Impact of the central atom and halido ligand on the structure, antiproliferative activity and selectivity of half-sandwich Ru(II) and Ir(III) complexes with a 1,3,4-thiadiazole-based ligand.

Half-sandwich complexes [Ru(η6-pcym)(L1)X]PF6 (1, 3) and [Ir(η5-Cp*)(L1)X]PF6 (2, 4) featuring a thiadiazole-based ligand L1 (2-(furan-2-yl)-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole) were synthesized and characterized by varied analytical methods, including single-crystal X-ray diffraction (X = Cl or I, pcym = p-cymene, Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl). The structures of the molecules were analysed and interpreted using computational methods such as Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QT-AIM). A 1H NMR spectroscopy study showed that complexes 1-3 exhibited hydrolytic stability while 4 underwent partial iodido/chlorido ligand exchange in phosphate-buffered saline. Moreover, 1-4 demonstrated the ability to oxidize NADH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) to NAD+ with Ir(III) complexes 2 and 4 displaying higher catalytic activity compared to their Ru(II) analogues. None of the complexes interacted with reduced glutathione (GSH). Additionally, 1-4 exhibited greater lipophilicity than cisplatin. In vitro biological analyses were performed in healthy cell lines (CCD-18Co colon and CCD-1072Sk foreskin fibroblasts) as well as in cisplatin-sensitive (A2780) and -resistant (A2780cis) ovarian cancer cell lines. The results indicated that Ir(III) complexes 2 and 4 had no effect on human fibroblasts, demonstrating their selectivity. In contrast, complexes 1 and 4 exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on the metabolic and proliferation activities of the cancer cells tested (selectivity index SI > 3.4 for 4 and 2.6 for cisplatin; SI = IC50(A2780)/IC50(CCD-18Co)), including the cisplatin-resistant cancer cell line. Based on these findings, it is possible to emphasize that mainly complex 4 could represent a further step in the development of selective and highly effective anticancer agents, particularly against resistant tumour types.

Stability of a half-sandwich Os(II) complex with indomethacin-functionalized ligand in the presence of carboxypeptidase A.

In the presence of carboxypeptidase, the hydrolytically stable complex [Os(η6-pcym)(L2)Cl]PF6 (2) partially released the bioactive substituent indomethacin, bound through the amide bond to the chelating 2-(1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)pyridine-based moiety of L2. Stability in the presence of other relevant biomolecules (GSH, NADH, GMP) and cancer cell viability were also studied.

The Structural and Magnetic Properties of FeII and CoII Complexes with 2-(furan-2-yl)-5-pyridin-2-yl-1,3,4-oxadiazole.

Two novel coordination compounds containing heterocyclic bidentate N,N-donor ligand 2-(furan-2-yl)-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (fpo) were synthesized. A general formula for compounds originating from perchlorates of iron, cobalt, and fpo can be written as: [M(fpo)2(H2O)2](ClO4)2 (M = Fe(II) for (1) Co(II) for (2)). The characterization of compounds was performed by general physico-chemical methods-elemental analysis (EA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in case of organics, and single crystal X-ray diffraction (sXRD). Moreover, magneto-chemical properties were studied employing measurements in static field (DC) for 1 and X-band EPR (Electron paramagnetic resonance), direct current (DC), and alternating current (AC) magnetic measurements in case of 2. The analysis of DC magnetic properties revealed a high spin arrangement in 1, significant rhombicity for both complexes, and large magnetic anisotropy in 2 (D = -21.2 cm-1). Moreover, 2 showed field-induced slow relaxation of the magnetization (Ueff = 65.3 K). EPR spectroscopy and ab initio calculations (CASSCF/NEVPT2) confirmed the presence of easy axis anisotropy and the importance of the second coordination sphere.

The effect of the second coordination sphere on the magnetism of [Ln(NO3)3(H2O)3]·(18-crown-6) (Ln = Dy and Er).

The objective of this work was the exploration of the effect of the second coordination sphere on the magnetic properties of [Ln(NO3)3(H2O)3]·(18C6) (Ln = Dy (1) and Er (2)) compounds comprising co-crystallized 18-crown-6 ethers. Both compounds were identified as field-induced single molecule magnets (SMMs) with estimated magnetization reversal barriers U eff = 66-71 K for 1 and U eff = 21-24 K for 2. Theoretical calculations with the B3LYP functional revealed substantial change and redistribution of the electrostatic potential upon accounting for the second coordination sphere represented by two 18C6 molecules, which resulted in the change of the crystal-field around metal atoms. As a result, the multireference CASSCF calculations exposed significant impact of the second coordination sphere on the energy splitting of the respective 6 H 15/2 (DyIII) and 4 I 15/2 (ErIII) ground states, the magnetization reversal barrier and the magnetic anisotropy parameters. Moreover, the calculated magnetization reversal barriers, U calc. = 57 K for 1 and U calc. = 16 K for 2, are in good agreement with the experimental values accentuating the importance of the second coordination sphere on the magnetic properties of SMMs.

Cytotoxic conjugates of betulinic acid and substituted triazoles prepared by Huisgen Cycloaddition from 30-azidoderivatives.

In this work, we describe synthesis of conjugates of betulinic acid with substituted triazoles prepared via Huisgen 1,3-cycloaddition. All compounds contain free 28-COOH group. Allylic bromination of protected betulinic acid by NBS gave corresponding 30-bromoderivatives, their substitution with sodium azides produced 30-azidoderivatives and these azides were subjected to CuI catalysed Huisgen 1,3-cycloaddition to give the final conjugates. Reactions had moderate to high yields. All new compounds were tested for their in vitro cytotoxic activities on eight cancer and two non-cancer cell lines. The most active compounds were conjugates of 3ß-O-acetylbetulinic acid and among them, conjugate with triazole substituted by benzaldehyde 9b was the best with IC50 of 3.3 µM and therapeutic index of 9.1. Five compounds in this study had IC50 below 10 µM and inhibited DNA and RNA synthesis and caused block in G0/G1 cell cycle phase which is highly similar to actinomycin D. It is unusual that here prepared 3ß-O-acetates were more active than compounds with the free 3-OH group and this suggests that this set may have common mechanism of action that is different from the mechanism of action of previously known 3ß-O-acetoxybetulinic acid derivatives. Benzaldehyde type conjugate 9b is the best candidate for further drug development.