Lorenzo C. Visentin

Novel Aminonaphthoquinone Mannich Bases Derived from Lawsone and their Copper(II) Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity

A series of novel Mannich bases (HL1-HL13) derived from 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (lawsone), substituted benzaldehydes [C6H2R1R2R3C(O)H] and various primary amines (NH2R4, R4 = n-butyl, benzyl, allyl, 2-furfuryl), and their Cu2+ complexes, [Cu(L1)2]-[Cu(L13)2], have been synthesized and fully characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods. The structures of complexes 1(R1 = R2 = R3 = H; R4 = Bu), 2(R1 = R3 = H; R2 = NO2; R4= Bu) and 7 (R1 = OH; R2 = R3 = H; R4= Bu) were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. All complexes crystallize in centrosymmetric space groups, with a copper atom in the inversion centre. Two L- coordinate through the naphthalen-2-olate oxygen and secondary amine-N atoms, forming six-membered chelate rings around the copper atom in a trans-N2O2 environment; spectroscopic data confirm that the other complexes exhibit similar molecular arrangement. The antimicrobial activity of all compounds has been tested on seven different strains of bacteria: Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosaand Staphylococcus aureus. In general, Mannich bases were more active than complexes, HL11(R1 = OH; R2 =H; R3 = Me; R4= Bn) and HL13(R1 = OH; R2 = H; R3 = Br; R4= Bn) being the most potent inhibitors. The MIC for the most active compound HL11against S. Coliwas 20 µmol L-1 (8 µg mL-1), better than Chloramphenicol (90 µmol L-1) and well below most values reported for other naphthoquinones.

An iron-based cytosolic catalase and superoxide dismutase mimic complex.

The development of metallodrugs with antioxidant activities is of importance as a way to protect organisms exposed to stressful conditions. Although iron chemistry in the presence of H(2)O(2) is usually associated with pro-oxidant activity, mainly via the Fenton reaction, we found that the mononuclear compound [Fe(HPClNOL)Cl(2)]NO(3) (1; C(15)H(18)Cl(3)FeN(4)O(4), a = 8.7751(3) A, b = 9.0778(4) A, c = 24.3869(10) A, beta = 93.370(2) degrees , monoclinic, P2(1)/c, Z = 4), containing the tripodal ligand 1-[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]-3-chloropropan-2-ol, decomposes hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion in vitro as well as shows in vivo protection because it prevents the harmful effects promoted by H(2)O(2) on Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, decreasing the level of lipid peroxidation. This protective effect was observed for wild-type cells, as well as for mutant cells, which do not present the antioxidant metalloenzymes catalase (Ctt1) or copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Sod1).

A new oxo-vanadium complex employing an imidazole-rich tripodal ligand: a bioinspired bromide and hydrocarbon oxidation catalyst.

A vanadyl complex with the ligand (bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)methyl)(2-(pyridyl-2-yl)ethyl)amine was synthesized and fully characterized by X-ray crystallography, elemental analyses, cyclic voltammetry and infrared, electronic and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies. This compound was designed under the so called hybrid concept. It shows to be able to promiscuously use hydrogen peroxide to oxidize bromide and to catalyze the oxidation of benzene and cyclohexane with very good selectivities.

Synthesis, characterization and biological activities of mononuclear Co(III) complexes as potential bioreductively activated prodrugs.

Aiming to investigate the use of tridentate ligands to develop new bireductively activated prodrugs, two N(2)O-donor ligands (HL1: [(2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-(imidazol-2-yl)ethyl)]amine; and HL2: [(2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-(pyridil-2-yl)ethyl]amine) were used to synthesize new Co(III) complexes, 1 and 2. Both complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry, electrochemistry, IR, UV-visible and (1)H NMR spectroscopies. Electrochemical data in methanol revealed that the Co(III)-->Co(II) reduction of 1 (-0.84V vs. normal hydrogen electrode - NHE) is more positive than 2 (-1.13V vs. NHE), while it was expected to be more negative due to better sigma-donor ability of imidazole ring in HL1, compared to pyridine in HL2. Considering that reduction processes on Co(III) center may involve the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), it might play an important role on the electronic properties of the complexes, and could explain the observed redox potentials. Then, geometry optimizations of 1 and 2 were performed using the density functional theory (DFT), and different group participation in their LUMO is demonstrated. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells as eukaryotic model, it is shown that in situ generated reduced species, 1(red) and 2(red), have high capacity to inhibit cellular growth, with IC50 (0.50mM for both complexes) lower than cisplatin IC50 (0.6mM) at the same time of exposure. Regarding to their ability to promote S. cerevisiae cells death, after 24 h, cells became susceptible only when exposed to 1(red) and 2(red): (i) at concentrations higher than 0.5mM in a non-dose dependence, and (ii) in anaerobic metabolism. These data reveal the potential of 1 and 2 as bioreductively activated prodrugs, since their oxidized forms do not present expressive activities when compared to their reduced forms.

Novel zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes of a Mannich base derived from lawsone: Synthesis, single crystal X-ray analysis, ab initio density functional theory calculations and vibrational analysis.

Zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes of a tridentate Mannich base L1 derived from 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, pyridinecarboxyaldehyde and 2-aminomethylpyridine, [ZnL1Cl(2)]·H(2)O 1 and [CuL1Cl(2)]·2H(2)O 2, have been synthesized and fully characterized. The structure of complex 1 has been elucidated by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study: the zinc atom is pentacoordinate and the coordination geometry is a distorted square base pyramid, with a geometric structural parameter τ equal to 0.149. Vibrational spectroscopy and ab initio DFT calculations of both compounds have confirmed that the two complexes exhibit similar structures. Full assignment of the vibrational spectra was also supported by careful analysis of the distorted geometries generated by the normal modes.

Novel 2-(R-phenyl)amino-3-(2-methylpropenyl)-[1,4]-naphthoquinones: synthesis, characterization, electrochemical behavior and antitumor activity

Novas 2-(R-fenil)amino-3-(2-metilpropenil)-[1,4]-naftoquinonas (R = H, 4-OMe, 4-Ferrocenil, 4-Me, 3-Me, 4-I, 3-I, 4-CN, 3-CN, 4-NO2 e 3-NO2) derivadas do nor-lapachol [2-hidroxi-3-(2-metilpropenil)-1,4-naftoquinona] foram obtidas em bons rendimentos. A estrutura dos compostos foi proposta com base em estudos de difracao de raios-X (R = OMe, 2b), dados de RMN de 1H e 13C e calculos teoricos utilizando o funcional B3LYP e a base 6-311+G(2d,p). Os potenciais de meia-onda das aminonaftoquinonas e o deslocamento quimico do hidrogenio da cadeia 3-propenil dos compostos 2a-k mostraram boa correlacao com as constantes de Hammett dos substituintes presentes no anel fenileno. A avaliacao da citotoxicidade evidenciou atividade antitumoral promissora para o substrato metoxi-nor-lapachol 1 e o derivado 4-ferrocenil 2c.

Synthesis and Characterization of Cobalt(III), Nickel(II) and Copper(II) Mononuclear Complexes with the Ligand 1,3-bis[(2-aminoethyl)amino]-2-propanol and Their Catalase-Like Activity.

In this work, we present the synthesis and characterization of two new mononuclear complexes with the ligand 1,3-bis[(2-aminoethyl)amino]-2-propanol (HL), [Co(L)(H2O)](ClO4)2 (1), [Ni(HL)](ClO4)2 (2), as well as the known complex [Cu(HL)](ClO4)2 (3) for comparison. Their abilities to catalyze the dismutation of H2O2 and the oxidation of cyclohexane were investigated. The complexes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, electronic and infrared spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and conductivity measurements. The X-ray structures showed that the nickel (2) and copper (3) complexes are tetracoordinated, with the metal ion bound to the nitrogen atoms of the ligand. On the other hand, the cobalt complex (1) is hexacoordinated, possessing additional bonds to the alkoxo group of the ligand and to a water molecule. Neither of the complexes was able to catalyze the oxidation of cyclohexane, but all of them exhibited catalase-like activity, following Michaelis-Menten kinetics, which suggest resemblance with the catalase natural enzymes. The catalytic activity followed the order: [Ni(HL)](ClO4)2 (2) > [Cu(HL)](ClO4)2 (3) > [Co(L)(H2O)](ClO4)2 (1). As far as we know, this is the first description of a nickel complex presenting a significant catalase-like activity.

Synthesis, structural and spectroscopic studies of novel azo-containing N,O-bonded complexes in the α-Iminoketone and Azophenolate forms

This article describes the synthesis and the spectroscopic and structural characterization of two novel azo-containing complexes, cis-bis[4-nitro-2-(4-nitrophenylazo)-phenolate-κN1]bis(piridino-κN)cadmium(II), 1, and cis-bis[2-(4-phenylazo-phenylimino)-2H-acenaphthylen-1-one]dichloromercury(II), 2. In spite of the different metal centres, both complexes show an N,O-bidentate complexation to the metal. In 1 the metal coordinates to an azo N and to a phenolate O atom, whereas in 2 the metal binds to an O and an N atom of the α-iminoketone. Both complexes show intramolecular π-π interactions, which play an important role in their molecular structures. In addition they also present non-classical H-bonding, which is crucial to their supramolecular arrangements. Moreover, 2 is the first case in the literature of a complex with a new class of ligand, an azoiminoketone, as well as the first case of an α-iminoketone Hg complex.

Potassium trifluoro­[(Z)-3-methoxy­prop-1-en­yl]borate

In the title salt, K+·C4H7BF3O−, the K atom is surrounded by six anions making close contacts through seven F [K⋯F = 2.779 (1)–3.048 (1) Å] and two O [K⋯O = 2.953 (2) and 3.127 (2) Å] atoms in a trivacant fac-vIC-9 icosahedral coordination geometry.

Supramolecular Cd(II) complexes with (E)-N,N′-bis(2-pyridyl)iminoisoindoline (2-pyimiso): synthesis, X-ray structures, Hirshfeld surface analyses, and DFT study of [CdX2(2-pyimiso)2] (X = Cl or NCS)*

Abstract The paucity of coordination entities bearing (E)-N,N′-bis(heteroaryl)iminoisoindolines has prompted us to investigate coordination modes and supramolecular features of (E)-N,N′-bis(2-pyridyl)iminoisoindoline (2-pyimiso), a versatile iminobis(pyridyl) ligand. In this article we report the synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and crystal structure analysis of two Cd(II) : 2-pyimiso (1 : 2) bis-adducts, [CdX2(2-pyimiso)2] [X = Cl (1) or NCS (2)]. Our X-ray structural results reveal that 1 exhibits distorted tetrahedral coordination (four-coordinate geometry index τ4 = 0.92), whereas 2 displays six-coordinate Cd(II) and two four-membered chelate rings (bite angles = 52.5°), each comprising one Cd–Npy [2.247(2) Å] bond and one Cd⋯Nimine [2.809(21) Å] secondary interaction. Remarkably, in 2 each 2-pyimiso unit binds to Cd(II) according to an unusual bidentate coordination. The contributions of the Cd–N and Cd–Cl bond valences to the total metal valence for both 1 and 2 have been evaluated to confirm the coordination modes of 2-pyimiso, which can be interpreted in terms of Jørgensen’s principle of symbiosis. X-ray structure and Hirshfeld surface analyses have shown that the crystal structure of 1 is determined by two perpendicular 1-D chains formed by weak hydrogen bonds along the a- and c-axes, whereas the supramolecular architecture of 2 exhibits 2-D sheets parallel to the ab-plane interconnected by C–H⋯π interactions along the c-axis. A vibrational analysis of both products has been conducted at the DFT B3LYP-D3/LACV3P** level of calculation.