Copper-Based Complexes with Adamantane Ring-Conjugated bis(3,5-Dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)acetate Ligand as Promising Agents for the Treatment of Glioblastoma.

The new ligand L2Ad, obtained by conjugating the bifunctional species bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-acetate and the drug amantadine, was used as a chelator for the synthesis of new Cu complexes 1-5. Their structures were investigated by synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (SR-XPS), near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, and by combining X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy techniques and DFT modeling. The structure of complex 3 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Tested on U87, T98, and U251 glioma cells, Cu(II) complex 3 and Cu(I) complex 5 decreased cell viability with IC50 values significantly lower than cisplatin, affecting cell growth, proliferation, and death. Their effects were prevented by treatment with the Cu chelator tetrathiomolybdate, suggesting the involvement of copper in their cytotoxic activity. Both complexes were able to increase ROS production, leading to DNA damage and death. Interestingly, nontoxic doses of 3 or 5 enhanced the chemosensitivity to Temozolomide.

Synthesis, characterization and in vitro cytotoxicity of gallium(III)-dithiocarbamate complexes.

A library of homoleptic mononuclear Ga(III) complexes of the general formula [Ga(DTC)3], where DTC is an alicyclic or a linear dithiocarbamate chelator, is reported. The complexes were prepared in high yields starting from Ga(NO3)3·6H2O and fully characterized by elemental analysis and IR and NMR spectroscopy. Crystals of five of these complexes were obtained. The antitumor activity of the newly synthesized compounds against a panel of human cancer cell lines was evaluated. The chemical nature of the DTC does not have a marked impact on the structural features of the final compound. X-ray crystal structure analyses revealed that all these complexes have a trigonal prismatic geometry with three identical chelating DTCs coordinating the Ga(III) ion. It is noteworthy that in complex 22, [Ga(NHEt)3] (NHEt = N-ethyldithiocarbamate), the asymmetric unit is formed by two independent and structurally different molecules. Cellular studies showed that all the synthesized Ga-DTC complexes exhibit marked cytotoxic activity, even against human colon cancer cells that are less sensitive to cisplatin. Among the tested compounds, 6 ([Ga(CEPipDTC)3], CEPipDTC = (ethoxycarbonyl)-piperidinedithiocarbamate) and 21 ([Ga(Pr-13)3], PR13 = 4 and N-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-N-methyldithiocarbamate) are very promising derivatives, but they have no selectivity towards cancer cells. Nevertheless, the obtained data provide a foundation for developing gallium-dithiocarbamate complexes as anticancer agents.

New Copper Complexes with N,O-Donor Ligands Based on Pyrazole Moieties Supported by 3-Substituted Acetylacetone Scaffolds.

The new 3-monosubstituted acetylacetone ligands, 3-(phenyl(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)pentane-2,4-dione (HLacPz) and 3-((3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)(phenyl)methyl)pentane-2,4-dione (HLacPzMe), were synthesized and used as supporting ligands for new copper(II) and copper(I) phosphane complexes of the general formulae [Cu(HLacX)2(LacX)2] and [Cu(PPh3)2(HLacX)]PF6 (X = Pz (pyrazole) or PzMe (3,5-dimethylpyrazole)), respectively. In the syntheses of the Cu(I) complexes, the triphenylphosphine coligand (PPh3) was used to stabilize copper in the +1 oxidation state, avoiding oxidation to Cu(II). All compounds were characterized by CHN analysis, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The ligands HLacPz (1) and HLacPzMe (2) and the copper complex [Cu(PPh3)2(HLacPz)]PF6 (3) were also characterized by X-ray crystallography. The reactivity of these new compounds was investigated and the new compounds 4-phenyl-4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)butan-2-one (7) and 4-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-4-phenylbutan-2-one (8) were obtained in basic conditions via the retro-Claisen reaction of related 3-monosubstituted acetylacetone, providing efficient access to synthetically useful ketone compounds. Compound 8 was also characterized by X-ray crystallography.

A New Dimeric Copper(II) Complex of Hexyl Bis(pyrazolyl)acetate Ligand as an Efficient Catalyst for Allylic Oxidations.

A new dimeric copper(II) bromide complex, [Cu(LOHex)Br(µ-Br)]2 (1), was prepared by a reaction of CuBr2 with the hexyl bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetate ligand (LOHex) in acetonitrile solution and fully characterized in the solid state and in solution. The crystal structure of 1 was also determined: the complex is interlinked by two bridging bromide ligands and possesses terminal bromide ligands on each copper atom. The two pyrazolyl ligands in 1 coordinate with the nitrogen atoms to complete the Cu coordination sphere, resulting in a five-coordinated geometry-away from idealized trigonal bipyramidal and square pyramidal geometries-which can better be described as distorted square pyramidal, as measured by the τ and χ structural parameters. The pendant hexyloxy chain is disordered over two arrangements, with final site occupancies refined to 0.705 and 0.295. The newly synthesized complex was evaluated as a catalyst in copper-catalyzed C-H oxidation for allylic functionalization through a Kharasch-Sosnovsky reaction without any external reducing agent. Using 0.5 mol% of this catalyst, and tert-butyl peroxybenzoate (Luperox) as an oxidant, allylic benzoates were obtained with up to 90% yield. The general reaction time was only slightly decreased to 24 h but a very significant decrease in the alkene:Luperox ratio to 3:1 was achieved. These factors show relevant improvements with respect to classical Kharasch-Sosnovsky reactions in terms of rate and amount of reagents. The present study highlights the potential of copper(II) complexes containing functionalized bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetate ligands as efficient catalysts for allylic oxidations.

Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Activity of Novel Cu(II) Complexes of 6-Methyl-2-Oxo-1,2-Dihydroquinoline-3-Carbaldehyde-4n-Substituted Thiosemicarbazones.

Three new 6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoline-3-carbaldehyde-thiosemicarbazones-N-4-substituted pro-ligands and their Cu(II) complexes (1, -NH2; 2, -NHMe; 3, -NHEt) have been prepared and characterized. In both the X-ray structures of 1 and 3, two crystallographically independent complex molecules were found that differ either in the nature of weakly metal-binding species (water in 1a and nitrate in 1b) or in the co-ligand (water in 3a and methanol in 3b). Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) measurements carried out on complexes 1 and 3 confirmed the presence of such different species in the solution. The electrochemical behavior of the pro-ligands and of the complexes was investigated, as well as their biological activity. Complexes 2 and 3 exhibited a high cytotoxicity against human tumor cells and 3D spheroids derived from solid tumors, related to the high cellular uptake. Complexes 2 and 3 also showed a high selectivity towards cancerous cell lines with respect to non-cancerous cell lines and were able to circumvent cisplatin resistance. Via the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) imaging technique, preliminary insights into the biological activity of copper complexes were obtained.

Metal Doping of Au25(SR)18- Clusters: Insights and Hindsights.

The study of the structures and properties of atomically precise gold nanoclusters is the object of active research worldwide. Recently, research has been also focusing on the doping of metal nanoclusters through introduction of noble metals, such as platinum, and less noble metals, such as cadmium and mercury. Previous studies, which relied extensively on the use of mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray crystallography, led to the assignment of the location of each of these foreign-metal atoms. Our study provides new insights into this topic and, particularly, compelling evidence about the actual position of the selected metal atoms M = Pt, Pd, Hg, and Cd in the structure of Au24M(SR)180. To make sure that the results were not dependent on the thiolate, for SR we used both butanethiolate and phenylethanethiolate. The clusters were prepared according to different literature procedures that were supposed to lead to different doping positions. Use of NMR spectroscopy and isotope effects, with the support of mass spectrometry, electrochemistry, and single-crystal X-ray crystallography, led us to confirm that noble metals indeed dope the cluster at its central position, whereas no matter how the doping reaction is conducted and the nature of the ligand, the position of both Cd and Hg is always on the icosahedron shell, rather than at the central or staple position, as often reported. Our results not only provide a reassessment of previous conclusions, but also highlight the importance of NMR spectroscopy studies and cast doubts on drawing conclusions mostly based on single-crystal X-ray crystallography.

Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxic activity of novel copper(II) complexes with aroylhydrazone derivatives of 2-Oxo-1,2-dihydrobenzo[h]quinoline-3-carbaldehyde.

Three new 2-oxo-1,2-dihydrobenzo[h]quinoline-3-carbaldehyde terminal substituted aroylhydrazone ligands (2-Oxo-1,2-dihydrobenzo[h]quinoline-3-carbaldehyde(2'-hydroxybenzoyl)hydrazine, H2L1, 1, 2-Oxo-1,2-dihydrobenzo[h]quinoline-3-carbaldehyde(2'-hydroxybenzoyl)hydrazine, H2L2, 2, 2-Oxo-1,2-dihydrobenzo[h]quinoline-3-carbaldehyde(2'-hydroxybenzoyl)hydrazine, H2L3, 3) and the corresponding novel copper(II) complexes [Cu(L)(CH3OH)(NO3)](L = HL1 (4), HL2 (5), HL3 (6-6+), have been synthesized to compare their coordination behaviour and biological activity with respect to the presence of an OH group in different positions of the phenyl ring in the hydrazone moieties. The new ligands and their copper complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic techniques. The molecular structures of the new complexes 4 and 6-6+ were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The interactions of the free ligands and their copper complexes with calf thymus DNA were tested by absorption measurements and ethidium bromide competitive studies which revealed that all compounds may interact with calf thymus DNA through intercalation. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the cytotoxic effect of the compounds on a panel of human cancer cell lines showed that the copper complexes exhibited in vitro antitumor activity significantly higher than that of the free ligands and also of cisplatin.

Crystal structure of µ-oxalato-κ2O1:O2-bis-[(dimethyl sulfoxide-κO)tri-phenyl-tin(IV)].

In the previously reported [C2O4(SnPh3)2] complex [Diop et al. (2003 ▸). Appl. Organomet. Chem.17, 881-882.], the SnIV atoms are able to formally complete their coordination by addition of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) mol-ecules provided by the reaction medium, affording the title complex, [Sn2(C6H5)6(C2O4)(C2H6OS)2]. The SnIV atoms are then penta-coordinated, with a common trans trigonal-bipyramidal arrangement. The asymmetric unit contains one half-mol-ecule, which is completed by inversion symmetry in space group type C2/c. The inversion centre is placed at the mid-point of the central bis-monodentate oxalate dianion, C2O42-, which bridges the [(SnPh3)(DMSO)] moieties. The mol-ecule crystallizes as a disordered system, with two phenyl rings disordered by rotation about their Sn-C bonds, while the DMSO mol-ecule is split over two positions due to a tetra-hedral inversion at the S atom. All disordered parts were refined with occupancies fixed of 0.5.

Synthesis and characterization of rhenium(iii) complexes with (Ph2PCH2CH2)2NR diphosphinoamine ligands.

The synthesis and characterization of a new series of neutral, six-coordinated compounds [ReIIIX3(PNPR)], where X is Cl or Br and PNPR is a diphosphinoamine having the general formula (Ph2PCH2CH2)2NR (R = H, CH3, CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH2CH3 and CH2CH2OCH3) are reported. Stable [ReIIIX3(PNPR)] complexes were synthesized, in variable yields, starting from precursors where the metal was in different oxidation states (iii and v), by ligand-exchange and/or redox-substitution reactions. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, proton NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, UV/vis spectroscopy, positive-ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI(+)-MS) and X-ray diffraction analysis. Although the formulation of the complexes allows either meridional or facial isomers, the latter arrangement was prevalent both in the solid and solution states. Only [ReCl3(PNPH)] showed a meridional configuration both in solution and in the crystalline state. [ReBr3(PNPme)] prefers the meridional configuration in the crystalline state and the facial one in solution. While ESI(+)-MS and voltammetric data seem to indicate some dependency from the nature of the alkyl substituent at the nitrogen, the available structural data of the complexes show only slight differences both for angles and bond lengths upon change of the alkyl chain tethered to the nitrogen.

Insights into the Halogen Oxidative Addition Reaction to Dinuclear Gold(I) Di(NHC) Complexes.

Gold(I) dicarbene complexes [Au2 (MeIm-Y-ImMe)2 ](PF6 )2 (Y=CH2 (1), (CH2 )2 (2), (CH2 )4 (4), MeIm=1-methylimidazol-2-ylidene) react with iodine to give the mixed-valence complex [Au(MeIm-CH2 -ImMe)2 AuI2 ](PF6 )2 (1 a(I) ) and the gold(III) complexes [Au2 I4 (MeIm-Y-ImMe)2 ](PF6 )2 (2 c(I) and 4 c(I) ). Reaction of complexes 1 and 2 with an excess of ICl allows the isolation of the tetrachloro gold(III) complexes [Au2 Cl4 (MeIm-CH2 -ImMe)2 ](PF6 )2 (1 c(Cl) ) and [Au2 Cl4 (MeIm-(CH2 )2 -ImMe)2 ](Cl)2 (2 c(Cl) -Cl) (as main product); remarkably in the case of complex 2, the X-ray molecular structure of the crystals also shows the presence of I-Au-Cl mixed-sphere coordination. The same type of coordination has been observed in the main product of the reaction of complexes 3 or 4 with ICl. The study of the reactivity towards the oxidative addition of halogens to a large series of dinuclear bis(dicarbene) gold(I) complexes has been extended and reviewed. The complexes react with Cl2 , Br2 and I2 to give the successive formation of the mixed-valence gold(I)/gold(III) n a(X) and gold(III) n c(X) (excluding compound 1 c(I) ) complexes. However, complex 3 affords with Cl2 and Br2 the gold(II) complex 3 b(X) [Au2 X2 (MeIm-(CH2 )3 -ImMe)2 ](PF6 )2 (X=Cl, Br), which is the predominant species over compound 3 c(X) even in the presence of free halogen. The observed different relative stabilities of the oxidised complexes of compounds 1 and 3 have also been confirmed by DFT calculations.

A study on the inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from Escherichia coli by gold(i) phosphane compounds. X-ray crystal structures of (4,5-dichloro-1H-imidazolate-1-yl)-triphenylphosphane-gold(i) and (4,5-dicyano-1H-imidazolate-1-yl)-triphenylphosphane-gold(i).

An unprecedented study on the inhibitory activities of a class of phosphane gold(i) complexes on E. coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is reported. The gold(i) complexes considered in this work consist of azolate or chloride ligands and phosphane as co-ligands. The ligands have been functionalized with polar groups (-COOH, -COO(-), NO2, Cl, CN) to obtain better solubility in polar media. Neutral, anionic and cationic gold(i) complexes have been tested as DHFR inhibitors by means of a continuous direct spectrophotometric method. X-ray structural characterizations were performed on ((triphenylphosphine)-gold(i)-(4,5-dicyanoimidazolyl-1H-1yl) and on the analog (triphenylphosphine)-gold(i)-(4,5-dichloroimidazolyl-1H-1yl). The inhibition constants obtained from the enzyme tests range from 20 µM to 63 nM (auranofin) and are conducive to promoting these compounds as potential DHFR inhibitors.

Reactivity of the [M(PS)2](+) building block (M = Re(III) and (99m)Tc(III); PS = phosphinothiolate) toward isopropylxanthate and pyridine-2-thiolate.

The coordination properties of isopropylxanthate (i-Pr-Tiox) and pyridine-2-thiolate (PyS) toward the [M(PS)2](+) moiety (M = Re and (99m)Tc; PS = phosphinothiolate) were investigated. Synthesis and full characterization of [Re(PS2)2(i-Pr-Tiox)] (Re1), [Re(PSiso)2(i-Pr-Tiox)] (Re2), [Re(PS2)2(PyS)] (Re3), and [Re(PSiso)2(PyS)] (Re4), where PS2 = 2-(diphenylphosphino)ethanethiolate and PSiso = 2-(diisopropylphosphino)ethanethiolate, and the structural X-ray analysis of complex Re3 were carried out. (99m)Tc analogues of complexes Re2 ((99m)Tc2) and Re4 ((99m)Tc4) were obtained in high radiochemical yield following a simple one-pot procedure. The chemical identity of the radiolabeled compounds was confirmed by chromatographic comparison with the corresponding rhenium complexes and by dual radio/UV HPLC analysis combined with ESI(+)-MS of (99g/99m)Tc complexes prepared in carrier-added conditions. The two radiolabeled complexes were stable with regard to trans chelation with cysteine, glutathione, and ethylenediaminotetraacetic acid and in rat and human sera. This study highlights the substitution-inert metal-fragment behavior of the [M(PS)2](+) framework, which reacts with suitable bidentate coligands to form stable hexacoordinated asymmetrical complexes. This feature makes it a promising platform on which to develop a new class of Re/Tc complexes that are potentially useful in radiopharmaceutical applications.

Synthesis and biological assays on cancer cells of dinuclear gold complexes with novel functionalised di(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands.

New dinuclear di(N-heterocyclic carbene) silver(I), gold(I) and gold(III) complexes have been synthesised and their antiproliferative effects towards various cancer cell lines have been screened. The di(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands have a propylene linker between the carbene moieties and the imidazole backbone has been functionalised with a 1-benzyl- or 1-PEG-1,2,3-triazole ring (PEG=poly(ethylene glycol)) via a CuAAC (copper azido alkyne cycloaddition) reaction. The resulting gold(I) and gold(III) complexes display an antiproliferative activity superior to that of the unfunctionalised pristine complexes together with a higher selectivity towards cancerous cells with respect to healthy cells.

In vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of copper(I) complexes with homoscorpionate tridentate tris(pyrazolyl)borate and auxiliary monodentate phosphine ligands.

Tetrahedral copper(I) TpCuP complexes 1-15, where Tp is a N,N,N-tris(azolyl)borate and P is a tertiary phosphine, have been synthesized and characterized by means of NMR, ESI-MS, and XAS-EXAFS, and X-ray diffraction analyses on the representative complexes 1 and 10, respectively. All copper(I) complexes were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against a panel of human cancer cell lines (including cisplatin and multidrug-resistant sublines). The two most effective complexes [HB(pz)3]Cu(PCN), 1, and [HB(pz)3]Cu(PTA), 2, showed selectivity toward tumor vs normal cells, inhibition of 26S proteasome activity associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and unfolded protein response (UPR) activation. No biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis were detected, and morphology studies revealed an extensive cytoplasmic vacuolization coherently with a paraptosis-like cell death mechanism. Finally, the antitumor efficacy of complex 1 was validated in the murine Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) model.

Synthesis and in vitro antitumor activity of water soluble sulfonate- and ester-functionalized silver(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes.

The novel N-heterocyclic carbene ligand precursor NaHIm(PrSO3) (sodium 3,3'-(1H-imidazole-3-ium-1,3-diyl)dipropane-1-sulfonate) and the related silver carbene complex [Na4(Im(PrSO3))2]AgCl have been synthesized and characterized. Recrystallization of the analogous [Im(AcEt)]AgCl complex allowed the development of X-ray analysis which led to achieve relevant structural information concerning this silver(I) derivative. Both sulfonate- and ester-functionalized silver(I) N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities in a wide panel of human cancer cells. Complex [Na4(Im(PrSO3))2]AgCl showed a significant in vitro antiproliferative activity that was correlated with its strong ability to inhibit thioredoxin reductase. The inhibition of this selenoenzyme determined an alteration of the cellular redox environment thus leading to the induction of the apoptotic cell death through the activation of the ASK-1 pathway.

Novel mixed-ligand copper(I) complexes: role of diimine ligands on cytotoxicity and genotoxicity.

Novel tetrahedral copper(I) mixed-ligand complexes of the type [Cu(X)(N(∩)N)(PCN)], 3-10, where X = Cl or Br, N(∩)N = 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmp), and dipyrido-[3,2-d:2',3'-f]-quinoxaline (dpq), and PCN = tris-(2-cyanoethyl)phosphine, have been synthetized and characterized by NMR, ESI-MS, and X-ray diffraction on two representative examples, [CuCl(phen)(PCN)]·DMF (5·DMF) and [CuBr(dpq)(PCN)]·2DMF (10·2DMF). Cu(I) complexes were evaluated for their in vitro antitumor properties against a panel of human cancer cell lines, including cisplatin- and multidrug-resistant sublines. The most effective complex, [CuCl(dpq)(PCN)] (9), exhibited nanomolar cytotoxicity toward both sensitive and resistant cancer cells, but it significantly inhibited the growth of cultured normal cells. In vitro DNA assays and single cell gel electrophoresis revealed that 9 induced DNA fragmentation resulting in cell apoptosis. In parallel, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) micronucleus assay attested high levels of genotoxicity following treatment of peripheral blood lymphocytes with complex 9, suggesting that the potential risk posed by diimine metal complexes should be carefully reconsidered.

Neutral and charged phosphine/scorpionate copper(I) complexes: effects of ligand assembly on their antiproliferative activity.

Ligand-exchange reactions of copper(I) precursors ([Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)]BF(4), CuCl) with a panel of bis(azolyl)borates or poly(pyrazolyl)methanes and a tertiary monodentate phosphine (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane, PCN = tris(cyanoethyl)phosphine) produced two series of heteroleptic, either '2 + 1 + 1'- or '3 + 1'-type complexes, which have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ESI-MS and multinuclear (31)P and (1)H NMR. '2 + 1 + 1'-type complexes include a N,N-bidentate chelate and two monodentate phosphines (1-8) and '3 + 1'-type complexes comprise a N,N,O- or N,N,N-tridentate chelate and one monodentate phosphine (9-12). All these complexes adopt a four-coordinate, tetrahedral geometry. '3 + 1' complexes show better red-ox stability and a greater tendency to retain the native '3 + 1' mixed-ligand structure. Conversely, '2 + 1 + 1' complexes exhibit increased propensity to dissociation as shown by ESI-MS measurements and X-ray structure determination at low temperature (150 K) of the polymeric complex {[H(2)B(tz(NO2))(2)]Cu[PCN]}(n)6b. In this complex, either the bis(triazolyl)borate and the PCN ligands act as bidentate, with PCN being also the µ(2)-bridiging linker between adjacent monomers. Compound 6b is the first reported example of a polymeric PCN compound with a tetra-coordinate metal centre. Cytotoxic activity of all compounds has been evaluated by MTT test against a panel of several human tumor cell lines including examples of breast (MCF-7), colon (HCT-15 and LoVo), lung (A549), cervix (A431) and ovarian (2008 and its cisplatin resistant variant, C13*) carcinoma, melanoma (A375) and promyelocytic leukemia (HL60). Copper complexes generally show in vitro antitumour activity comparable to that of cisplatin. In particular, neutral '3 + 1'-type complexes 9 and 10, show IC(50) values appreciably lower than those exhibited by the reference metallodrug.

Dinuclear Cu(II) complexes of isomeric bis-(3-acetylacetonate)benzene ligands: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties.

Highly versatile coordinating ligands are designed and synthesized with two ß-diketonate groups linked at the carbon 3 through a phenyl ring. The rigid aromatic spacer is introduced in the molecules to orient the two acetylacetone units along different angles and coordination vectors. The resulting para, meta, and ortho bis-(3-acetylacetonate)benzene ligands show efficient chelating properties toward Cu(II) ions. In the presence of 2,2'-bipyridine, they promptly react and yield three dimers, 1, 2, and 3, with the bis-acetylacetonate unit in bridging position between two metal centers. X-ray single crystal diffraction shows that the compounds form supramolecular chains in the solid state because of intermolecular interactions. Each of the dinuclear complexes shows a magnetic behavior which is determined by the combination of structural parameters and spin polarization effects. Notably, the para derivative (1) displays a moderate antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -3.3 cm(-1)) along a remarkably long Cu···Cu distance (12.30 Å).

Synthesis and characterization of azolate gold(I) phosphane complexes as thioredoxin reductase inhibiting antitumor agents.

Following an increasing interest in the gold drug therapy field, nine new neutral azolate gold(I) phosphane compounds have been synthesized and tested as anticancer agents. The azolate ligands used in this study are pyrazolates and imidazolates substituted with deactivating groups such as trifluoromethyl, nitro or chloride moieties, whereas the phosphane co-ligand is the triphenylphosphane or the more hydrophilic TPA (TPA = 1,3,5-triazaphosphaadamantane). The studied gold(I) complexes are: (3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazolate-1-yl)-triphenylphosphane-gold(I) (1), (3,5-dinitro-1H-pyrazolate-1-yl)-triphenylphosphane-gold(I) (2), (4-nitro-1H-pyrazolate-1-yl)-triphenylphosphane-gold(I) (5), (4,5-dichloro-1H-imidazolate-1-yl)-triphenylphosphane-gold(I) (7), with the related TPA complexes (3), (4), (6) and (8) and (1-benzyl-4,5-di-chloro-2H-imidazolate-2-yl)-triphenylphosphane-gold(I) (9). The presence of deactivating groups on the azole rings improves the solubility of these complexes in polar media. Compounds 1-8 contain the N-Au-P environment, whilst compound 9 is the only one to contain a C-Au-P environment. Crystal structures for compounds 1 and 2 have been obtained and discussed. Interestingly, the newly synthesized gold(I) compounds were found to possess a pronounced cytotoxic activity on several human cancer cells, some of which were endowed with cis-platin or multidrug resistance. In particular, among azolate gold(I) complexes, 1 and 2 proved to be the most promising derivatives eliciting an antiproliferative effect up to 70 times higher than cis-platin. Mechanistic experiments indicated that the inhibition of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) might be involved in the pharmacodynamic behavior of these gold species.

A templating guest sorts out a molecular triangle from a dimer-trimer constitutional dynamic library.

Cu(II) and a bis-ß-diketone ligand generate a small constitutional dynamic library (CDL). The designed introduction of a well suited guest drives the self-sorting of the system toward a supramolecular triangle. Alternatively, the triangle self-assembly is templated by the same guest in a one-pot synthesis.