-linking N7 positions could not be confirmed unambiguously, despite the fact that calculations are fully consistent with its existence.

Cytokinin activity of disubstituted aminopurines in Amaranthus.

Cytokinin (CK) receptors have different affinities for certain ligands, and consequently, studies of the plant's response to CK analogues constitute a good approach to identify active compounds that trigger specific plant responses. In this study, N(6) and N(6),N(6)-substituted CK analogues were synthesized and their CK-like activity was examined in the Amaranthus betacyanin and the bacterial receptor assay. The compounds showed CK-like activities that were not always associated with their binding affinity to the Arabidopsis receptors AHK3 and CRE1/AHK4. The highest level of activity in both bioassays was obtained for the N(6)-alkylaminopurines, which showed an especially high binding affinity to AHK3. In contrast to previously published data, we found remarkable activity of N(6),N(6)-alkylbenzylaminopurines in the Amaranthus betacyanin bioassay, which was not associated with their binding affinity to the tested receptors. The N(6),N(6)-substituted CK that showed the highest activity at the lowest concentration, N(6),N(6)-methylbenzylaminopurine (BAP-C1), was studied to determine its effect on different leaf parameters of whole Amaranthus plants, with benzylaminopurine (BAP) used as standard compound. The interaction with ethylene was examined in plants supplied with the ethylene-synthesis inhibitor aminooxiacetic acid (AOA). After 3d, the CKs supplied in the solution culture exerted effects on leaf dry weight and gas-exchange parameters. These effects of exogenous CKs are suggested to be ethylene-synthesis dependent.

Anion-pi interactions in bisadenine derivatives: a combined crystallographic and theoretical study.

In this manuscript we report a high-level ab initio study of anion-pi interactions involving N9-methyl-adenine, N6-methyl-adenine, N9-methyl-hypoxanthine, a dimer of N9-methyl-adenine, and N9,N9'-trimethylene-bisadenine. DNA bases like adenine are electron-deficient arenes that are well suited for interacting favorably with anions. We demonstrate that these compounds are able to interact favorably with anions. N9-Methyl-adenine, N6-methyl-adenine, and the dimer of N9-methyl-adenine interact with the anion via the six-membered ring more strongly than adenine due to cooperativity effects between the noncovalent pi-pi and anion-pi interactions. This pattern, i.e., coexistence of pi-pi and anion-pi bonding, is observed experimentally in the solid state. Finally, we report the solid-state characterization of two new compounds N6,N6'-dimethylene-bisadenine hydrochloride and an outer-sphere complex of protonated N9,N9'-trimethylene-bishypoxanthine with zinc tetrachloride anion, that exhibit interesting anion-pi interactions. They are in strong agreement with high-level theoretical calculations.

Ag(I) complexes with alkylidene-bis(2-aminopyrimidines) as building units for discrete metallomacrocyclic frames. A structural and solution study.

Alkylidene-bis(2-aminopyrimidines) (pyr2Cx, x = 2-5) are useful ligands to interact with Ag(I) yielding discrete metallocycles. Crystal structures of the [(pyr2C2)Ag(NO3)]2 and [(H-pyr2C4)Ag(NO3)2]2 have been isolated where each macrocyclic moiety interacts with their surroundings through weak interactions, yielding 3D discrete structures, On the other hand, the solution study shows that the equilibrium constants for the formation of Ag(pyr2Cx)+ complexes are higher than the literature values for Ag(I) complexes with single pyrimidines, although the differences could be explained by invoking the solid-state structures of the Ag(I)-pyr2Cx complexes.