Binuclear and tetranuclear Zn(ii) complexes with thiosemicarbazones: synthesis, X-ray crystal structures, ATP-sensing, DNA-binding, phosphatase activity and theoretical calculations.

Two Zinc(ii) complexes [Zn4(L1)4]·2H2O (1) and [Zn2(L2)2]·2H2O (2) of pyruvaldehydethiosemicarbazone ligands are reported. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy and by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. X-ray crystal structure determinations of the complexes show that though Zn : ligand stoichiometry is 1 : 1 in both the complexes, the molecular unit is tetranuclear for 1 and binuclear for 2. Both the complexes show selective sensing of ATP at pH 7.4 (0.01 M HEPES) in CH3CN-H2O (9 : 1) medium in the presence of other anions like AcO-, NO3 -, F-, Cl-, H2PO4 -, HPO4 2- and P2O7 2-. The UV-titration experiments of complexes 1 and 2 with ATP results in binding constants of 2.0(±0.07) × 104 M-1 and 7.1(±0.05) × 103 M-1 respectively. The calculated detection limits of 6.7 µM and 1.7 µM for 1 and 2 respectively suggest that the complexes are sensitive detectors of ATP. High selectivity of the complexes is confirmed by the addition of ATP in presence of an excess of other anions. DFT studies confirm that the ATP complexes are more favorable than those with the other inorganic phosphate anions, in agreement with the experimental results. Phosphatase like activity of both complexes is investigated spectrophotometrically using 4-nitrophenylphosphate (NPP) as a substrate, indicating the complexes possess significant phosphate ester hydrolytic efficiency. The kinetics for the hydrolysis of the substrate NPP was studied by the initial rate method at 25 °C. Michaelis-Menten derived kinetic parameters indicate that rate of hydrolysis of the P-O bond by complex 1 is much greater than that of complex 2, the k cat values being 212(±5) and 38(±2) h-1 respectively. The DNA binding studies of the complexes were investigated using electronic absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence quenching. The absorption spectral titrations of the complexes with DNA indicate that the CT-DNA binding affinity (K b) of complex 1 (2.10(±0.07) × 106 M-1) is slightly greater than that of 2 (1.11(±0.04) × 106 M-1). From fluorescence spectra the apparent binding constant (K app) values were calculated and they are found to be 5.41(±0.01) × 105 M-1 for 1 and 3.93(±0.02) × 105 M-1 for 2. The molecular dynamics simulation demonstrates that the Zn(ii) complex 1 is a good intercalator of DNA.

Mn(II) complexes of different nuclearity: synthesis, characterization and catecholase-like activity.

Two "end-off" compartmental ligands, 2-formyl-4-chloro-6-N-ethylmorpholine-iminomethyl-phenol (HL1) and 2-formyl-4-methyl-6-N-ethylpyrrolidine-iminomethyl-phenol (HL2) have been designed and three complexes of Mn(ii), one mono-, one di- and a polynuclear, namely Mn(L1)(SCN)2(H2O)] (), [Mn2(L1)(OAc)2](BPh4)] (), and [Mn2(L2)(OAc)2(dca)]n () have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Variable temperature magnetic studies of and have been performed and data analyses reveal that Mn centers are antiferromagnetic coupled with J = -9.15 cm(-1) and J = -46.89, respectively. Catecholase activity of all the complexes has been investigated using 3,5-di-tert-butyl catechol (3,5-DTBC). All are highly active and the activity order on the basis of the kcat value is > > . In order to unveil whether the metal centered redox participation or the radical pathway is responsible for the catecholase-like activity of the complexes, detailed EPR and cyclic voltammetric (CV) studies have been performed. In addition to the six-line EPR spectrum characteristic to Mn(ii), an additional peak at g ∼ 2 is observed when the EPR study is done with the mixture of 3,5-DTBC and the catalyst, suggesting the formation of an organic radical, most likely ligand centered. The CV experiment with the mixture of 3,5-DTBC and the catalyst reveals ligand centered reduction rather than reduction of Mn(ii) to Mn(i). It is thus inferred that complexes show catecholase-like activity due to radical generation.

Relation between the catalytic efficiency of the synthetic analogues of catechol oxidase with their electrochemical property in the free state and substrate-bound state.

A library of 15 dicopper complexes as synthetic analogues of catechol oxidase has been synthesized with the aim to determine the relationship between the electrochemical behavior of the dicopper(II) species in the absence as well as in the presence of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) as model substrate and the catalytic activity, kcat, in DMSO medium. The complexes have been characterized by routine physicochemical techniques as well as by X-ray single-crystal structure analysis in some cases. Fifteen "end-off" compartmental ligands have been designed as 1 + 2 Schiff-base condensation product of 2,6-diformyl-4-R-phenol (R = Me, (t)Bu, and Cl) and five different amines, N-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine, N-(2-aminoethyl)pyrrolidine, N-(2-aminoethyl)morpholine, N-(3-aminopropyl)morpholine, and N-(2-aminoethyl)piperidine. Interestingly, in case of the combination of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and N-(2-aminoethyl)morpholine/N-(3-aminopropyl)morpholine/N-(2-aminoethyl)piperidine 1 + 1 condensation becomes the reality and the ligands are denoted as L2(1-3). On reaction of copper(II) nitrate with L2(1-3) in situ complexes 3, 12, and 13 are formed having general formula Cu2(L2(1-3))2(NO3)2. The remaining 12 ligands obtained as 1 + 2 condensation products are denoted as L1(1-12), which produce complexes having general formula Cu2(L1(1-12))(NO3)2. Catecholase activity of all 15 complexes has been investigated in DMSO medium using 3,5-DTBC as model substrate. Treatment on the basis of Michaelis-Menten model has been applied for kinetic study, and thereby turnover number, kcat, values have been evaluated. Cyclic voltametric (CV) and differential pulse voltametric (DPV) studies of the complexes in the presence as well as in the absence of 3,5-DTBC have been thoroughly investigated in DMSO medium. From those studies it is evident that oxidation of 3,5-DTBC catalyzed by dicopper(II) complexes proceed via two steps: first, semibenzoquinone followed by benzoquinone with concomitant reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I). Our study reveals that apparently there is nearly no linear relationship between kcat and E° values of the complexes. However, a detailed density functional theory (DFT) calculation sheds light on this subject. A very good correlation prevails in terms of the energetics associated with the Cu(II) to Cu(I) reduction process and kcat values, as revealed from the combined theoretical and experimental approach.

A combined experimental and theoretical investigation on the role of halide ligands on the catecholase-like activity of mononuclear nickel(II) complexes with a phenol-based tridentate ligand.

Three new mononuclear nickel(II) complexes, namely, [NiL(1)(H2O)3]I2·H2O (1), [NiL(1)(H2O)3]Br2·H2O (2), and [NiL(1)(H2O)3]Cl2·2H2O (3) [HL(1) = 2-[(2-piperazin-1-ylethylimino)methyl]phenol], have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Structural characterization reveals that they possess similar structure: [NiL(1)(H2O)3](2+) complex cations, two halide counteranions, and lattice water molecules. One of the nitrogen atoms of the piperazine moiety is protonated to provide electrical neutrality to the system, a consequence observed in earlier studies (Inorg. Chem. 2010, 49, 3121; Polyhedron 2013, 52, 669). Catecholase-like activity has been investigated in methanol by a UV-vis spectrophotometric study using 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) as the model substrate. Complexes 1 and 2 are highly active, but surprisingly 3 is totally inactive. The coordination chemistries of 1 and 2 remain unchanged in solution, whereas 3 behaves as a 1:1 electrolyte, as is evident from the conductivity study. Because of coordination of the chloride ligand to the metal in solution, it is proposed that 3,5-DTBC is not able to effectively approach an electrically neutral metal, and consequently complex 3 in solution does not show catecholase-like activity. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations corroborate well with the experimental observations and thus, in turn, support the proposed hypothesis of inactivity of 3. The cyclic voltametric study as well as DFT calculations suggests the possibility of a ligand-centered reduction at -1.1 V vs Ag/AgCl electrode. An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiment unambiguously hints at the generation of a radical from EPR-inactive 1 and 2 in the presence of 3,5-DTBC. Generation of H2O2 during catalysis has also been confirmed. DFT calculations support the ligand-centered radical generation, and thus a radical mechanism has been proposed for the catecholase-like activity exhibited by 1 and 2. Upon heating, 2 and 3 lose water molecules in two steps (first lattice waters, followed by coordinating water molecules), whereas 3 loses four water molecules in a single step, as revealed from thermogravimetric analysis. The totally dehydrated species are red, in all cases having square-planar geometry, and have amorphous nature, as is evident from a variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction study.