Charge-compensated nido-carborane derivatives in the synthesis of iron(II) bis(dicarbollide) complexes.

A series of stable iron(II) bis(dicarbollide) derivatives [8,8'-(RNHC(Et)HN)2-3,3'-Fe(1,2-C2B9H10)2] (R = Pr, R = Ph, (CH2)2OH, (CH2)3OH, (CH2)2NMe2) was prepared starting from FeCl2 or [FeCl2(dppe)] and the corresponding nido-carboranyl amidines [10-RNHC(Et)HN-7,8-C2B9H11]. In a similar way, the reactions of the oxonium derivatives of nido-carborane with FeCl2 in tetrahydrofuran in the presence of t-BuOK lead to the corresponding stable oxonium derivatives iron(II) bis(dicarbollide) [8,8'-(RR'O)2-3,3'-Fe(1,2-C2B9H10)2] (RR' = (CH2)4, (CH2)2O(CH2)2, (CH2)5; R = R' = Et), which can be alternatively prepared by the reaction of the parent iron(II) bis(dicarbollide) with tetrahydrofuran or 1,4-dioxane in the presence of Me2SO4. The cyclic voltammetry studies of the synthesized iron(II) bis(dicarbollide) derivatives revealed that the introduction of amidinium and oxonium substituents leads to a significant increase in the Fe2+/Fe3+ redox potential relative to the parent iron(II) bis(dicarbollide). The redox potentials of the oxonium derivatives are close to the redox potential of ferrocene and somewhat lower than redox potentials of sulfonium and phosphonium derivatives of iron(II) bis(dicarbollide).

Nickel(II) and Palladium(II) Complexes with η5:κ1(N)-Coordinated Dicarbollide Ligands Containing Pendant Pyridine Group.

A series of C- and B-substituted nido-carborane derivatives with a pendant pyridyl group was prepared. The synthesized compounds were used as ligands in the complexation reactions with bis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II) and palladium(II) chlorides to give six new metallacomplexes with unusual η5:κ1(N)-coordination of the metal center. The single crystal structures of 1-(NC5H4-2'-S)-1,2-C2B10H11, 1-(NC5H4-2'-CH2S)-1,2-C2B10H11, Cs [7-(NC5H4-2'-CH2S)-7,8-C2B9H11] closo- and nido-carboranes and 3-Ph3P-3-(4(7)-NC5H4-2'-S)-closo-3,1,2-NiC2B9H10 and 3-Ph3P-3-(4(7)-NC5H4-2'-CH2S)-closo-3,1,2-NiC2B9H10 metallacarboranes were determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Synthesis of Boronated Amidines by Addition of Amines to Nitrilium Derivative of Cobalt Bis(Dicarbollide).

A series of novel cobalt bis(dicarbollide) based amidines were synthesized by the nucleophilic addition of primary and secondary amines to highly activated B-N+≡C-R triple bond of the propionitrilium derivative [8-EtC≡N-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)]. The reactions with primary amines result in the formation of mixtures of E and Z isomers of amidines, whereas the reactions with secondary amines lead selectively to the E-isomers. The crystal molecular structures of E-[8-EtC(NMe2)=HN-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)], E-[8-EtC(NEt2)=HN-3,3'-Co(1,2- C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)] and E-[8-EtC(NC5H10)=HN-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)] were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Synthesis and crystal structures of nickel(ii) and palladium(ii) complexes with o-carboranyl amidine ligands.

A number of new nido-carboranyl amidines 10-R(CH2)nNHC(Et)[double bond, length as m-dash]HN-7,8-C2B9H11 (n = 2, R = OH, OMe, and NMe2; n = 3, R = OH) were synthesized by the nucleophilic addition of amino alcohols and N,N-dimethylethylenediamine to the highly activated -C[triple bond, length as m-dash]N+- triple bond of the 10-propionitrilium derivative of nido-carborane. A similar reaction of 10-EtC[triple bond, length as m-dash]N-7,8-C2B9H11 with ethylenediamine unexpectedly resulted in the cleavage of the C[triple bond, length as m-dash]N bond to form the ammonium derivative 10-H3N-7,8-C2B9H11. The complexation of the synthesized carboranyl amidines 10-MeO(CH2)2NHC(Et)[double bond, length as m-dash]HN-7,8-C2B9H11 and 10-Me2N(CH2)2NHC(Et)[double bond, length as m-dash]HN-7,8-C2B9H11 with nickel and palladium phosphine complexes [(Ph3P)2MCl2] (M = Ni, Pd) was studied. The reactions with 10-MeO(CH2)2NHC(Et)[double bond, length as m-dash]HN-7,8-C2B9H11 result in half-sandwiched metallacarborane complexes with the retention of one triphenylphosphine ligand [3-Ph3P-3-(8-MeOCH2CH2N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(Et)NH)-3,1,2-MC2B9H10], while the reactions with 10-Me2N(CH2)2NHC(Et)[double bond, length as m-dash]HN-7,8-C2B9H11 proceed with the complete loss of the phosphine ligands and lead to the formation of complexes with the η5:κ2(N,N')-coordinated carboranyl amidine ligand [3,3-(8-Me2NCH2CH2N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(Et)NH)-3,1,2-MC2B9H10]. The crystal molecular structures of the synthesized complexes were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

The unexpected reactivity of 9-iodo-nido-carborane: from nucleophilic substitution reactions to the synthesis of tricobalt tris(dicarbollide) Na[4,4',4''-(MeOCH2CH2O)3-3,3',3''-Co3(µ3-O)(µ3-S)(1,2-C2B9H10)3].

An unusual reactivity of 9-iodo-nido-carborane [9-I-7,8-C2B9H11]- towards nucleophiles under strong basic conditions was revealed. The nucleophilic substitution of iodine with O- and N-nucleophiles results in [9-RO-7,8-C2B9H11]- (R = H, CH2CH2OMe) and [9-L-7,8-C2B9H11] (L = Py, NEt3, Me2NCH2CH2NMe2), respectively. Reaction of [9-I-7,8-C2B9H11]- with CoCl2 in 1,2-dimethoxyethane in the presence of t-BuOK, depending on the order of addition of the reagents, leads either to a diastereomeric mixture of diiodo derivatives cobalt bis(dicarbollide) rac-[4,4'-I2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2]- and meso-[4,7'-I2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2]- or to the corresponding mixture of 2-methoxyethoxy derivatives rac-[4,4'-(MeOCH2CH2O)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2]- and meso-[4,7'-(MeOCH2CH2O)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2]-. In the presence of accidental admixture of sodium thiosulfate, the reactions of 9-iodo-nido-carborane and 9-(2'-methoxyethoxy)-nido-carborane with CoCl2 in 1,2-dimethoxyethane were found to produce additionally unprecedented tricobalt tris(dicarbollide) cluster Na[4,4',4''-(MeOCH2CH2O)3-3,3',3''-Co3(µ3-O)(µ3-S)(1,2-C2B9H10)3], the central fragment of which is a trigonal bipyramid with apical oxygen and sulfur atoms, and the base is formed by the Co3 triangle flanked by three dicarbollide ligands. In addition, the 2-methoxyethoxy substituents of the dicarbollide ligands chelate the sodium cation in such a way that they form a helix whose rotation direction depends on the enantiomer of the parent ligand. Thus, in this case, induction of the helical chirality of the complex occurs due to the point chirality of the initial inorganic ligand. It is worth noting that in the case of symmetrically substituted 2-methoxyethoxy derivative of nido-carborane [10-MeOCH2CH2O-7,8-C2B9H11]- only formation of the corresponding cobalt bis(dicarbollide) complex [8,8'-(MeOCH2CH2O)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2]- was observed.

Synthesis and study of C-substituted methylthio derivatives of cobalt bis(dicarbollide).

The C-methylthio derivatives of cobalt bis(dicarbollide) were synthesized by reaction of anhydrous CoCl2 with nido-carborane [7-MeS-7,8-C2B9H11]- and isolated as a mixture of rac-[1,1'-(MeS)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2]- and meso-[1,2'-(MeS)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2]- isomers. The structures of both isomers were studied using DFT quantum chemical calculations. The most preferable geometry of rotamers and the stabilization energy of C-methylthio derivatives of cobalt bis(dicarbolide) were calculated. The (BEDT-TTF)[1,1'-(MeS)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2] salt was prepared and its structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The cisoid conformation of the rac-[1,1'-(MeS)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2]- anion is stabilized by short intramolecular CH⋯S hydrogen and BH⋯S chalcogen bonds between the dicarbollide ligands, that is in good agreement with the data of quantum chemical calculations.

Carborane Derivative Conjugated with Gold Nanoclusters for Targeted Cancer Cell Imaging.

Polyhedral borane derivatives have been utilized in the treatment of boron neuron capture therapy (BNCT) for brain glioma, and much attention has been paid to search excellent biocompatible boron-rich composites for effective cancer BNCT therapy. In this study, we have exploited the self-assembly of the gold nanoclusters with carborane amino derivatives (GNCs-CB) for the precise bioimaging of cancer cells and targeted delivery of this carborane compound to the tumors. Our observations demonstrate that the GNCs-CB can readily realize accurate tumor imaging and long-term accumulation in tumor sites by EPR effect and nanometer size effect, and thus efficiently implement tumor-targeting delivery of the carborane derivative and facilitate the real-time fluorescent visualization monitoring of the carborane targeted delivery process. This makes it possible to realize the accurate location of the tumor by the carborane derivative and reduce the damage to normal tissues in the process of boron neutron capture therapy through imaging guided treatment.

Cyanide free contraction of disclosed 1,4-dioxane ring as a route to cobalt bis(dicarbollide) derivatives with short spacer between the boron cage and terminal functional group.

The 1,4-dioxane derivative of cobalt bis(dicarbollide) reacts with dialkylsulfides and triphenylphosphine to give the corresponding sulfonium and phosphonium derivatives [8-L(CH2CH2O)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)] (L = SMe2, S(CH2CH2)2O, PPh3). The treatment of the triphenylphosphonium derivative with sodium hydroxide results in contraction of the side chain with formation of [8-HOCH2CH2O-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)](-). The same product was obtained by treatment of the dimethylsulfonium derivative with the poorly nucleophilic base t-BuOK, whereas the stronger nucleophiles induce the sulfur demethylation to give [8-MeS(CH2CH2O)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)](-). The alcohol was used for the synthesis of a series of other short-spacer functional derivatives [8-XOCH2CH2O-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)](-) (X = NH2, SH, N3). A similar contraction of the disclosed 1,4-dioxane ring via the reactions with SMe2 and PPh3 can be used for the synthesis of short-spacer functional derivatives of nido-carborane, whereas the 1,4-dioxane derivatives of closo-decaborate and closo-dodecaborate anions, being stronger electron donors, are more stable and do not react with dimethylsulfide and triphenylphosphine.

Synthesis of monosubstituted functional derivatives of carboranes from 1-mercapto-ortho-carborane: 1-HOOC(CH(2))(n)S-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(11) and [7-HOOC(CH(2))(n)S-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11)](-) (n = 1-4).

A general approach to synthesis of monosubstituted functional derivatives of 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane (ortho-carborane) is proposed. Reactions of the triethylammonium salt of 1-mercapto-ortho-carborane (Et(3)NH)[1-S-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(11)] with ethyl omega-bromoalkyl carboxylates and omega-bromoalkylnitriles in ethanol result in the corresponding carboranyl esters and nitriles that in turn can be converted to carborane-based carboxylic acids 1-HOOC(CH(2))(n)S-closo-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(11) (n = 1-4). Mild deboronation of the closo-carborane cage with CsF in ethanol gives caesium salts of the corresponding nido-carboranes Cs[7-HOOC(CH(2))(n)S-nido-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11)]. This approach is suitable for synthesis of compounds to be used in boron neutron capture therapy and radionuclide diagnostics of cancer.