Cyclometalated Palladium Complexes Research Articles

Modulating the aggregation of human prion protein PrP106-126 by an indole-based cyclometallated palladium complex.

The spontaneous aggregation of infectious or misfolded forms of prion protein is known to be responsible for neurotoxicity in brain cells, which ultimately leads to the progression of prion disorders. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in animals and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans are glaring examples in this regard. Square-planar complexes with labile ligands and indole-based compounds are found to be efficiently inhibitory against protein aggregation. Herein, we report the synthesis of an indole-based cyclometallated palladium complex. The ligand and complex were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques such as UV-visible, NMR, IR, and HRMS. The molecular structure of the complex was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The interaction of the complex with PrP106-126 was studied using UV-visible spectroscopy, CD spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF MS, and molecular docking. The inhibition effects of the complex on the PrP106-126 aggregation, fibrillization and amyloid formation phenomena were analysed through the ThT assay, CD, TEM and AFM. The effect of the complex on the aggregation process of PrP106-126 was determined kinetically through the ThT assay. The complex presented high binding affinity with the peptide and influenced the peptide's conformation and aggregation in different modes of binding. Furthermore, the MTT assay on neuronal HT-22 cells showed considerable protective properties of the complex against PrP106-126-mediated cytotoxicity. These findings suggest that the compound influences peptide aggregation in different ways, and the anti-aggregation action is primarily associated with the metal's physicochemical properties and the reactivity rather than the ligand. As a result, we propose that this compound be investigated as a potential therapeutic molecule in metallopharmaceutical research to treat prion disease (PD).

Synthesis of bimetallic palladacycles via C[sbnd]H bond activation: Crystal structure, DNA binding and in vitro cytotoxicity study

Herein, we report the synthesis, characterization and in vitro anticancer activity of two μ-Cl and μ-O bridged dimeric cyclometalated palladium(II) complexes having general formula [Pd2(L1)Cl2] (1) and [Pd2(L2)Cl2] (2). The complexes are synthesized via palladium assisted aromatic CH bond activation of coordinating ligands (HL1/HL2) and thoroughly characterized by spectroscopic techniques. X-ray crystal structure analysis has confirmed the square planar geometry of the complexes. DFT and TDDFT results have interpreted the electronic structure and solution spectra of the complexes. Cytotoxicity of the complexes was studied by in vitro model with human gastric cancer cell lines (AGS). Cytotoxicity investigation reveals that the complexes have promising anti-cancer activity, with IC50 values of 13.03 µM and 17.86 µM for 1 and 2, respectively. UV–vis and fluorescence techniques are used to examine how the complexes interact with CT DNA. Fluorescence-based competitive binding analysis with ethidium bromide (EB) indicates that the complexes effectively displace EB from the EB-DNA complex.

Liquid Crystalline and Gel Properties of Luminescent Cyclometalated Palladium Complexes with Benzoylthiourea Ligands.

The design and development of new luminescent metallogels formed by cyclometalated palladium(II) complexes in protic solvents were investigated by a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and rheology. Cyclometalated palladium(II) complexes based on imine ligand and ancillary benzoylthiourea (BTU) ligand showed red emission in solid and gel states. The formation of a lyotropic liquid crystal phase was observed for the complex bearing shorter alkyl groups on the BTU ligand. This complex also behaved as a thermotropic liquid crystal that displays a monotropic smectic A phase (SmA). Dynamic rheology measurements (frequency sweep in the 5-90 °C range) of the 1-decanol solution of palladium(II) complexes highlighted their supramolecular self-association ability to generate 3D networks and form gels as a final result.

Inhibition of amyloid β1–42 peptide aggregation by newly designed cyclometallated palladium complexes

Uncontrolled amyloid aggregation is a frequent cause of neurodegenerative disorders such as prions and Alzheimer's disease (AD). As a result, many drug development approaches focus on evaluating novel molecules that can alter self-recognition pathways. Herein, we designed and synthesized the cyclometallated pyrene (Pd-1 and Pd-3) and anthracene (Pd-2) based palladium complexes ([Pd((L1)Cl] Pd-1, [Pd(L2)Cl](Pd-2), and [Pd(L3)Cl] (Pd-3)). This study explores the effect of these complexes on the aggregation, fibrillation, and amyloid formation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and Aβ1–42 peptide. Several spectroscopic methods were used to characterize all the Pd-complexes, and the molecular structure of Pd-3 was determined by X-ray crystallography. The secondary structures were studied using circular dichroism (CD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), while amyloid aggregation and inhibitory activities were investigated using the Thioflavin-T (ThT) fluorescence assay. Molecular docking of the Pd-complex (Pd-3) was done using fibril (PDB: 2BEG) and monomeric (PDB: 1IYT) peptides using Auto-dock Vina. As a result, the hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction between the aromatic rings of the Pd-complexes and the amino acids of amyloid-β peptides significantly reduced the production of ordered β-sheets of amyloid fibrils and protein aggregation in the presence of Pd-2 and Pd-3 complexes.

In vivo metallophilic self-assembly of a light-activated anticancer drug

Self-assembling molecular drugs combine the easy preparation typical of small-molecule chemotherapy and the tumour-targeting properties of drug–nanoparticle conjugates. However, they require a supramolecular interaction that survives the complex environment of a living animal. Here we report that the metallophilic interaction between cyclometalated palladium complexes generates supramolecular nanostructures in living mice that have a long circulation time (over 12 h) and efficient tumour accumulation rate (up to 10.2% of the injected dose per gram) in a skin melanoma tumour model. Green light activation leads to efficient tumour destruction due to the type I photodynamic effect generated by the self-assembled palladium complexes, as demonstrated in vitro by an up to 96-fold cytotoxicity increase upon irradiation. This work demonstrates that metallophilic interactions are well suited to generating stable supramolecular nanotherapeutics in vivo with exceptional tumour-targeting properties.

Anion-selective “Turn-on” two color phosphorescent probes based on “Pd-Pd” interaction of a series of cyclometallated Palladium (II) complexes induced by a self-assembly in aqueous solution

Herein, three pairs of cationic cyclometallated palladium (II) complexes with different types of C^N ligands, which is non-phosphorescent in aqueous solution, interestingly, they can be utilized as turn-on blue phosphorescent probes selectively for ClO−, HSO3− and CO32−, and turn-on green phosphorescent probe for HSO3− in aqueous solution. These different phosphorescent turn-on responses of Pd(II) complexes could be attributed to the degree of coordination and electrostatic interaction between them with specific anion. It suggests that the selectivity towards specific anion of these cyclometallated Pd(II) complexes can be further improved by rationally tuning the structure and enhancing aromaticity of C^N ligand. Our study reveals that these specific species of anions can effectively induce self-assembly of Pd(II) compounds with different C^N ligand based on PdPd interaction, the aggregation and morphology of palladium complex with anion in aqueous media was also investigated by various means of 1H NMR, UV/Vis, fluorescence spectra, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals that nanowires with increased length of diameters of Pd complexes can form in aqueous solution in presence of anions with different high concentration. Furthermore, the cellular uptake and location of Pd2a was also investigated by confocal imaging for the first time. DFT calculation of monomer and dimer of Pd2a was also performed, which is helpful to explain the turn on phosphorescent effect during self-assembly process.

Red and near-infrared emissive palladium(II) complexes with tetradentate coordination framework and their application in OLEDs

Palladium(II) complexes based organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have made great progress in emission regions from blue to yellow. However, the red emission OLEDs based on palladium(II) complexes have not been reported, and the related near-infrared (NIR) emission OLEDs are extremely rare. Herein, two novel tetradentate cyclometalated palladium(II) complexes of DPA-Cz-bpy-Pd (Pd-1) and 2Cz-bpy-Pd (Pd-2) were designed and synthesized as emissive dopants for red and NIR phosphorescent OLEDs. These complexes exhibited a short-lived (0.5–1 μs) metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited state in neat and doped films. NIR photoluminescence peaks at 700 nm and 722 nm were observed in their dichloromethane solution for Pd-1 and Pd-2, respectively. Optimized OLED devices using Pd-1 exhibited peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 2.6% with emission peak at 643 nm. This work presents the first example of palladium(II) complexes as red electroluminescent emitters, and sheds light on the potential of palladium(II) complexes for long-wavelength molecular emitters and electroluminescence.

Synthesis and Catalysis of NHC Coordinated Cyclometalated Palladium(II) Complexes with Bridging Hydroxide Ligands

Abstract1,2‐Addition reactions using organoboron compounds are one of the useful syntheses of various functionalized alcohols, but they generally require a large quantity of bases. In this study, we attempted to solve this problem by synthesizing unsymmetrical 1,3‐diarylimidazoline‐type N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐coordinated C^C* cyclometalated palladium(II) complexes with bridging hydroxide ligands (CYPOHs) in two steps and one pot from the corresponding Cl bridged dimer and using them as catalysts. 2,6‐di(pentan‐3‐yl)aniline (IPent)‐based NHC coordinated PhS‐IPent‐CYPOH acted as a highly efficient catalyst for the 1,2‐addition of (hetero)arylboronates to a large number of aldehydes and ketones, including unactivated ketones, under base‐free conditions.magnified image

Pd-catalyzed synthesis of 1-(hetero)aryl-2,2,2-trichloroethanols using chloral hydrate and (hetero)arylboroxines.

1-(Hetero)aryl-2,2,2-trichloroethanols are useful key intermediates for the synthesis of various bioactive compounds. Herein, we describe N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-coordinated cyclometallated palladium complex (CYP)-catalyzed (hetero)aryl addition of chloral hydrate using (hetero)arylboroxines, providing a new approach to 1-(hetero)aryl-2,2,2-trichloroethanols. Notably, PhS-IPent-CYP which coordinated the bulky yet flexible 2,6-di(pentan-3-yl)aniline (IPent)-based NHC showed good catalytic activities and promoted the transformation in 24–97% yields.

The Self-Assembly of a Cyclometalated Palladium Photosensitizer into Protein-Stabilized Nanorods Triggers Drug Uptake In Vitro and In Vivo.

Enhanced passive diffusion is usually considered to be the primary cause of the enhanced cellular uptake of cyclometalated drugs because cyclometalation lowers the charge of a metal complex and increases its lipophilicity. However, in this work, monocationic cyclometalated palladium complexes [1]OAc (N^N^C^N) and [2]OAc (N^N^N^C) were found to self-assemble, in aqueous solutions, into soluble supramolecular nanorods, while their tetrapyridyl bicationic analogue [3](OAc)2 (N^N^N^N) dissolved as isolated molecules. These nanorods formed via metallophilic Pd···Pd interaction and π–π stacking and were stabilized in the cell medium by serum proteins, in the absence of which the nanorods precipitated. In cell cultures, these protein-stabilized self-assembled nanorods were responsible for the improved cellular uptake of the cyclometalated compounds, which took place via endocytosis (i.e., an active uptake pathway). In addition to triggering self-assembly, cyclometalation in [1]OAc also led to dramatically enhanced photodynamic properties under blue light irradiation. These combined penetration and photodynamic properties were observed in multicellular tumor spheroids and in a mice tumor xenograft, demonstrating that protein-stabilized nanoaggregation of cyclometalated drugs such as [1]OAc also allows efficient cellular uptake in 3D tumor models. Overall, serum proteins appear to be a major element in drug design because they strongly influence the size and bioavailability of supramolecular drug aggregates and hence their efficacy in vitro and in vivo.

Photooxidation Reactions of Cyclometalated Palladium(II) and Platinum(II) Complexes.

New C,N,S-cyclometalated palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes have been synthesized and their structural, electrochemical, and photochemical properties examined. The blue color of these complexes in solution changed to yellow under visible-light irradiation. By measurement of the absorption spectra for quantifying changes in color, isosbestic points for each complex clearly indicated the presence of only two species responsible for the change of color. X-ray analysis revealed that the visible-light-induced yellow species were S-oxygenated sulfinato complexes. Photosensitized generation of singlet oxygen (1O2) was confirmed by the direct detection of singlet oxygen luminescence at 1275 nm. The present cyclometalated palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes are efficient photosensitizers of singlet oxygen, which rapidly reacts with coordinating sulfur atoms.

Synthesis and characterization of a cyclometallated palladium(II) complex with (2-diphenylphosphino)ethylamine

Reaction of commercially available Ph2PCH2CH2NH2 with {PdCl(C9H12N)}2 (2:1) in CH2Cl2 afforded, instead of Pd(Cl)(P-Ph2PCH2CH2NH2)(C9H12N) 1, the cationic complex [Pd(P,N-Ph2PCH2CH2NH2)(C9H12N)]Cl 2 which was characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The lack of reactivity of 2 towards Rhodamine 6G can therefore be rationalized.

Hemilabile bonding of 1-oxa-4,7-dithiacyclononane in cyclometallated palladium(ii) complexes.

The synthesis and characterization of a series of cyclometallated complexes of Pd(ii) incorporating the mixed donor ligand 1-oxa-4,7-dithiacyclononane ([9]aneS2O) are presented in this study. Complexes of the form [Pd(C^N)([9]aneS2O)](PF6) (C^N = 2-phenylpyridine (ppy) 1b, 4-(2-pyridyl)benzaldehyde (ppyCHO) 2b, 7,8-benzoquinoline (bzq) 3b, 2-benzothienylpyridine (btp) 4b, 2-phenylbenzothiazole (pbt) 5b), were obtained in high-yield from a simple two-step synthetic scheme. All of these complexes were fully characterized by NMR, ESI-MS, IR, combustion analyses, and most (1b, 2b, 4b, 5b) by X-ray crystallography. Solution 1H and 13C NMR studies of [Pd(C^N)([9]aneS2O)](PF6) complexes demonstrate complicated [9]aneS2O behavior at room temperature. Variable temperature NMR reveals dynamic bonding of the [9]aneS2O ligand consistent with the presence of both endodentate and exodentate bonding modes. This is in stark contrast to the related [9]aneS3 (1,4,7-trithiacyclononane) cogeners that demonstrate fluxional endodentate bonding only in solution. X-ray structures reveal only exodenate [9]aneS2O bonding in this series, unlike the related [9]aneS3 complexes that show endodenate bonding with an axial PdS interaction. DFT calculations performed on endo and exo [9]aneS2O bonding forms of 4b, as well as a transition state calculation for interconversion, suggest reasonable access to both bonding forms based on the energy barrier. Natural bond order calculations provide further evidence for a weak axial PdO interaction in the endo form of 4b.

Phenylacetylene polymerisation mediated by cationic cyclometallated palladium(ii) complexes bearing benzylidene 2,6-diisopropylphenylamine and its derivatives as ligands.

A series of novel cationic palladacycle complexes bearing benzylidene-2,6-diisopropylphenylamine derivatives as ligands and with the general formula [Pd(MeCN)(L)(R-C6H3)CH[double bond, length as m-dash]N{2,6-iPr2-C6H3}][B(3,5-(CF3)2-C6H3)] (R = H, Cl, Br, F, OMe and L = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA), tricyclohexylphosphine (PCy3) and triphenylphosphine (PPh3)) were prepared and characterized by a range of analytical techniques. These cationic palladacycle complexes were found to be active precatalysts for the polymerisation of phenylacetylene. The meta-substituent on the cyclometallated ring was found to have a marked effect on the catalyst performance in that complexes, which contained electron-withdrawing substituents, were found to be the most active in the polymerisation process. Furthermore, increasing the steric bulk of the phosphine ligand led to the production of higher molecular weight polyphenylacetylenes (PPA). Polymerisation reactions performed at 25 °C gave a mixture of both cis-transoidal and trans-cisoidal PPA while trans-cisoidal PPA was selectively produced at elevated temperatures (60 °C). Preliminary mechanistic studies demonstrated that polymerisation proceeds via dissociation of the C,N-chelating ligand, and involves the formation of an iminium cationic fragment.

Redox-Induced Aromatic C–H Bond Functionalization in Metal Complex Catalysis from the Electrochemical Point of View

This review generalizes and specifies the oxidizing ability of a number of oxidants used in palladium (Pd)-catalyzed aromatic C–H functionalizations. The redox potentials have been analyzed as the measure of oxidant strength and applied to the reasoning of the efficiency of known reactions where catalytic cycles include cyclometalated palladium complexes (and other organopalladium key intermediates).

Tuning the liquid crystalline properties of palladium(II) metallomesogens: A study of rod-like to disc-like transition in cyclopalladated complexes with N-benzoyl thiourea derivatives

A new family of cyclometalated palladium(II) complexes with the non-symmetric dimeric liquid crystal Schiff base α-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)-ω-(4-n-decyloxyanilinebenzylidene-4′-oxy) hexane and alkoxysubstituted N-benzoyl thiourea (BTU) derivatives as auxiliary ligands was designed and prepared with the aim to study the influence of increasing the number of aliphatic chains on the molecular organization in the liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystalline behavior of these palladium(II) complexes was investigated by a combination of polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder X-ray diffraction. A transition from the lamellar (complex 3a with two aliphatic chains on BTU ligand) to columnar organization (complexes 3b and 3c having three and four chains on BTU ligand, respectively) was evidenced for these palladium(II) complexes, which was correlated with the increase of the number of terminal chains at molecular periphery.

Azobenzene Pd(II) complexes with N^N- and N^O-type ligands

Methods of synthesis of cyclometalated azobenzene palladium(II) complexes of [Pd(N^N)Azb]ClO4 and [Pd(N^O)Azb]ClO4 types (where Azb– is the deprotonated form of azobenzene; N^N is 2NH3, ethylenediamine, or 2,2′-bipyridine; and (N^O)– is the deprotonated form of amino acid (glycine, α-alanine, β-alanine, tyrosine, or tryptophan)) are developed. The electronic absorption and the electrochemical properties of these complexes are studied.

Luminescent palladium(II) metallomesogens based on cyclometalated Schiff bases and N-benzoyl thiourea derivatives as co-ligands

Luminescent cyclometalated palladium(II) complexes based on Schiff bases and N-benzoylthiourea (BTU) ligands with different numbers of alkoxy groups at their periphery were designed and prepared. The BTU ligands coordinate through the O and S atoms in a deprotonated bidentate fashion as confirmed by IR and NMR spectroscopy data. Additionally, giving the asymmetrical structure of BTU ligands, the 1H-NMR showed the presence of only one of the two possible isomers. The liquid crystalline behavior of these palladium(II) complexes was investigated by a combination of polarized optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) while their thermal stability was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mesomorphic behavior of palladium(II) complexes depends on the number and chain length of alkoxy groups grafted on BTU derivatives (monotropic smectic A and C phases). The palladium(II) complexes are thermally stable on a broad temperature range up to about 220 °C. Interestingly, when the number of alkoxy groups on the BTU ancillary ligands was increased, the corresponding palladium(II) complexes lost their mesogenicity and only melting to the isotropic state was observed. The solid-state emission spectra of palladium(II) complexes show two maxima around 580 and 650 nm, respectively, with a shoulder around 710 nm when the samples are irradiated in the 330–380 nm range.

Azobenzene palladium(II) complexes with β-diketones

A procedure has been developed for the synthesis of cyclometalated azobenzene palladium(II) complexes [Pd(O^O)Azb], where Azb– is deprotonated azobenzene and (O^O)– is deprotonated β-diketone (acetylacetone, thenoyltrifluoroacetone, benzoylacetone, or dibenzoylmethane). Electronic absorption spectra and electrochemical behavior of the synthesized complexes have been studied. It has been found that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the complexes is contributed most by the π* orbital of azobenzene, and the highest occupied molecular orbital, by the palladium d orbital.

Cyclometalated palladium(II) metallomesogens with Schiff bases and N-benzoyl thiourea derivatives as co-ligands

Two series of cyclometalated palladium(II) complexes based on Schiff bases and N-benzoylthiourea (BTU) ligands having four alkoxy groups at their periphery, with different number of carbon atoms, have been designed and prepared. The liquid crystalline behavior of these palladium(II) complexes was investigated by a combination of polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder X-ray diffraction while their thermal stability was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The palladium(II) complexes are thermally stable on a broad temperature range up to 230°C showing, depending on the alkoxy chain length, either monotropic or, for longest alkyl chain, enantiotropic smectic A and C phases. The luminescent properties of palladium(II) complexes were reported. These complexes show a yellow-orange solid-state emission at room temperature with two emission maxima at λmax around 580 and 650nm, respectively, with a shoulder around 710nm, when the samples are irradiated in the 330–380nm range.