Marta Počkaj

Combinatorial Synthesis of Acacen-Type Ligands and Their Coordination Compounds.

A highly modular synthetic method for the preparation of acacen-type ligands and their coordination compounds was developed. A series of 46 acacen-type ligands were synthesized by a combinatorial acid-catalyzed transamination between six primary diamines and eight enaminones. The bis-enaminone products were used as tetradentate ligands for coordination of copper(II), nickel(II), cobalt(II), and palladium(II). Dependence of the preferred E- or Z-configuration of the enaminone ligand on the α-substituent of the enaminone moiety in solution was determined by NMR and confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The copper(II) complexes were tested for their suitability as catalysts in 3 + 2 cycloaddition of azomethine imine to methyl propiolate.

Synthesis and Rotational Isomerism of 1-Substituted Methyl (S)-[5-(2-Nitrophenyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonyl]alaninates

Seven title compounds 12a-g and the (S)-prolinate analogue 13 were prepared in five steps from 2-nitrobenzoic acid (7). Reduction of the nitro group followed by derivatization of the so formed anilines 14 gave the N-alkyl-(15a-c), N-acyl-(16a,b and 19), and N-vinyl derivative 20. NMR spectra of (S)-alanine and (S)-proline derived compounds 12, 13, 14-16, 19, and 20 exhibited two sets of signals corresponding to pairs of conformational diastereomers. The free energy barriers of rotation, ΔG(‡)298 = 82-86 kJ mol(-1), were determined by (1)H NMR for 12a, 12d, 12f, and 12g and evaluated by DFT calculations.

Evaluation of the metal-dependent cytotoxic behaviour of coordination compounds

The [Cu(L)Cl2]2 and [Pt(L)Cl2] complexes were prepared from the simple Schiff-base ligand (E)-phenyl-N-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)methanamine (L) and respectively, CuCl2 and cis-[PtCl2(DMSO)2]. DNA-interaction studies revealed that the copper complex most likely acts as a DNA cleaver whereas the platinum complex binds to the double helix. Remarkably, cell-viability experiments with HeLa, MCF7 and PC3 cells showed that [Cu(L)Cl2]2 is an efficient cytotoxic agent whereas [Pt(L)Cl2] is not toxic, illustrating the crucial role played by the nature of the metal ion in the corresponding biological activity.

Thermal metal-free [2+2] cycloaddition of acetylenedicarboxylates to polysubstituted butadienes

Abstract The thermal metal-free [2+2] cycloadditions of electron-poor acetylenes to some polysubstituted systems with conjugated double bonds (polysubstituted butadienes) are described.

A simple synthesis of dimethyl 2-[(Z)-3-amino-1-oxo-1-(substituted)but-2-en-2-yl]fumarates: potential intermediates in the synthesis of polysubstituted five- and six-membered heterocycles

Abstract In this communication, a simple synthesis of dimethyl 2-[(Z)-3-amino-1-oxo-1-(substituted)but-2-en-2-yl]fumarates is described. Methyl ketones were transformed by treatment with N,N-dimethylacetamide dimethyl acetal (DMADMA) into 3-dimethylamino-1-(substituted)but-2-en-1-ones, followed by treatment with ammonium acetate into (Z)-3-amino-1-(substituted)but-2-en-1-ones and addition to dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate. These novel polysubstituted butadienes are potential intermediates for the metal-free preparation of polysubstituted five- and six-membered heterocycles.