Electropolymerization on ITO-Coated Glass Slides of a Series of π-Extended BODIPY Dyes with Redox-Active Meso-Substituents.

A series of meso-carbazole and meso-pyrene boron dipyrromethene(BDP) dyes have been synthesized using a two-step method. This simplified synthetic method did not require catalysts or oxidizing agents. Solution spectroscopic and electrochemical studies indicate that the HOMO and LUMO energies are dependent on the extent of π-conjugation associated with the pyrroles. Solution electrochemistry of the dyes in chloroform reveal film formation onto glassy carbon electrodes. Electrolysis of chloroform solutions of the dyes using indium tin oxide (ITO) glass slides as the working electrode show, using UV/vis spectroscopy, the formation of films. For two of the dyes, the BODIPY structure stays in tact upon electrolysis, exhibiting sharp absorption peaks on the ITO slides similar to that observed for the same dyes in solution.

A Cationic Porphyrin, ZnPor, Disassembles Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Matrix, Kills Cells Directly, and Enhances Antibiotic Activity of Tobramycin.

One of the greatest threats to human health is the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) is an "opportunistic" pathogen known to cause life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals and is the most common pathogen in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). We report here a cationic zinc (II) porphyrin, ZnPor, that effectively kills planktonic and biofilm-associated cells of PsA. In standard tests against 16-18 h-old biofilms, concentrations as low as 16 µg/mL resulted in the extensive disruption and detachment of the matrix. The pre-treatment of biofilms for 30 min with ZnPor at minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels (4 µg/mL) substantially enhanced the ability of tobramycin (Tobra) to kill biofilm-associated cells. We demonstrate the rapid uptake and accumulation of ZnPor in planktonic cells even in dedicated heme-uptake system mutants (ΔPhu, ΔHas, and the double mutant). Furthermore, uptake was unaffected by the ionophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazine (CCCP). Cells pre-exposed to ZnPor took up the cell-impermeant dye SYTOXTM Green in a concentration-dependent manner. The accumulation of ZnPor did not result in cell lysis, nor did the cells develop resistance. Taken together, these properties make ZnPor a promising candidate for treating multi-drug-resistant infections, including persistent, antibiotic-resistant biofilms.

Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complexes Coordinated Directly to the Pyrrole Backbone of π-Extended Boron Dipyrromethene (Bodipy) Dyes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Spectroscopic and Electrochemical Properties.

A series of new Bodipy dyes incorporating the π-extended isoquino[5,6-c]pyrrole have been synthesized and characterized. The dyes display intense Bodipy (π-π*) transitions and emissions with high quantum efficiencies. Spectroscopic, electrochemical, and theoretical calculations are used to give insight into the frontier orbitals. Coordination of {Ru(bpy)2Cl}+ subunits to the peripheral isoquinol nitrogen atoms of the Bodipy dyes leads to three new bis-Ru(II)-polypyridyl-Bodipy complexes with the Ru(II) centers in direct contact with the dipyrrin core. Spectroscopic studies of the complexes reveal the traditional metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions associated with Ru(dπ) to bpy(π*) transitions. However, a more intense transition above 600 nm is also observed. This transition is independent of the meso-substituents of the dipyrrin and is shifted to lower energy by as much as 25 nm compared to that of the Bodipy dyes without the Ru(II) subunits. Spectroscopic, electrochemical, and spectroelectrochemical studies suggest that the Bodipy π-orbitals are destabilized by coordination of the Ru(II) moieties. All three Ru2-Bodipy complexes show the ability to generate singlet oxygen when irradiated within the photodynamic therapy window (600-850 nm) as evidenced by singlet oxygen trapping experiments.

Heteroleptic monometallic and trimetallic ruthenium(II) complexes incorporating a π-extended dipyrrin ligand: Light-activated reactions with the A549 lung cancer cell line.

A heteroleptic monometallic ruthenium(II) and a heteroleptic trimetallic ruthenium(II) complex have been synthesized and characterized. Both complexes have an overall 3+ charge, with the charge density greater for the monometallic complex. The electronic spectra of the monometallic ruthenium(II) complex exhibits intense π-π* transitions associated with the bipyridyl groups along with overlapping metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) and ligand centered π-π* transitions ranging from 520nm to approximately 600nm. The trimetallic ruthenium(II) complex, on the other hand, displays more well defined transitions with the expected π-π* transition of the bipyridyl groups at 294nm and Ru(dπ) to bpy(π*) MLCT transitions at 355nm and 502nm. In addition to these absorption bands an intense transition, 578nm, resulting from overlapping dipyrrin (π-π*) and Ru(dπ) to dipyrrin(π*) transitions is observed. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical experiments were used to help in assigning these transitions. Irradiation of the complexes in the presence of plasmid DNA within the photodynamic therapy window (600nm to 850nm) reveal, using electrophoresis, that both complexes are capable of causing photo-damage to the DNA backbone. The trimetallic ruthenium(II) complex; however, also shows the ability to generate photoinduced DNA damage in the absence of oxygen, suggesting a photo-oxidative process. Studies of the complexes toward lung cancer cells (A549 cell line) in the absence of light indicate little cytotoxicity up to 50µM. Upon irradiation of the cells with a low power 420nm light source the trimetallic complex showed considerably greater photo-cytotoxicity compared to the monometallic analog. A dose-dependent response curve gives an IC50 of 92µM for complex B.

Photoinduced interactions of supramolecular ruthenium(II) complexes with plasmid DNA: synthesis and spectroscopic, electrochemical, and DNA photocleavage studies.

Two new bridging ligands have been synthesized by combining substituted benzaldehydes with phenanthrolinopyrrole (php), resulting in new polyazine bridging ligands. The ligands have been characterized by (1)H NMR, mass spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. These new ligands display π-π* transitions above 500 nm with modest molar absorptivities. Upon excitation at the ligand-centered charge-transfer transition, weak emission with a maximum wavelength of 612 nm is observed. When coordinated to two ruthenium(II) bis(bipyridyl) groups, the new bimetallic complexes generated give an overall 4+ charge. The electronic transitions of the bimetallic ruthenium(II) complexes display traditional π-π* transitions at 287 nm and metal-to-ligand charge-transfer transitions at 452 nm with molar absorptivities greater than 30000 M(-1) cm(-1). Oxidation of the ruthenium(II) metal centers to ruthenium(III) occurs at potentials above 1.4 V versus the Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements indicate that the ruthenium(II) moieties behave independently. Both complexes are water-soluble and show the ability to photonick plasmid DNA when irradiated with low-energy light above 550 nm. In addition, one of the complexes, [Ru(bpy)2php]2Van(4+), shows the ability to linearize plasmid DNA and gives evidence, by gel electrophoresis, of photoinduced binding to plasmid DNA.

Toxicity and localization studies of a potential photodynamic therapy agent in Drosophila.

Photodynamic therapy utilizes light, a photosensitizer, and molecular oxygen as a treatment modality for a variety of cancers. We have recently combined ruthenium(II) polypyridyl groups with a zinc(II) centered porphyrin as a new photosensitizer for the treatment of melanoma. In-vitro studies have indicated that this photosensitizer is toxic to melanoma cells when irradiated with low energy light; however, it is nontoxic to normal cells under similar conditions. To determine the toxicity and cell viability of this compound in-vivo we present, herein, a study using Drosophila melanogaster. In the absence of light, the new photosensitizer shows no discernible effects to fly larvae at various concentrations of compound and stages of larval development. When the larvae were fed the photosensitizer it was observed, by fluorescence microscopy, that the compound passes through the cell membrane and localizes in the cytosol at lower concentrations and the nucleus at slightly higher concentrations indicating that the compound is not immediately metabolized.

Nickel, copper, and zinc centered ruthenium-substituted porphyrins: effect of transition metals on photoinduced DNA cleavage and photoinduced melanoma cell toxicity.

Coordination of two [Ru(bipy)(2)Cl](+) moieties (where bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) to the pyridyl nitrogens in the 5,10-positions of meso-5,10,15-(4-pyridyl)-20-(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin gives the diruthenium porphyrin complex I. Insertion of nickel(II), copper(II), and zinc(II) into the porphyrin center gives the complexes II-IV, respectively. Electronic transitions associated with the ruthenium porphyrin include an intense Soret band and four less intense Q-bands in the visible region of the spectrum. An intense π-π* transition in the UV region associated with the bipyridyl groups and a metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) band appearing as a shoulder to the Soret band are also observed. A shift of the Soret band and collapse of the Q-bands into one band is observed upon insertion of the metal ions into the porphyrin center. Electrochemical properties associated with the complexes include a redox couple in the cathodic region attributed to the porphyrin and a redox couple in the anodic region due to the Ru(III/II) couple. DNA titrations of the complexes indicate that they interact strongly with DNA potentially through an intercalation mechanism. Irradiation of aqueous solutions of the complexes and supercoiled DNA at a 5:1 base pair to complex ratio with visible light above 400 nm shows nicking of DNA for the nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes and photocleavage of DNA for the zinc(II) complex. Cell studies with dermal skin (normal) fibroblast and melanoma cells indicate that the free base porphyrin(I) is toxic to both normal and melanoma cells, while the nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes, II and III, are non-toxic to both cell lines when irradiated with a tungsten lamp. The zinc(II) complex, IV, is non-toxic to normal cells but toxic to melanoma cells when irradiated under the same conditions.

Light induced photoreactions with plasmid DNA by Cu/Ru and Cu/Ru/Pt multi-metallic porphyrins.

Coordination of two [Ru(bipy)(2)Cl](+) moieties (where bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) to the pyridyl nitrogens in the 5,10-positions of meso-5,10,15-(4-Pyridyl)-20-(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin gives the diruthenium porphyrin complex II. Insertion of copper(II) into the porphyrin center allows for the third pyridyl nitrogen to coordinate to Pt(dmso)Cl(2). Electronic transitions associated with the ruthenium porphyrin include an intense Soret band and four less intense Q-bands in the visible region of the spectrum. An intense π-π* transition in the UV region associated with the bipyridyl groups and a metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) band appearing as a shoulder to the Soret band are also observed. A slight blue shift of the Soret band and collapse of the Q-bands into one band is observed upon insertion of Cu(II) into the porphyrin center. No change in the electronic spectrum is observed upon coordination of the Pt(dmso)Cl(2) moiety. Electrochemical properties associated with the complexes include a redox couple in the cathodic region attributed to the porphyrin and a redox couple in the anodic region due to the Ru(III/II) couple. DNA titrations of the Cu/Ru and Cu/Ru/Pt porphyrins indicate that both complexes interact strongly with DNA potentially through a partial intercalation mechanism. Gel electrophoresis studies indicate that the Cu/Ru/Pt porphyrin has a greater effect on DNA migration through the gel than the well known DNA binding agent cis-platin. Irradiation of aqueous solutions of the Cu/Ru porphyrin and supercoiled DNA at a 5:1 base pair to complex ratio (in the absence of oxygen) with visible light above 400 nm shows a nicking of the DNA. Repeat experiments in the presence of oxygen show that the Cu/Ru porphyrin photocleaves the DNA, giving the linear form, as evidenced by gel electrophoresis.

A fluorinated ruthenium porphyrin as a potential photodynamic therapy agent: synthesis, characterization, DNA binding, and melanoma cell studies.

When the new porphyrin 5,10-(4-pyridyl)-15,20-(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin is reacted with 2 equiv of Ru(bipy)(2)Cl(2) (where bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) formation of the target ruthenated porphyrin is achieved with 40% yield. Strong electronic transitions are observed in the visible region of the spectrum associated with the porphyrin Soret and four Q-bands. A shoulder at slightly higher energy than the Soret band is attributed to the Ru(dpi) to bipy(pi*) metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) band. The bipyridyl pi to pi* transition occurs at 295 nm. Cyclic voltammetry experiments reveal two single-electron redox couples in the cathodic region at E(1/2) = -0.80 and -1.18 V vs Ag/AgCl associated with the porphyrin. Two overlapping redox couples at E(1/2) = 0.83 V vs Ag/AgCl due to the Ru(III/II) centers is also observed. DNA titrations using calf thymus (CT) DNA and the ruthenium porphyrin give a K(b) = 7.6 x 10(5) M(-1) indicating a strong interaction between complex and DNA. When aqueous solutions of supercoiled DNA and ruthenium porphyrin are irradiated with visible light (energy lower than 400 nm), complete nicking of the DNA is observed. Cell studies show that the ruthenated porphyrin is more toxic to melanoma skin cells than to normal fibroblast cells. When irradiated with a 60 W tungsten lamp, the ruthenium porphyrin preferentially leads to apoptosis of the melanoma cells over the normal skin cells.

Neodymium, gadolinium, and terbium complexes containing hexafluoroacetylacetonate and 2,2'-bipyrimidine: structural and spectroscopic characterization.

Lanthanide complexes of the form Ln(hfa)3bpm (where Ln=Nd(III), Gd(III), or Tb(III); hfa=1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetone and bpm=2,2'-bipyrimidine) have been structurally characterized. The Nd and Gd complexes form one-dimensional arrays when X-ray-quality crystals are grown by the slow evaporation of concentrated solutions of the complexes. Each metal is 10-coordinate with repeating Ln-bpm units. The Tb complex does not form a one-dimensional array under these conditions. Its structure is 9-coordinate with the ninth position occupied by a covalently bonded water molecule that is hydrogen-bonded to the bpm group from another complex in solution. Luminescent studies show that the Nd complex undergoes nonradiative relaxation through solvent vibrational deactivation, while the lowest excited state of the Gd complex, 6P7/2, is higher in energy than the T1 state of the hfa ligand, making luminescence improbable for both of these complexes. In contrast, the Tb complex emits in the visible region of the spectrum when solutions of the complex are excited at 304 nm associated with the pi-pi* transition of the hfa ligand. Emission lines corresponding to transitions from the 5D4 state to the 7FJ manifold of the Tb(III) are observed. The intensity of these emissions decreases as temperature is increased. Lifetime measurements of the Tb monometallic complex fit to a monoexponential with the lifetime decreasing as the temperature is increased.

Electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen at electrodes coated with a bimetallic cobalt(II)/platinum(II) porphyrin.

Edge plane pyrolytic graphite (EPG) electrodes coated with 5-(4-pyridyl)-10,15,20-tris(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin and its Pt(II) and Co(II)/Pt(II) analogs undergo an electrochemical-chemical-electrochemical (ECE) reaction when anodically scanned in 1.0 M HClO4. The new redox couple formed from this anodic conditioning of the coated electrode is dependent on the pH of the solution. Roughened EPG electrodes coated with the Co(II)/Pt(II) bimetallic porphyrin show a catalytic shift of 500 mV for the reduction of O2 when compared to the reduction of O2 at a bare EPG electrode. An additional catalytic shift of ca. 100 mV is observed for O2 reduction at an EPG electrode coated with the Co(II)/Pt(II) porphyrin which has been oxidized in 1.0 M HClO4. In addition to the added electrocatalysis a significant percentage of O2 reduced at the oxidized Co(II)/Pt(II) EPG electrode is converted to H2O as determined by rotating disk electrode measurements.

The twinned crystal structure of mu-2,2'-bipyrimidine-1kappa2N1,N1':2kappa2N3,N3'-bis{tris[4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thienyl)butane-1,3-dionato-kappa2O,O']terbium(III)} ethyl acetate solvate.

The title compound, [Tb2(C24H12F9O6S3)2(C8H6N4)].C4H8O2, has two terbium(III) centers bridged by the polyazine ligand 2,2'-bipyrimidine (bpm), which is distorted from planarity by 7.0 (2) degrees . The terminal ligand 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thienyl)butane-1,3-dione (tta) is bidentate, coordinating through the two O atoms, while the bridging ligand is bis-bidentate, coordinating through four equivalent N atoms. Both the complex and the ethyl acetate solvent molecules are disordered. The structure was refined as a non-merohedral twin.

Design aspects for the development of mixed-metal supramolecular complexes capable of visible light induced photocleavage of DNA.

Mixed-metal supramolecular complexes that couple ruthenium or osmium based light absorbers to a central rhodium(III) core have been designed which photocleave DNA upon irradiation with visible light. The complexes [[(bpy)(2)Ru(dpp)](2)RhCl(2)](PF(6))(5), [[(bpy)(2)Os(dpp)](2)RhCl(2)](PF(6))(5), and [[(tpy)RuCl(dpp)](2)RhCl(2)](PF(6))(3), where bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, tpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, and dpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine, all exhibit intense metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) based transitions in the visible but possess lower lying metal to metal charge transfer (MMCT) excited states. These supramolecular complexes with low lying MMCT states photocleave DNA when excited into their intense MLCT transitions. Structurally similar complexes without this low lying MMCT state do not exhibit DNA photocleavage, establishing the role of this MMCT state in the DNA photocleavage event. Design considerations necessary to produce functional DNA photocleavage agents are presented herein.

Visible light induced photocleavage of DNA by a mixed-metal supramolecular complex: [[(bpy)(2)Ru(dpp)](2)RhCl2]5+.

The mixed-metal supramolecular complex, [[(bpy)(2)Ru(dpp)](2)RhCl(2)](PF(6))(5) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine and dpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine) coupling two ruthenium light absorbers (LAs) to a central rhodium, has been shown to photocleave DNA. This system possesses a lowest lying metal to metal charge transfer (MMCT) excited state in contrast to the metal to ligand charge transfer states (MLCT) of the bpm and Ir analogues. The systems with an MLCT excited state do not photocleavage DNA. [[(bpy)(2)Ru(dpp)](2)RhCl(2)](PF(6))(5) is the first supramolecular system shown to cleave DNA. It functions through an excited state previously unexplored for this reactivity, a Ru --> Rh MMCT excited state. This system functions when irradiated with low energy visible light with or without molecular oxygen.

Synthesis and study of Ru,Rh,Ru triads: modulation of orbital energies in a supramolecular architecture.

Supramolecular trimetallic complexes [((tpy)RuCl(BL))(2)RhCl(2)](3+) where tpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and BL = dpp or bpm [dpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine and bpm = 2,2'-bipyrimidine] have been synthesized and characterized. The mixed-metal complexes couple a reactive rhodium(III) center to two ruthenium(II) light absorbers to form a light absorber-electron collector-light absorber triad. The variation of the bridging (dpp and bpm) and terminal (tpy in lieu of bpy) ligands has some profound effects on the properties of these complexes, and they are remarkably different from the previously reported [((bpy)(2)Ru(bpm))(2)RhCl(2)](5+) system. The electrochemical data for both title trimetallics consist of overlapping Ru(III/II) couples for both terminal metals at 1.12 V versus the Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Cathodically an irreversible Rh(III/I) reduction followed by bridging ligand reductions is seen. This is indicative of highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) localized on the terminal ruthenium metal centers and a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) residing on the rhodium. This rhodium-based LUMO is in contrast to the bpy analogue [((bpy)(2)Ru(bpm))(2)RhCl(2)](5+), which has a bpm(pi) localized LUMO. This orbital inversion by terminal ligand variation illustrates the similar energy of these Rh(dsigma) and bpm(pi) orbitals within this structural motif. Both title trimetallics possess broad, low-energy Ru --> BL charge transfer absorbances at 540 nm (dpp) and 656 nm (bpm). A comparison of the spectroscopic, electrochemical, and spectroelectrochemical properties of these trimetallic complexes is presented.

Mixed-metal supramolecular complexes coupling phosphine-containing Ru(II) light absorbers to a reactive Pt(II) through polyazine bridging ligands.

Supramolecular bimetallic Ru(II)/Pt(II) complexes [(tpy)Ru(PEt(2)Ph)(BL)PtCl(2)](2+) and their synthons [(tpy)Ru(L)(BL)](n)()(+) (where L = Cl(-), CH(3)CN, or PEt(2)Ph; tpy = 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine; and BL = 2,2'-bipyrimidine (bpm) or 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine (dpp)) have been synthesized and studied by cyclic voltammetry, electronic absorption spectroscopy, mass spectral analysis, and (31)P NMR. The mixed-metal bimetallic complexes couple phosphine-containing Ru chromophores to a reactive Pt site. These complexes show how substitution of the monodentate ligand on the [(tpy)RuCl(BL)](+) synthons can tune the properties of these light absorbers (LA) and incorporate a (31)P NMR tag by addition of the PEt(2)Ph ligand. The redox potentials for the Ru(III/II) couples occur at values greater than 1.00 V versus the Ag/AgCl reference electrode and can be tuned to more positive potentials on going from Cl(-) to CH(3)CN or PEt(2)Ph (E(1/2) = 1.01, 1.55, and 1.56 V, respectively, for BL = bpm). The BL(0/-) couple at -1.03 (bpm) and -1.05 V (dpp) for [(tpy)Ru(PEt(2)Ph)(BL)](2+) shifts dramatically to more positive potentials upon the addition of the PtCl(2) moiety to -0.34 (bpm) and -0.50 V (dpp) for the [(tpy)Ru(PEt(2)Ph)(BL)PtCl(2)](2+) bridged complex. The lowest energy electronic absorption for these complexes is assigned as the Ru(d pi) --> BL(pi*) metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transition. These MLCT transitions are tuned to higher energy in the monometallic synthons when Cl(-) is replaced by CH(3)CN or PEt(2)Ph (516, 452, and 450 nm, for BL = bpm, respectively) and to lower energy when Pt(II)Cl(2) is coordinated to the bridging ligand (560 and 506 nm for BL = bpm or dpp). This MLCT state displays a broad emission at room temperature for all the dpp systems with the [(tpy)Ru(PEt(2)Ph)(dpp)PtCl(2)](2+) system exhibiting an emission centered at 750 nm with a lifetime of 56 ns. These supramolecular complexes [(tpy)Ru(PEt(2)Ph)(BL)PtCl(2)](2+) represent the covalent linkage of TAG-LA-BL-RM assembly (TAG = NMR active tag, RM = Pt(II) reactive metal).