Synergy of experimental and computational chemistry: structure and biological activity of Zn(II) hydrazone complexes.

In this paper, three different Zn(II) complexes with (E)-2-(2-(1-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazinyl)-N,N,N-trimethyl-2-oxoethan-1-aminium chloride (HLCl) have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy. All complexes are mononuclear, with the ligand (L) coordinated in a deprotonated formally neutral zwitterionic form via NNO donor set atoms. Complex 1 forms an octahedral geometry with the composition [ZnL2](BF4)2, while complexes 2 [ZnL(NCO)2] and 3 [ZnL(N3)2] form penta-coordinated geometry. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to enhance our understanding of the structures of the synthesized complexes and the cytotoxic activity of the complexes was tested against five human cancer cell lines (HeLa, A549, MDA-MB-231, K562, LS 174T) and normal human fibroblasts MRC-5. Additionally, antibacterial and antifungal activity of these complexes was tested against a panel of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, two fungal strains, and a yeast strain. It is noteworthy that all three complexes show selective antifungal activity comparable to that of amphotericin B. Molecular docking analysis predicted that geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase, an enzyme essential for sterol biosynthesis, is the most likely target for inhibition by the tested complexes.

Cu(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II) complexes of hydrazones with a quaternary ammonium moiety: synthesis, experimental and theoretical characterization and cytotoxic activity.

In this paper, Cu(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II) complexes with N,N,N-trimethyl-2-oxo-2-(2-(1-(thiazol-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazinyl)ethan-1-aminium chloride (HL1Cl) were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and DFT calculations. In all three complexes, a ligand (L1) is coordinated in a deprotonated formally neutral zwitterionic form via NNO donor set atoms. Cu(II) and Zn(II) form mononuclear penta-coordinated complexes [CuL1(N3)(CH3OH)]BF4 and [ZnL1(N3)2], respectively, while Mn(II) forms a binuclear [Mn2L12(µ-1,1-N3)2(N3)2]·2CH3OH complex, with unusual distorted trigonal-prismatic geometry around the metal centers. The antimicrobial activity of these complexes was tested against a panel of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, two yeasts and one fungal strain. The binuclear Mn(II) complex showed antifungal activity of similar intensity to amphotericin B. Based on the results of the brine shrimp test and DPPH radical scavenging activity, the most active Cu(II) and Mn(II) complexes were selected for evaluation of cytotoxic activity against five malignant cancer cell lines (HeLa, A375, MCF7, PC-3 and A549) and one normal cell line HaCaT. Both complexes showed significant activity. It should be pointed out that the activity of the Mn(II) complex against the MCF7 breast cancer cell line is only slightly weaker than that of cisplatin, but with selectivity to the tumor cell line in comparison to normal HaCaT cells, which is non-existent in the case of cisplatin.

Synthesis, Characterization, Catalytic Activity, and DFT Calculations of Zn(II) Hydrazone Complexes.

Two new Zn(II) complexes with tridentate hydrazone-based ligands (condensation products of 2-acetylthiazole) were synthesized and characterized by infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The complexes 1, 2 and recently synthesized [ZnL3(NCS)2] (L3 = (E)-N,N,N-trimethyl-2-oxo-2-(2-(1-(pyridin-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazinyl)ethan-1-aminium) complex 3 were tested as potential catalysts for the ketone-amine-alkyne (KA2) coupling reaction. The gas-phase geometry optimization of newly synthesized and characterized Zn(II) complexes has been computed at the density functional theory (DFT)/B3LYP/6-31G level of theory, while the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO and LUMO) energies were calculated within the time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) at B3LYP/6-31G and B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) levels of theory. From the energies of frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO-LUMO), the reactivity descriptors, such as chemical potential (µ), hardness (η), softness (S), electronegativity (χ) and electrophilicity index (ω) have been calculated. The energetic behavior of the investigated compounds (1 and 2) has been examined in gas phase and solvent media using the polarizable continuum model. For comparison reasons, the same calculations have been performed for recently synthesized [ZnL3(NCS)2] complex 3. DFT results show that compound 1 has the smaller frontier orbital gap so, it is more polarizable and is associated with a higher chemical reactivity, low kinetic stability and is termed as soft molecule.

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of two pentagonal-bipyramidal Fe(III) complexes with dihydrazone of 2,6-diacetylpyridine and Girard's T reagent. Anticancer properties of various metal complexes of the same ligand.

In this work synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of two isothiocyanato Fe(III) complexes with 2,2'-[2,6-pyridinediylbis(ethylidyne-1-hydrazinyl-2-ylidene)]bis[N,N,N-trimethyl-2-oxoethanaminium] dichloride (H2LCl2) ligand, with composition [FeL(NCS)2]SCN·2H2O and [FeL(NCS)2]2[Fe(H2O)(NCS)5]·4H2O, has been reported. Both iron(III) complexes possess the same pentagonal-bipyramidal complex cation, while the nature of their anions depends on mole ratio of NH4SCN and FeCl3·6H2O used in reaction. Cytotoxic activity of new Fe(III) complexes, as well as of previously synthesized isothiocyanato Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes with the same ligand, was tested against five human cancer cell lines (HeLa, MDA-MB-453, K562, LS174 and A549) and normal cell line MRC-5. The best activity was observed in the case of Fe(III), Co(II) and Cd(II) complexes. The investigation of potential of these complexes to induce HeLa and K562 cell cycle perturbations was also evaluated. Mechanism of cell death mode was elucidated on the basis of morphological changes of HeLa cells as well as identification of target caspases. It was established that DNA damage could be responsible for the activity of Fe(III) and Co(II) complexes. SYNOPSIS: Pentagonal-bipyramidal Fe(III) complexes with dihydrazone of 2,6-diacetylpyridine and Girard's T reagent have been synthesized and characterized. Cytotoxic activity of Fe(III) complexes and Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes with the same ligand was tested. The best activity was observed in the case of Fe(III), Co(II) and Cd(II) complexes.

Investigation of antitumor potential of Ni(II) complexes with tridentate PNO acylhydrazones of 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde and monodentate pseudohalides.

Square-planar azido Ni(II) complex with condensation product of 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde and Girard's T reagent was synthesized and its crystal structure was determined. Cytotoxic activity of the azido complex and previously synthesized isothiocyanato, cyanato and chlorido Ni(II) complexes with this ligand was examined on six tumor cell lines (HeLa, A549, K562, MDA-MB-453, MDA-MB-361 and LS-174) and two normal cell line (MRC-5 and BEAS-2B). All the investigated nickel(II) complexes were cytotoxic against all tumor cell lines. The newly synthesized azido complex showed selectivity to HeLa and A549 tumor cell lines compared to the normal cells (for A549 IC50 was similar to that of cisplatin). Azido complex interferes with cell cycle phase distribution of A549 and HeLa cells and possesses nuclease activity towards supercoiled DNA. The observed selectivity of the azido complex for some tumor cell lines can be connected with its strong DNA damaging activity.

Synthesis, characterization, DFT calculation and biological activity of square-planar Ni(II) complexes with tridentate PNO ligands and monodentate pseudohalides. Part II.

Three square-planar complexes of Ni(II) with condensation derivative of 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde and 4-phenylsemicarbazide and monodentate pseudohalides have been synthesized and characterized on the basis of the results of X-ray, NMR and IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Investigated complexes exhibited moderate antibacterial and cytotoxic activity. The most pronounced cytotoxic activity (in the range of cisplatin) to HeLa cell line was observed for ligand and all the complexes. Azido complex and ligand induced concentration dependent cell cycle arrest in the S phase, as well as decrease of percentage of cells in G1 phase, without significant increase of apoptotic fraction of cells. The interaction of the azido complex and ligand with CT-DNA results in changes in UV-Vis spectra typical for non-covalent bonding. The observed intrinsic binding constant of azido complex-CT-DNA and ligand-CT-DNA were 3.22 × 10(5) M(-1) and 2.79 × 10(5) M(-1). The results of DNA cleavage experiments showed that azido complex nicked supercoiled plasmid DNA.

Synthesis, characterization, cytotoxic activity and DNA binding properties of the novel dinuclear cobalt(III) complex with the condensation product of 2-acetylpyridine and malonic acid dihydrazide.

A novel dinuclear cobalt(III) complex with the condensation product of 2-acetylpyridine and malonic acid dihydrazide, N',N'(2)-bis[(1E)-1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]propanedihydrazide was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopy (NMR and infrared), and X-ray crystal analysis. The complex showed a moderate activity towards Artemia salina. The highest cytotoxic potential of the complex was observed on the epithelial breast cancer (MDA-361) cell line. The investigated complex induced apoptosis, the early apoptotic cells comprising 28.18%, compared to 5.64% of control cells in the same phase. The interaction of the complex with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was monitored by blue shift and hyperchromism in the UV-vis spectra. The observed intrinsic binding constant (K(b)=4.2×10(5)M(-1)) together with structural analysis of the complex indicate the groove binding.