Vladimir P. Petrović

Experimental and theoretical study of antioxidative properties of some salicylaldehyde and vanillic Schiff bases

The antioxidative capacity and structure–activity relationships of ten Schiff bases were investigated experimentally and theoretically. All compounds contain the aniline moiety, while the aldehyde part is either salicylaldehyde or vanillin. The DPPH assay was used to test the potential antioxidative activity of these compounds, and DFT study was used to investigate their electronic structures and provide insight into their structure–activity relationships. The effect of the position of the hydroxy, as well other groups present, on the antioxidative activity was examined. The possible radical scavenging mechanism was determined in polar (water and methanol), and nonpolar (benzene) solvents. Based on the experimental and computational results, compounds 7 and 8 exhibit the highest radical scavenging properties.

Vanillic Mannich bases: synthesis and screening of biological activity. Mechanistic insight into the reaction with 4-chloroaniline

One-step multi-component Mannich reaction of vanillin, aromatic amines (aniline and 4-chloroaniline), and cyclohexanone was successfully catalyzed by three chloroacetate ethanolamine based ionic liquids: diethanolammonium chloroacetate, and newly synthesized ethanolammoniumchloroacetate and N,N-diethylethanolammoniumchloroacetate. These reactions were performed in ethanol at room temperature. Mechanistic aspects of the reaction with 4-chloroaniline were considered by using density functional theory. The yield of obtained Mannich bases (MB-Cl and newly synthesized MB-H) was very good, while diastereoselectivity was excellent. These compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidative activity by DPPH free radical scavenging assay. It was shown that both bases exhibit high activity against DPPH. In vitro cytotoxic and antioxidative effects of MB-Cl and MB-H against human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 and human colon carcinoma HCT-116 cell lines were also determined. The investigated Mannich bases show moderate or very weak cytotoxic effect on HCT-116 cells, while no cytotoxic effect was observed in the case of MDA-MB-231 cells. On the other hand, the tested substances induced oxidative stress in the treated cancer cell lines.

Triethanolammonium acetate as a multifunctional ionic liquid in the palladium-catalyzed green Heck reaction.

AbstractAn efficient green Heck reaction protocol was performed using a triethanolammonium acetate ionic liquid–palladium(II) catalytic system. The ionic liquid used acts as a reaction medium, base, precatalyst-precursor, and mobile support for the active Pd species. Our experimental investigation indicates that performing the Heck reaction in ionic liquid is superior to the same procedure carried out in triethanolamine. The mechanism of the reaction of triethanolammonium acetate with PdCl2 was examined using density functional theory (M06 method). It was found that two Pd(II) complexes are formed, one of which acts further as a precatalyst yielding catalytically active Pd(0) complex. The calculated activation energies are in agreement with our experimental findings. FigureOptimized geometries of triethanolammonium acetate ([TEA][HOAc]), andtrans-[PdCl2(TEA)2] (Pd-N,N and Pd-N,O) complexes)

Investigation of the antioxidant and radical scavenging activities of some phenolic Schiff bases with different free radicals

The antioxidant properties of some phenolic Schiff bases in the presence of different reactive particles such as •OH, •OOH, (CH2=CH−O−O•), and -•O2 were investigated. The thermodynamic values, ΔHBDE, ΔHIP, and ΔHPA, were used for this purpose. Three possible mechanisms for transfer of hydrogen atom, concerted proton−electron transfer (CPET), single electron transfer followed by proton transfer (SET-PT), and sequential proton loss electron transfer (SPLET) were considered. These mechanisms were tested in solvents of different polarity. On the basis of the obtained results it was shown that SET-PT antioxidant mechanism can be the dominant mechanism when Schiff bases react with radical cation, while SPLET and CPET are competitive mechanisms for radical scavenging of hydroxy radical in all solvents under investigation. Examined Schiff bases react with the peroxy radicals via SPLET mechanism in polar and nonpolar solvents. The superoxide radical anion reacts with these Schiff bases very slowly.

Diethanolamine Pd(II) complexes in bioorganic modeling as model systems of metallopeptidases and soybean lipoxygenase inhibitors.

The reaction of PdCl(2) with diethanolammonium chloride (DEAxHCl), in the molar ratio 1:2, affords the [HDEA](2)[PdCl(4)] complex (1). The hydrolytic activity of the novel Pd(II) complex 1 was tested in reaction with N-acetylated L-histidylglycine dipeptide (AcHis-Gly). Complex 1, as well as earlier prepared trans-[PdCl(2)(DEA)(2)] complex (2), and DEA, as their precursor, were tested for their in vitro free radical scavenging activity. UV absorbance-based enzyme assays were done in order to evaluate their inhibitory activity of soybean lipoxygenase (LOX). Also, assays with superoxide anion radical were done. The scavenging activities of the complexes were measured and compared with those of their precursors and caffeic acid. Complex 2 exhibits the highest antioxidant activity and the highest inhibitory effect against the soybean LOX.

Chelate N,O-palladium(II) complexes: synthesis, characterization and biological activity

Four trans chelate N,O-palladium(II) complexes were synthetized starting from salicylaldehyde anil Schiff bases, as ligands. Their structures were elucidated using experimental and theoretical tools. The structures of the theoretically possible cis isomers are examined using the DFT method. The biological activity, in vitro cytotoxic and prooxidative effects against human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231, human colon carcinoma HCT-116, and human fibroblast healthy MRC-5 cell lines of investigated compounds were determined. Schiff bases show a moderate or weak cytotoxic effect. On the other hand, complexes Pd-1 and Pd-6 show a significant cytotoxic effect on all three cell lines, with IC50 values in the range of 0.6 to 17.1 μM on HCT-116 cells, 7.2 to 55.6 μM on MDA-MB-231 cells and 34.5 to 48.1 μM on MRC-5 cells. Also, Pd-1 and Pd-6 induce extreme oxidative stress in the all treated cell lines. At this stage of investigation, Pd-1 and Pd-6 showed no selectivity towards cancer cells, i.e. they were also cytotoxic to MRC-5 cells to a similar extent. Taking into account these facts, it could be further investigated how the most active substances impact on the type of cell death (apoptotic and/or necrotic pathways).

Hydrogen atom transfer versus proton coupled electron transfer mechanism of gallic acid with different peroxy radicals

Reactions of gallic acid (GA) with alkyl peroxy radicals (methylperoxy, ethylperoxy, iso-propylperoxy, and tert-butylperoxy) were simulated using density functional theory. The reaction is taking place in the way that hydrogen of hydroxy group of GA is transferred to the oxygen of each of peroxy radical. A newly formed radical is stabilized with delocalization of spin density over entire molecule, while the harmful peroxy radical is neutralized. These simple reactions can occur by two different, non-exclusive mechanisms: hydrogen atom transfer and proton coupled electron transfer. The competition between these mechanisms depends on both the solvent and the nature the free radicals. The main differences of these mechanisms are described, together with corresponding thermodynamic and kinetic consequences. The potency of this antioxidative action was thermodynamically and kinetically estimated for hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) mechanisms. The first one was estimated by calculating bond dissociation energy (ΔGBDE), while the second one was examined using the activation barriers necessary for this action (transition state theory (TST)), as well as using the zero-curvature tunneling effect (ZCT). Additionally, the analysis of single occupied molecular orbitals (SOMOs) in transition states was used to examine differences between HAT and PCET mechanisms.

Study of the structure, prooxidative, and cytotoxic activity of some chelate copper(II) complexes

The six chelate N,O-copper(II) complexes were synthesised starting from salicylaldehyde anil Schiff bases, as ligands. Their structure is elucidated using experimental and theoretical tools. In vitro biological activities, i.e. cytotoxic and prooxidative effects against human epithelial mammary gland/breast metastatic carcinoma MDA-MB-231, epithelial colorectal carcinoma HCT-116, and foetal lung fibroblast healthy MRC-5 cell lines of investigated compounds are also determined. Complexes Cu-1, Cu-6, and especially Cu-7 showed significant cytotoxic effects, with IC50 values comparable with effects of positive control CisPt. In addition, investigated complexes induced extreme oxidative and nitrosative stress in all treated cell lines. The most prominent effect is observed on HCT-116 cells, and on MRC-5 cells, while MDA-MB-231 cells showed higher resistance to the investigated cell lines, giving us direction towards the substances with more specific selectivity.

Biological Evaluation of Mechlorethamine-Pt(II) Complex, Part II: Antimicrobial Screening and Lox Study of the Complex and its Ligand

The reaction of K(2)PtCl(4) with anticancer-alkylating agent mechlorethamine hydrochloride (CH(3)NH(C(2)H(4)Cl)(2) x HCl = HN2×HCl), in the molar ratio 1 : 2, affords the complex [H2N2](2)[PtCl(4)]. In vitro antimicrobial and lipoxygenase inhibitory activities of the complex and its precursor were evaluated. Antimicrobial activity of the HN2×HCl and [H2N2](2)[PtCl(4)] complex was investigated against 29 species of microorganisms. Testing is performed by microdilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC) have been determined. The difference between antimicrobial activity of precursor and corresponding platinum(II) complex is noticed and the activity of the precursor was higher. Tested compounds demonstrated the high and significant antifungal activity and low to moderate antibacterial activity. It was shown that the gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive than the gram-negative. UV absorbance-based enzyme assays were performed with HN2×HCl and [H2N2](2)[PtCl(4)] complex, in order to evaluate their in vitro inhibitory activity of soybean lipoxygenase (LOX), also. Assay with LOX showed significantly greater inhibitory activity of the complex, than the precursor.

Theoretical analysis of the experimental UV-Vis absorption spectra of some phenolic Schiff bases

ABSTRACT The time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) was applied in conjunction with the natural bond orbital analysis to examine the UV-Vis properties of 10 phenolic Schiff bases. The calculations were performed with different functionals, but main discussion refers to results obtained at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. The approach based on the natural localised molecular orbital clusters indicates similar behaviour for majority of examined compounds. The HOMO (“highest occupied molecular orbital”) cluster is delocalised over the ring which is electron richer, the HOMO-1 cluster is spread over the other ring, whereas the LUMO (“lowest unoccupied molecular orbital”) cluster is situated on the imino group. The two bands at long wavelengths correspond to the HOMO → LUMO and HOMO-1 → LUMO transitions, i.e. from both A and B rings to the imino group. The next band originates from a transition from the imino group to the imino group. The band at the smallest wavelengths originates from a transition from the A ring to the A ring, or from the B ring to the B ring. Our findings are in very good agreement with the existing literature data.