Isothiocyanate l-argininato copper(II) complexes - Solution structure, DNA interaction, anticancer and antimicrobial activity.

l-argininato copper(II) complexes have been intensively investigated in a variety of diseases due to their therapeutic potential. Here we report the results of comprehensive structural studies (ESI-MS, NIR-VIS-UV, EPR) on the complexes arising in aqueous solutions of two ternary copper(II) complexes with molecular formulas from crystal structures, [Cu(l-Arg)2(NCS)](NCS)·H2O (1) and [Cu(l-Arg)(NCS)2] (2) (l-Arg = l-arginine). Reference systems, the ternary Cu(II)/l-Arg/NCS- as well as binary Cu(II)/NCS- and Cu(II)/l-Arg, were studied in parallel in aqueous solutions by pH-potentiometric titration, EPR and VIS spectroscopy to characterize stability, structures and speciation of the formed species over the broad pH range. Comparative analysis of the obtained results showed that at a pH close to 7.0 mononuclear [Cu(l-Arg)2(NCS)]+ is the only species in water solution of 1, while equilibrium between [Cu(l-Arg)(SCN)]+ and binary [Cu(l-Arg)2]2+ was detected in water solution of 2. According to DNA binding studies, the [Cu(l-Arg)2(NCS)]+, [Cu(l-Arg)(SCN)]+ and [Cu(l-Arg)2]2+ species could be considered as strong minor groove binding agents causing, in the presence of H2O2, the involvement of ROS in plasmid damage. The human carcinoma cells (A549 cell line) were generally significantly more sensitive to cytotoxic and antiproliferative effect of compounds 1 and 2 than human normal cells. The studied compounds shown antimicrobial activity against bacteria belonging to Enterobacteriaceae family.

L-tyrosinatonickel(II) complex: synthesis and structural, spectroscopic, magnetic, and biological properties of 2{[Ni(L-Tyr)2(bpy)]}·3H2O·CH3OH.

The complex 2{[Ni(L-Tyr)2(bpy)]}·3H2O·CH3OH [1, where L-Tyr = L-tyrosine; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine (2,2'-bpy)] was obtained in crystalline form and characterized by X-ray and spectroscopic (FT-IR, NIR-vis-UV, and HFEPR) and magnetic methods. The complex crystallized in the hexagonal system with a = b = 12.8116(18) Å, c = 30.035(6) Å, and space group P3221. The six-coordination sphere around the Ni(2+) ion is formed by two N and two O L-tyrosinato atoms and completed by two N atoms of the 2,2'-bpy molecule. Neighboring [Ni(L-Tyr)2(bpy)] units are joined via weak hydrogen bonds, which create a helical polymeric chain. The coordinated atoms form a strongly distorted cis-NiN2N2'O2 octahedral chromophore. The solid-state electronic spectrum of complex 1 was analyzed assuming D2h symmetry, and the observed bands were assigned to (3)B1g → (3)Ag, (3)B1g → (3)B3g, (3)B1g → (3)B2g, (3)B1g → (3)B3g, (3)B1g → (3)B1g, and (3)B1g → (3)B2g transitions for the I and II d-d bands, respectively. The crystal-field parameters found for D2h symmetry are Dq = 1066 cm(-1), Ds = 617 cm(-1), Dt = -93 cm(-1), B22 = 7000 cm(-1), and Racah B = 812 cm(-1). Magnetic studies revealed the occurrence of hydrogen-bonded metal pairs. The spin Hamiltonian parameters D = -3.262 cm(-1) and E = -0.1094 cm(-1), determined from high-field, high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectra, together with a weak antiferromagnetic exchange parameter J = -0.477 cm(-1), allowed us to reproduce the powder magnetic susceptibility and field-dependent magnetization of the complex. The biological activity of 1 has been tested by using the Fusarium solani, Penicillium verrucosum, and Aspergillus flavus fungi strains and Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Serratia marcescens, and Bacillus subtilis bacterial strains.

Synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic, magnetic, theoretical, and microbiological studies of a nickel(II) complex of L-tyrosine and imidazole, [Ni(Im)2(L-tyr)2]·4H2O.

The [Ni(Im)(2)(L-tyr)(2)]·4H(2)O (1) complex was obtained in crystalline form as a product of interaction of L-tyrosine sodium salt, imidazole, and NiSO(4). The X-ray structure was determined, and the spectral (IR, FIR, NIR-vis-UV, HF EPR) and magnetic properties were studied. The Ni(2+) ion is hexacoordinated by the N and O atoms from two L-tyrosine molecules and by two N atoms of imidazole, resulting in a slightly distorted octahedral [NiN(2)N(2)'O(2)] geometry with a tetragonality parameter T = 0.995. The bands observed in the electronic spectra were ascribed to the six spin-allowed electronic transitions (3)B(1g) → (3)E(g) and (3)B(2g), (3)B(1g) → (3)A(2g) and (3)E(g), and (3)B(1g) → (3)A(2g) and (3)E(g). The spin Hamiltonian parameters g, D, and E, which were determined from high-field HF EPR spectra, excellently reproduced the magnetic properties of the complex. Calculation of the zero-field splitting in the S = 1 state of nickel(II) using DFT and UHF was attempted. The biological activity of the complexes has been tested for antifungal and antibacterial effects against Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium solani, Penicillium verrucosu, Bacillus subtilis, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Escherichia coli.

Methyl-substituted 4-nitropyridine N-oxides as ligands: structural, spectroscopic, magnetic and cytotoxic characteristics of copper(II) complexes.

Seven new mono- and dinuclear Cu(II) complexes containing various methyl substituted 4-nitropyridine N-oxides as ligands were isolated and characterized physicochemically and biologically. The characterization included elemental analysis, magnetic and spectroscopic methods (diffuse reflectance and UV-visible absorption, IR, FIR). A single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was performed for the complex with 2,5-dimethyl-4-nitropyridine N-oxide. Trans- and cis-square planar configuration around Cu ion was established for mono- and dinuclear species, respectively. In methanolic solutions the dinuclear species decompose into mononuclear ones with increasing 4-->6 coordination number with attachment of two solvent molecules. The IR spectra showed that the strength of the Cu-ligand bond gauged by the degree of N-O elongation changed irregularly with position and number of methyl groups. Cytotoxic studies on the MCF-7 human breast cancer line revealed a structure-activity relationship: double blocking of the NO(2) group with two CH(3) groups rendered the complex completely inactive.