Mauricio Lanznaster

Lawsone dimerization in cobalt(III) complexes toward the design of new prototypes of bioreductive prodrugs.

Dimerization of lawsone occurs upon reaction with Co(BF(4))(2)·6H(2)O and N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)ethylenediamine (py(2)en) to produce the mononuclear complex [Co(III)(bhnq)(py(2)en)]BF(4)·H(2)O (1). This complex has been investigated as a prototype of a bioreductive prodrug, where the bhnq(2-) ligand acts as a model for cytotoxic naphthoquinones. Cyclic voltammetry data in aqueous solution have shown a quasi-reversible Co(III)/Co(II) process at E(1/2) = -0.26 V vs Fc/Fc(+). Reactivity studies revealed the dissociation of bhnq(2-) from the complex upon reduction of 1 with ascorbic acid, and a dependence of the reaction rate on the oxygen concentration suggests the occurrence of redox cycling.

A new nitrosyl ruthenium complex: synthesis, chemical characterization, in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities and probable mechanism of action.

This study describes the synthesis of a new ruthenium nitrosyl complex with the formula [RuCl(2)NO(BPA)] [BPA = (2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-methylpyridyl)amine ion], which was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray crystallography, and theoretical calculation data. The biological studies of this complex included in vitro cytotoxic assays, which revealed its activity against two different tumor cell lines (HeLa and Tm5), with efficacy comparable to that of cisplatin, a metal-based drug that is administered in clinical treatment. The in vivo studies showed that [RuCl(2)NO(BPA)]is effective in reducing tumor mass. Also, our results suggest that the mechanism of action of [RuCl(2)NO(BPA)] includes binding to DNA, causing fragmentation of this biological molecule, which leads to apoptosis.

Synthesis, electrochemical studies and anticancer activity of ferrocenyl oxindoles

A series of (E) and (Z)-ferrocenyl oxindoles were prepared by coupling substituted oxindoles to ferrocenylcarboxyaldehyde in the presence of morpholine as a catalyst. The redox behavior of these isomers was determined by cyclic voltammetry. The effects of the oxindole derivatives on the migration of human breast cancer cells were evaluated using the wound-healing assay and the Boyden chamber cell-migration assay. The most potent Z isomers 11b (IC(50) = 0.89 microM), 12b (IC(50) = 0.49 microM) and 17b (IC(50) = 0.64 microM) could represent attractive new lead compounds for further development for cancer therapy.

A study on the properties and reactivity of naphthoquinone-cobalt(III) prototypes for bioreductive prodrugs.

Our group has recently initiated a study on the development of new prototypes for bioreductive prodrugs, based on Co(III) complexes with the ligand 2,2-bis(3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), H2bhnq. The focus of this work is to investigate the dissociation of bhnq(-2) from the complex upon reduction, and the effects of pH, redox potential, oxygen concentration and nature of the auxiliary ligands on this reaction. The bhnq(2-) ligand is a non-cytotoxic agent that was chosen as a probe for the reactivity studies due to its suitable chromophoric properties, at the same time that it resembles more cytotoxic naphthoquinones relevant for cancer therapy. In this way, two Co(III) complexes [Co(bhnq)(L1)]BF4·H2O (1) and [Co(bhnq)(L2)]BF4·H2O (2) (L1=N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)ethylenediamine and L2=N,N-dimethyl-N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)ethylenediamine) were synthesized and fully characterized. The gallium analogs [Ga(bhnq)(L1)]NO3·3H2O (3) and [Ga(bhnq)(L2)]NO3·3H2O (4) were also prepared for helping with the assignments of the redox properties of the cobalt complexes and the structure of 2. Cyclic voltammetry analysis revealed a pH-independent quasi-reversible Co(III)/Co(II) process at -0.22 and -0.08V vs NHE for 1 and 2, respectively. An O2-dependent dissociation of bhnq(2-) was observed for the reaction of 1 with ascorbic acid. For 2, the dissociation of bhnq(2-) was found to be independent on the concentration of O2 and faster than in 1, with little influence of the pH on both complexes. The difference in reactivity between 1 and 2 and their redox properties, among other factors, suggests that 1 undergoes redox cycling, pointed out as a key feature for a prodrug to achieve hypoxic selectivity.

Evaluation of the Antioxidant Capacity of Synthesized Coumarins

Coumarins are secondary metabolites that are widely distributed within the plant kingdom, some of which have been extensively studied for their antioxidant properties. The antioxidant activity of coumarins assayed in the present study was measured by different methods, namely the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH•) method, cyclic voltammetry and the antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals (ACAP) method. The 7,8-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (LaSOM 78), 5-carboxy-7,8-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (LaSOM 79), and 6,7-dihydroxycoumarin (Esculetin) compounds proved to be the most active, showing the highest capacity to deplete the DPPH radicals, the highest antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals, and the lowest values of potential oxidation.

A modular approach to redox-active multimetallic hydrophobes of discoid topology.

A new modular [Fe(II)(Fe(III)L(2))(3)](PF(6))(2) species with discoid (disk-like) topology exhibits redox and surfactant properties and points to a new approach for multimetallic Langmuir film precursors.

Synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of two novel cis-dioxovanadium(v) complexes: [VO2(L)] and [VO2(Hlox)]

respectively, in a distorted octahedral environment. The catalytic activity of these compounds towards cyclohexane oxidation was evaluated using H2O2 and t-BuOOH as oxidants. Both complexes presented > 70% selectivity for cyclohexylhydroperoxide formation. B3LYP/6-31G(d) calculations were used to confirm the geometry and to help assign the electronic spectra.

Aqua­(4,4′-bipyridine-κN)bis­(1,4-dioxo-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-olato-κ2O1,O2)zinc 4,4′-bipyridine mono­solvate dihydrate

The reaction of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and 4,4′-bipyridine with zinc acetate produced the title compound, [Zn(C10H5O3)2(C10H8N2)(H2O)]·C10H8N2·2H2O. The bond lengths and angles around the metal atom indicate a deviation from octahedral geometry. The two naphthoquinone ligands coordinate in a cis fashion, with the 4,4′-bipyridine ligand and the water molecules completing the coordination sphere of the metal atom. The asymmetric unit contains also one free 4,4′-bipyridine molecule and two uncoordinated water molecules. These molecules make contacts with the complex through O—H⋯N and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, creating a layer two-dimensional network parallel to (121).

Resonance Raman spectroscopy of FeII FeIII and FeIII FeIII model complexes containing an unsymmetrical dinucleating ligand: a biomimetic redox pair for uteroferrin

Raman excitation profiles for the complex [FeIIFeIII(bpbpmp)(C2 H3O2)2](ClO4 ) (1), and its oxidized form, the new compound [FeIIIFeIII(bpbpmp)(C2 H3O2)2](ClO4 )2 (2), are reported. H2bpbpmp is the proligand 2-bis[{(2-pyridylmethyl)-aminomethyl}-6-{(2-hydroxybenzyl)(2 -pyridylmethyl)}-aminomethyl]-4-methylphenol. For compound 1, the most enhanced vibrational mode in the Raman spectra is the n(Fe-Ophen-terminal), observed at 608 cm-1. For compound 2, the n(COphen-terminal), which corresponds to the band at 1276 cm-1, becomes the most enhanced one. These differences are ascribed to the changes in the electronic structure of the dinuclear phenolate bridged core upon oxidation. The phenolate bridge allows charge density transmission between the metal centers.

Investigation of cobalt(III)–TPA complexes as potential bioreductively activated carriers for naphthoquinone-based drugs

Four cobalt(III)–TPA complexes with 2-hydroxy-3-X-1,4-naphthoquinones (HNQ-X), X = methyl (1), chlorine (2), bromine (3) and iodine (4), were designed and investigated as potential bioreductively activated carriers for naphthoquinone-based drugs. The substituents X were used in order to avoid dimerization of the naphthoquinone ligands and evaluate their effect on the Co3+/Co2+ potential. The expected [Co(TPA)(NQ-X)]2+ species was obtained for the NQ-CH3 ligand in 1, while the chlorine, bromine and iodine derivatives fostered the attachment of a methoxide to the C(1)carbonyl atom to produce complexes 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The structure and electronic properties of the complexes were investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and DFT calculations. Cyclic voltammetry analysis showed that the Co3+/Co2+ potential is 0.21 V for complex 1 and 0.32 V vs. SHE for complexes 2–4. Redox activation with dissociation of the naphthoquinones was successfully achieved by reduction of the complexes with the biologically relevant reducing agent ascorbic acid.