Small Molecule Interactions with Biomacromolecules: DNA Binding Interactions of a Manganese(III) Schiff Base Complex with Potential Anticancer Activities.

A manganese(III) complex, [MnIII(L)(SCN)(enH)](NO3)·H2O (1•H2O) (H2L = 2-((E)-(2-((E)-2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene-amino)-ethyl-imino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol), has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The interaction of 1•H2O with DNA was studied by monitoring the decrease in absorbance of the complex at λ = 324 nm with the increase in DNA concentration, providing an opportunity to determine the binding constant of the 1•H2O-ct-DNA complex as 5.63 × 103 M-1. Similarly, fluorescence titration was carried out by adding ct-DNA gradually and monitoring the increase in emission intensity at 453 nm on excitation at λex = 324 nm. A linear form of the Benesi-Hildebrand equation yields a binding constant of 4.40 × 103 M-1 at 25 °C, establishing the self-consistency of our results obtained from absorption and fluorescence titrations. The competitive displacement reactions of dyes like ethidium bromide, Hoechst, and DAPI (4',6-diamidine-2'-phenylindole dihydrochloride) from dye-ct-DNA conjugates by 1•H2O were analyzed, and the corresponding KSV values are 1.05 × 104, 1.25 × 104, and 1.35 × 104 M-1 and the Kapp values are 2.16 × 103, 8.34 × 103, and 9.0 × 103 M-1, from which it is difficult to infer the preference of groove binding over intercalation by these DNA trackers. However, the molecular docking experiments and viscosity measurement clearly indicate the preference for minor groove binding over intercalation, involving a change in Gibbs free energy of -8.56 kcal/mol. The 1•H2O complex was then evaluated for its anticancer potential in breast cancer MCF-7 cells, which severely abrogates the growth of the cells in both 2D and 3D mammospheres, indicating its promising application as an anticancer drug through a minor groove binding interaction with ct-DNA.

De novo approach for the synthesis of water-soluble interlocked and non-interlocked organic cages.

Research on self-assembled metallosupramolecular architectures has bloomed in recent times. Analogous metal-free organic architectures with water solubility are highly challenging. We report here a unique class of triazine based immidazolium water-soluble metal-free interlocked organic cage (1), which was synthesized in a one-pot reaction without using dynamic covalent chemistry and without any chromatographic separation. An analogous non-interlocked cage (2) was also successfully achieved by steric control using different positional isomers of the building blocks.

Slow Magnetic Relaxation in a Co2 Dy Trimer and a Co2 Dy2 Tetramer.

The combination of Co(III) and Dy(III) with a compartmental Schiff base ligand (H3 L=3-[(2-Hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzylidene)-amino]-propane-1,2-diol), presenting three different coordinating pockets, has allowed the synthesis of two novel Co(III)-Dy(III) complexes: [Co2 Dy(HL)4 ]NO3 ⋅ 2CH3 CN (1), a rare example of trinuclear linear CoIII 2 DyIII complex (and the first with slow relaxation of magnetization in absence of a DC field) and [Co2 Dy2 (µ3 -OH)2 (HL)2 (OAc)6 ] ⋅ 4.6H2 O (2), the first tetranuclear CoIII 2 DyIII 2 cluster with a rhomb-like structure where the Co(III) ions are connected along the short diagonal of the rhomb. 1 presents two different relaxation processes: a fast relaxation dominated by Quantum tunnelling (QT) and a slow relaxation with an energy barrier of 40 K. 2 shows two close relaxation processes without applied DC fields that follow QT and Orbach mechanisms whereas for HDC =500 Oe, the QT is cancelled and a direct term appears. Here we present the synthesis, X-ray structure and magnetic characterization of these two Co(III)-Dy(III) single-ion/molecule magnets.

Self-Assembly of Octanuclear PtII/PdII Coordination Barrels and Uncommon Structural Isomerization of a Photochromic Guest in Molecular Space.

Two tetragonal molecular barrels TB1 and TB2 were successfully synthesized by coordination-driven self-assembly of a tetrapyridyl donor (L) of the thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole backbone with cis-blocked 90° Pd(II) and Pt(II) acceptors, respectively. The single-crystal structure analysis of TB1 revealed the formation of a two-face opened tetragonal Pd8 molecular barrel architecture. In contrast, the isostructural Pt(II) barrel (TB2) is water-soluble. The large confined hydrophobic molecular cavity including wide open windows and good water solubility of the barrel TB2 made it a potential molecular container for the encapsulation of guests with different sizes and properties. This has been exploited to encapsulate and stabilize the open form of a photochromic molecule (G2) in water, while the same photochromic molecule exists exclusively in a cyclic zwitterionic form in aqueous medium in the absence of the barrel TB2. This cyclic form is very stable in water and does not go back to its parent open form under common external stimuli. Surprisingly, reverse switching of the cyclic form to a colored hydrophobic open form was also possible instantly in water upon addition of the solid barrel TB2 into an aqueous solution of G2. Such a fast reverse isomerization of an irreversible process in aqueous medium by utilizing host-guest interaction of the barrel TB2 and the guest G2 is interesting. The barrel TB2 was also capable of encapsulating the water-insoluble radical initiator G1 in aqueous medium.

Slow magnetic relaxation and water oxidation activity of dinuclear CoIICoIII and unique triangular CoIICoIICoIII mixed-valence complexes.

Construction of efficient multifunctional materials is one of the greatest challenges of our time. We herein report the magnetic and catalytic characterization of dinuclear [CoIIICoII(HL1)2(EtOH)(H2O)]Cl·2H2O (1) and trinuclear [CoIIICoII2(HL2)2(L2)Cl2]·3H2O (2) mixed valence complexes. Relevant structural features of the complexes have been mentioned to correlate with their magnetic and catalytic properties. Unique structural features, especially in terms of significant distortions around the CoII centre(s), prompted us to test both spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and zero field splitting (ZFS) methodologies for the systems. The positive sign of D values has been established from X-band EPR spectra recorded in the 5-40 K temperature range and reaffirmed by CAS/NEVPT2 calculations. ZFS tensors are also extracted for the compounds along with CoIIGaIII and CoIIZnIICoIII model species. Interestingly, 1 shows slow relaxation of magnetization below 6.5 K in the presence of a 1000 Oe external dc field with two relaxation processes (Ueff = 37.0 K with τ0 = 1.57 × 10-8 s for the SR process and Ueff = 7 K with τ0 = 1.66 × 10-6 s for the FR process). As mixed valence cobalt complexes with various nuclearities are central to the quest for water oxidation catalysts, we were prompted to explore their features and to our surprise, water oxidation ability has been realized for both 1 and 2 with significant nuclearity control.

Self-assembly of a "cationic-cage" via the formation of Ag-carbene bonds followed by imine condensation.

A new strategy for the synthesis of a "cationic-cage" (CC-Ag) has been developed via metal-carbene (M-CNHC) bond formation followed by imine bond condensation. Reaction of a trigonal trisimidazolium salt H3L(PF6)3 functionalized with three flexible N-phenyl-aldehyde pendants with silver oxide yielded a trinuclear tricationic organometallic cage (OC-Ag). Subsequent treatment of the organometallic cage (OC-Ag) with 1,4-diaminobutane links the two tris-NHC ligands via imine bond condensation, which thus generates a 3D 'cationic-cage' (CC-Ag). Furthermore, post-synthetic replacement of the Ag(i) with Au(i) leading to the formation of CC-Au was achieved via trans-metalation, with the retention of the molecular architecture.

A Schiff base platform: structures, sensing of Zn(ii) and PPi in aqueous medium and anticancer activity.

A reaction of N1,N3-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene) diethylenetriamine (H2Vd) and Zn(NO3)2·6H2O, ZnBr2, ZnI2 and Cd(NO3)2·4H2O in a methanol solution led to zinc and cadmium complexes of different nuclearities, [Zn2(Vd·H)2(X)2]·CH3OH (X = NO3, Br, I) [1a, 1b and 1c] and Cd3(Vd)2(NO3)2 (2). In 1(a-c), two H2Vd ligands bridge the two metal centers whereas in 2, they provide sideways support to two terminal Cd2+ ions, providing an all-oxygen envelope to the central Cd2+ ion. All four compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 1(a-c) exhibit dinuclear structures, whereas 2 exhibits a nearly linear trinuclear structure. The structural differences among these complexes are attributable to various coordination modes and flexible configurations of the H2Vd ligand. The ligand H2Vd is an excellent probe for sensing Zn2+ in solution, whereas complexes 1(a-c) are able to selectively detect pyrophosphate (PPi) in aqueous medium. The structure of the pyrophosphate (PPi) complex has been proposed using DFT calculations and the selectivity is due to the unique ability of this anion to simultaneously coordinate to both the Zn metal centers. The anticancer activity of complexes 1(a-c) was also explored.

CoII4, CoII7, and a Series of CoII2LnIII (LnIII = NdIII, SmIII, GdIII, TbIII, DyIII) Coordination Clusters: Search for Single Molecule Magnets.

We report herein the syntheses and investigation of the magnetic properties of a CoII4 compound, a series of trinuclear CoII2LnIII (LnIII = NdIII, SmIII, GdIII, TbIII, DyIII) complexes, and a CoII7 complex. The homometallic CoII4 core was obtained from the reaction of Ln(NO3)3·xH2O/Co(NO3)2·6H2O/H2vab/Et3N in a 0.5:0.5:1:2 ratio in methanol. Variation in synthetic conditions was necessary to get the desired CoII-LnIII complexes. The CoII-LnIII assembly was synthesized from Ln(NO3)3·xH2O/Co(OAc)2·4H2O/H2vab/NaOMe in a 0.4:0.5:1:1 ratio in methanol. The isostructural CoII2LnIII complexes have a core structure with the general formula [Co2Ln(Hvab)4(NO3)](NO3)2·MeOH·H2O, (where H2vab = 2-[(2-hydroxymethyl-phenylimino)-methyl]-6-methoxy-phenol) with simultaneous crystallization of CoII7 complex in each reaction. The magnetic investigation of these complexes reveals that both homometallic complexes and four CoII-LnIII complexes (except CoII-NdIII) display behavior characteristic of single molecule magnets.

Heterometallic Cu(II)-Dy(III) Clusters of Different Nuclearities with Slow Magnetic Relaxation.

The synthesis, structures, and magnetic properties of two heterometallic Cu(II)-Dy(III) clusters are reported. The first structural motif displays a pentanuclear Cu(II)4Dy(III) core, while the second one reveals a nonanuclear Cu(II)6Dy(III)3 core. We employed o-vanillin-based Schiff base ligands combining o-vanillin with 3-amino-1-propanol, H2vap, (2-[(3-hydroxy-propylimino)-methyl]-6-methoxy-phenol), and 2-aminoethanol, H2vae, (2-[(3-hydroxy-ethylimino)-methyl]-6-methoxy-phenol). The differing nuclearities of the two clusters stem from the choice of imino alcohol arm in the Schiff bases, H2vap and H2vae. This work is aimed at broadening the diversity of Cu(II)-Dy(III) clusters and to perceive the consequence of changing the length of the alcohol arm on the nuclearity of the cluster, providing valuable insight into promising future synthetic directions. The underlying topological entity of the pentanuclear Cu4Dy cluster is reported for the first time. The investigation of magnetic behaviors of 1 and 2 below 2 K reveals slow magnetic relaxation with a significant influence coming from the variation of the alcohol arm affecting the nature of magnetic interactions.

Doubly chloro bridged dimeric copper(II) complex: magneto-structural correlation and anticancer activity.

We have synthesized and structurally characterized a new doubly chloro bridged dimeric copper(II) complex, [Cu2(µ-Cl)2(HL)2Cl2] (1) based on a Schiff base ligand, 5-[(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)-amino]-pentan-1-ol). Single crystal X-ray diffraction shows the presence of dinuclear copper(II) centres in a square pyramidal geometry linked by obtuse double chloro bridge. The magnetic study illustrated that weak antiferromagnetic interactions (J = -0.47 cm(-1)) prevail in complex 1 which is well supported by magneto-structural correlation. This compound adds to the library of doubly chloro bridged copper(ii) complexes in the regime of spin state cross over. DFT calculations have been conducted within a broken-symmetry (BS) framework to investigate the exchange interaction further which depicts that the approximate spin projection technique yields the best corroboration of the experimental J value. Spin density plots show the presence of an ∼0.52e charge residing on the copper atom along with a substantial charge on bridging and peripheral chlorine atoms. The potential of complex1 to act as an anticancer agent is thoroughly examined on a series of liver cancer cell lines and screening shows the HepG2 cell line exhibits maximum cytotoxicity by phosphatidyl serine exposure in the outer cell membrane associated with ROS generation and mitochondrial depolarization with increasing time in the in vitro model system.

Bis{2-[(5-hy-droxy-pent-yl)imino-meth-yl]phenolato-κ(2) N,O (1)}copper(II).

In the title compound, [Cu(C12H16NO2)2], the Cu(II) ion, located on a center of inversion, is coordinated by two singly deprotonated Schiff base ligands derived from condensation of salicyldehyde and 1-amino-pentan-5-ol. The imino N and phenol O atoms from both ligands offer a square-planar arrangement around the metal ion. The Cu-N and Cu-O bond lengths are 2.0146 (15) and 1.8870 (12) Å, respectively. Since the Cu-O and Cu-N bond lengths are different, it can be concluded that the resulting geometry of the complex is distorted. The aliphatic -OH group of the ligand is not coordinated and points away from the metal coordination zone and actively participates in hydrogen bonding connecting two other units and thus stabilizing the crystal lattice. This results in a two-dimensional extended array parallel to (201).