Hydroxido Complexes Research Articles

Hydrogenation Studies of Iridium Pyridine Diimine Complexes with O- and S-Donor Ligands (Hydroxido, Methoxido and Thiolato)

For square-planar late transition metal pyridine, diimine (Rh, Ir) complexes with hydro-xido, methoxido, and thiolato ligands. We could previously establish sizable metal-O- and S π-bonding interactions. Herein, we report the hydrogenation studies of iridium hydroxido and methoxido complexes, which quantitatively lead to the trihydride compound and water/methanol. The iridium trihydride displays a highly fluctional structure with scrambling hydrogen atoms, which can be described as a dihydrogen hydride system based on NMR and DFT investigations. This contrasts the iridium sulfur compounds, which are not reacting with dihydrogen. According to DFT and LNO-CCSD(T) calculations, hydrogenation of the methoxido complex proceeds by a two-step mechanism, i.e., an oxidative addition step of H2 to an Ir(III) dihydride intermediate with consecutive reductive O-H elimination of methanol. Based on PNO-CCSD(T) calculations, the reactivity difference between the O- and S-donors can be traced to the stronger H-O bonds in the water/methanol products compared to the S-H bonds in the sulphur congeners, which serves as a driving force for hydrogenation.

Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of a Mn(III)–hydroxido complex as a biomimetic model for lipoxygenase

Manganese hydroxido (Mn–OH) complexes supported by a tripodal N,N′,N″-[nitrilotris(ethane-2,1-diyl)]tris(P,P-diphenylphosphinic amido) ([poat]3−) ligand have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic techniques including UV–vis and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods were used to confirm the solid-state molecular structures of {Na2[MnIIpoat(OH)]}2 and {Na[MnIIIpoat(OH)]}2 as clusters that are linked by the electrostatic interactions between the sodium counterions and the oxygen atom of the ligated hydroxido unit and the phosphinic (P=O) amide groups of [poat]3−. Both clusters feature two independent monoanionic fragments in which each contains a trigonal bipyramidal Mn center that is comprised of three equatorial deprotonated amide nitrogen atoms, an apical tertiary amine, and an axial hydroxido ligand. XRD analyses of {Na[MnIIIpoat(OH)]}2 also showed an intramolecular hydrogen bonding interaction between the MnIII–OH unit and P=O group of [poat]3−. Crystalline {Na[MnIIIpoat(OH)]}2 remains as clusters with Na+---O interactions in solution and is unreactive toward external substrates. However, conductivity studies indicated that [MnIIIpoat(OH)]− generated in situ is monomeric and reactivity studies found that it is capable of cleaving C-H bonds, illustrating the importance of solution-phase speciation and its direct effect on chemical reactivity.Synopsis: Manganese–hydroxido complexes were synthesized to study the influence of H-bonds in the secondary coordination sphere and their effects on the oxidative cleavage of substrates containing C-H bonds.

Grafted dinuclear zinc complexes for selective recognition of phosphatidylserine: Application to the capture of extracellular membrane microvesicles

Microvesicles (MVs) are key markers in human body fluids that reflect cellular activation related to diseases as thrombosis. These MVs display phosphatidylserine at the outer leaflet of their plasma membrane as specific recognition moieties. The work reported in this manuscript focuses on the development of an original method where MVs are captured by bimetallic zinc complexes. A set of ligands have been synthetized based on a phenol spacer bearing in para position an amine group appended to a short or a longer alkyl chain (for grafting on surface) and bis(dipicolylamine) arms in ortho position (for zinc coordination). The corresponding dibridged zinc phenoxido and hydroxido complexes have been prepared in acetronitrile in presence of triethylamine and characterized by several spectroscopic techniques. The pH-driven interconversion studies for both complexes in H2O:DMSO (70:30) evidence that at physiologic pH the main species are mono-bridged by the phenoxido spacer. An X-Ray structure obtained from complex 2 (based on the ligand with the amine group on the short chain) in aqueous medium confirms the presence of a mono-bridged complex. Then, the complexes have been used for interaction studies with short-chain phospholipids. Both have established the selective recognition of the anionic phosphatidylserine model versus zwitterionic phospholipids (in solution by 31P NMR and after immobilization on solid support by surface plasmon resonance (SPR)). Moreover, both complexes have also demonstrated their ability to capture MVs isolated from human plasma. These complexes are thus promising candidates for MVs probing by a new approach based on coordination chemistry.

Thermodynamic Data for Sn(IV) Dioxides and Hydroxido Complexes: A Critical Review

Thermodynamic Data for Sn(IV) Dioxides and Hydroxido Complexes: A Critical Review

Evaluation for internal consistency in the thermodynamic network involving fluorite, cryolite and villiaumite solubilities and aqueous species at 25°C and 1 bar

AbstractThermodynamic data are constrained by the interrelated thermodynamic equations in addition to the observational measurements and their uncertainties. The consequence is a network of thermodynamic properties that can be evaluated for their internal consistency. In this study, three fluoride minerals that can cause high fluoride concentrations in groundwaters are evaluated for their solubilities and their internal thermodynamic consistency with calorimetric, isopiestic and electrochemical measurements: fluorite, CaF2, cryolite, Na3AlF6, and villiaumite, NaF. This evaluation involves the three solids and 13 aqueous species, the free ions of Ca2+, Na+, Al3+ and F–, and the hydroxido and fluorido complexes of Al3+, and the CaF+ ion pair. For the fluorite–cryolite–villiaumite–aqueous species network, the number of components is minimal, and the solubility studies are mostly of high quality. Re-evaluations of original data using PHREEQC helps to broaden the quantitative evaluation of thermodynamic properties and to resolve apparent discrepancies. A check on this thermodynamic network shows that through a careful appraisal of the literature, a highly consistent set of values can be derived. The resultant infinite-dilution solubility-product constants at 25°C and 1 bar are: for fluorite solubility, logKsp = –10.57 ± 0.08; for cryolite solubility, logKsp = –33.9 ± 0.2; and for villiaumite solubility, logKsp = –0.4981 ± 0.003.

An 8-hydroxyquinoline-proline hybrid with multidrug resistance reversal activity and the solution chemistry of its half-sandwich organometallic Ru and Rh complexes.

Herein the design and synthesis of a new 8-hydroxyquinoline derivative, (S)-5-chloro-7-((proline-1-yl)methyl)8-hydroxyquinoline (HQCl-Pro), with good water solubility and multidrug resistance reversal activity are reported. In this work the proton dissociation processes of HQCl-Pro and its complex formation with [Rh(η5-C5Me5)(H2O)3]2+, [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(H2O)3]2+ and [Ru(η6-toluene)(H2O)3]2+ were investigated by the combined use of pH-potentiometry, UV-visible spectrometry and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Our results revealed the prominent solution stability of the complexes in all cases. The lipophilicity of the complexes increased with the chloride ion concentration, and the complexes showed moderate log D values (-0.8 to +0.4) at pH 7.4 at all tested Cl- concentrations. The formation of mixed hydroxido complexes from the aqua complexes was characterized by relatively high pKa values (8.45-9.62 in chloride-free medium). Complexation processes are much slower with the Ru(η6-arene) triaqua cations than with [Rh(η5-C5Me5)(H2O)3]2+. Both the pKa values and H2O/Cl- exchange constants of the Ru-complexes are lower by 0.5-1.0 orders of magnitude than those of the Rh analogue. Arene loss (p-cymene and toluene) and oxidation were found in the case of Ru-complexes when an excess of HQCl-Pro and aromatic (N,N) bidentate ligands was added. The cytotoxicity and antiproliferative effect of HQCl-Pro and its complexes were assayed in vitro. In contrast to the structurally familiar 8-hydroxyquinoline, HQCl-Pro and its Rh(η5-C5Me5) complex were somewhat more effective against drug resistant Colo 320 adenocarcinoma human cells compared to the drug sensitive Colo 205 cells. The Ru- and Rh-complexes showed a similar metal uptake level after 4 h, while a longer incubation time resulted in higher cellular Rh concentration.

Magnesium(II) d-Gluconate Complexes Relevant to Radioactive Waste Disposals: Metal-Ion-Induced Ligand Deprotonation or Ligand-Promoted Metal-Ion Hydrolysis?

The complexation equilibria between Mg2+ and d-gluconate (Gluc–) ions are of particular importance in modeling the chemical speciation in low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste repositories. NMR measurements and potentiometric titrations conducted at 25 °C and 4 M ionic strength revealed the formation of the MgGluc+, MgGlucOH0, MgGluc(OH)2–, and Mg3Gluc2(OH)40 complexes. The trinuclear species provides indirect evidence for the existence of multinuclear magnesium(II) hydroxido complexes, whose formation was proposed earlier but has not been confirmed yet. Additionally, speciation calculations demonstrated that MgCl2 can markedly decrease the solubility of thorium(IV) at low ligand concentrations. Regarding the structure of MgGluc+, both IR spectra and density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate the monodentate coordination of Gluc–. By the potentiometric data, the acidity of the water molecules is higher in the MgGluc+ and MgGlucOH0 species than in the Mg(H2O)62+ aqua ion. On the basis of DFT calculations, this ligand-promoted hydrolysis is caused by strong hydrogen bonds forming between Gluc– and Mg(H2O)62+. Conversely, metal-ion-induced ligand deprotonation takes place in the case of calcium(II) complexes, giving rise to salient variations on the NMR spectra in a strongly alkaline medium.

Coordination Properties of GdDO3A-Based Model Compounds of Bioresponsive MRI Contrast Agents.

We report a detailed characterization of the thermodynamic stability and dissociation kinetics of Gd3+ complexes with DO3A derivatives containing a (methylethylcarbamoylmethylamino)acetic acid (L1), (methylpropylcarbamoylmethylamino)acetic acid (L2), 2-dimethylamino- N-ethylacetamide (L3), or 2-dimethylamino- N-propylacetamide (L4) group attached to the fourth nitrogen atom of the macrocyclic unit. These ligands are model systems of Ca2+- and Zn2+-responsive contrast agents (CA) for application in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The results of the potentiometric studies ( I = 0.15 M NaCl) provide stability constants with log KGdL values in the range 13.9-14.8. The complex speciation in solution was found to be quite complicated due to the formation of protonated species at low pH, hydroxido complexes at high pH, and stable dinuclear complexes in the case of L1,2. At neutral pH significant fractions of the complexes are protonated at the amine group of the amide side chain (log KGdL×H = 7.2-8.1). These ligands form rather weak complexes with Mg2+ and Ca2+ but very stable complexes with Cu2+ (log KCuL = 20.4-22.3) and Zn2+ (log KZnL = 15.5-17.6). Structural studies using a combination of 1H NMR and luminescence spectroscopy show that the amide group of the ligand is coordinated to the metal ion at pH ∼8.5, while protonation of the amine group provokes the decoordination of the amide O atom and a concomitant increase in the hydration number and proton relaxivity. The dissociation of the complexes occurs mainly through a rather efficient proton-assisted pathway, which results in kinetic inertness comparable to that of nonmacrocyclic ligands such as DTPA rather than DOTA-like complexes.

In-Cell Activation of Organo-Osmium(II) Anticancer Complexes.

The family of iodido OsII arene phenylazopyridine complexes [Os(η6‐p‐cym)(5‐R1‐pyridylazo‐4‐R2‐phenyl))I]+ (where p‐cym=para‐cymene) exhibit potent sub‐micromolar antiproliferative activity towards human cancer cells and are active in vivo. Their chemical behavior is distinct from that of cisplatin: they do not readily hydrolyze, nor bind to DNA bases. We report here a mechanism by which they are activated in cancer cells, involving release of the I− ligand in the presence of glutathione (GSH). The X‐ray crystal structures of two active complexes are reported, 1‐I (R1=OEt, R2=H) and 2‐I (R1=H, R2=NMe2). They were labelled with the radionuclide 131I (β−/γ emitter, t1/2 8.02 d), and their activity in MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells was studied. 1‐[131I] and 2‐[131I] exhibit good stability in both phosphate‐buffered saline and blood serum. In contrast, once taken up by MCF‐7 cells, the iodide ligand is rapidly pumped out. Intriguingly, GSH catalyzes their hydrolysis. The resulting hydroxido complexes can form thiolato and sulfenato adducts with GSH, and react with H2O2 generating hydroxyl radicals. These findings shed new light on the mechanism of action of these organo‐osmium complexes.

Comparative solution equilibrium studies on pentamethylcyclopentadienyl rhodium complexes of 2,2ʹ-bipyridine and ethylenediamine and their interaction with human serum albumin

Complex formation equilibrium processes of the (N,N) donor containing 2,2ʹ-bipyridine (bpy) and ethylenediamine (en) with (η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)rhodium(III) were investigated in aqueous solution via pH-potentiometry, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and UV–vis spectrophotometry in the absence and presence of chloride ions. The structure of [RhCp*(en)Cl]ClO4 (Cp*, pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) was also studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. pKa values of 8.56 and 9.58 were determined for [RhCp*(bpy)(H2O)]2+ and [RhCp*(en)(H2O)]2+, respectively resulting in the formation of negligible amount of mixed hydroxido complexes at pH 7.4. Stability and the H2O/Cl− co-ligand exchange constants of bpy and en complexes considerably exceed those of the bidentate O-donor deferiprone. The strong affinity of the bpy and en complexes to chloride ions most probably contributes to their low antiproliferative effect. Interactions between human serum albumin (HSA) and [RhCp*(H2O)3]2+, its complexes formed with deferiprone, bpy and en were also monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy, ultrafiltration/UV–vis and spectrofluorometry. Numerous binding sites (≥8) are available for [RhCp*(H2O)3]2+; and the interaction takes place most probably via covalent bonds through the imidazole nitrogen of His. According to the various fluorescence studies [RhCp*(H2O)3]2+ binds on sites I and II, and coordination of surface side chain donor atoms of the protein is also feasible. The binding of the bpy and en complex is weaker and slower compared to that of [RhCp*(H2O)3]2+, and formation of ternary HSA-RhCp*-ligand adducts was proved. In the case of the deferiprone complex, the RhCp* fragment is cleaved off when HSA is loaded with low equivalents of the compound.

Hydroxyl Radical Control through Hydrogen Bonding: Photolysis of Platinum(IV)hydroxido Complexes with Intramolecular H-Bonding

By introducing hydrogen-bonding groups into the coordination sphere of Pt(IV) hydroxido complexes photogenerated hydroxyl radicals are tethered and directed to abstract a hydrogen atom from the ethyl group of a triethylphosphine ligand, even at 25 °C, to yield phosphaplatinacycle complexes.

(η6-p-cym)Ru(H2O)3]2+ binding capability of N-methylimidazole to model the interaction between the metal ion and surface histidine residues of peptides

In order to model the biotransformation reactions of half-sandwich type platinum metal complexes with potential antiproliferative activity in the serum the interaction between [(η6-p-cym)Ru(H2O)3]2+ and N-methylimidazole was studied in aqueous 0.20 M KNO3 or KCl medium with the combined use of pH-potentiometric, NMR, UV–Vis and ESI-TOF-MS techniques. The results indicate that up to three ligands can coordinate to the metal ion in rather slow processes resulting in mononuclear species. In the absence of chloride ions various mixed hydroxido complexes are also identified under basic conditions. Chloride was found to take the free coordination site(s) of the metal ion in the 1:1 and 1:2 species and to hinder effectively the hydrolytic processes. Stability constants of the species are reported. The results indicate that even this monodentate model ligand, N-methylimidazole, forms stable complexes with the metal ion under physiologically relevant conditions at 1:3 metal to ligand ratio and prevents it from complete hydrolysis at pH = 7.4.

Synthesis, characterization and application of nickel(II) complexes modified with N,N′,N″-pincer ligands

Different N,N″-substituted pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamides 1a–d have been synthesized and treated with nickel(II) trifluoromethanesulfonate in the presence of an excess of tetraethylammonium hydroxide to form after double-deprotonation the nickel hydroxido complexes 4a–c. These square planar complexes have been characterized by various techniques, which indicate a tridentate N,N′,N″-coordination mode of the ligands. The other coordination site on the nickel center is occupied by a hydroxido ligand. The reactivity of the complexes was studied in dehalogenation reactions and allows access to square planar nickel chlorido complexes 5a–c. Moreover, by NMR studies it was found that nickel hydroxido complexes as well as chlorido complexes can be converted with diphenylsilane or lithium borohydride to nickel hydrido complexes, which can be seen as a possible catalytic intermediate in reduction chemistry. Based on that, the potential of complexes 4 and 5 were evaluated in the hydrosilylation of ketones to produce alcohols after work-up.

Redox Properties of Iron Complexes with Pentadentate Bispidine Ligands

The solution coordination chemistry of iron complexes with the pentadentate bispidine ligands L1, L2, and L3 (dimethyl 9-oxo-2,4-di(pyridin-2-yl)-3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-1,5-dicarboxylate derivatives) was examined. While in acetonitrile, (L1,2)FeII/III species have a preference for Cl– as co-ligand. The corresponding aqua and hydroxido complexes also prevail in the presence of Cl– in aqueous solution. The observed FeII/III potentials in water (cyclic voltammetry) and potentials of (L1–3)FeIV=O (buffered and unbuffered aqueous solutions) are strikingly similar, i.e. the latter are assigned to (L1–3)FeII/III potentials, and published potentials of FeIV=O complexes with other ligands with uncharged amine-pyridine donors, obtained by cyclic voltammetry, have to be considered with caution.

Lanthanide Complexes Formed with the Tri‐ and Tetraacetate Derivatives of Bis(aminomethyl)phosphinic Acid: Equilibrium, Kinetic and NMR Spectroscopic Studies

AbstractThe lanthanide(III) complexes formed with the tri‐ and tetraacetate derivatives of bis(aminomethyl)phosphinic acid, L1 and L2, respectively, have been studied by pH potentiometry, spectrophotometry and 1H and 17O NMR spectroscopy. L1 forms [Ln(L1)]–, [Ln(L1)2]4–, protonated [Ln(HL1)] and Ln(H2L1)]+, and [Ln(L1)(OH)]2– hydroxido complexes. Heptadentate L2 forms [Ln(L2)]2– and protonated [Ln(HL2)]– and [Ln(H2L2)] complexes in solution and it shows a strong propensity to form [Ln2(L2)]+ dinuclear complexes, which has not been observed previously. The stability constants (log KLnL) of the complexes increase in the order [Ln(L1)]– < [Ln(L2)]2– following the order of increasing number of acetate pendants attached to the bis(aminomethyl)phosphinic acid (BAP) backbone. Within the LnIII series, the log KLnL values increase from La3+ to Gd3+ and remain practically constant for the heavier lanthanides. Despite the lower basicity, the ligands that contain a phosphinate group generally form similar (L1) or more stable (L2) Ln3+ complexes than the structurally similar N‐benzylethylenediamine‐N,N′,N′‐triacetic acid (L3) and propylenediamine‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetraacetic acid (L4), respectively. This indicates that the hard phosphinate group may be coordinated to the Ln3+ ions in the complexes, whereas the larger negative charge of the BAP derivatives may also have an extra stabilizing effect. The kinetic inertness of [Ln(L1)] and [Ln(L2)] is lower than that of similar [Ln(EDTA)]– (EDTA = ethylenediamine‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetraacetic acid), but the rate constants that characterize the dissociation of [Ln(L2)]2– are at least two orders of magnitude lower than those obtained for [Ln(L4)]–. Variable‐temperature 17O transverse and longitudinal relaxation rates and NMR spectroscopic chemical shifts have been measured to assess the water exchange and rotational dynamics of [Gd(L2)]. The chemical shifts evidenced monohydration of the complex. The water exchange rate, kex298 = (2.7 ± 0.4) × 107 s–1 is about ten times higher than that of [Ln(DTPA)]2– (DTPA = diethylenetriamine‐N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentaacetic acid). The rotational correlation time, τRO298 = 270 ± 30 ps, is long considering the small size of the chelate, which points to aggregation in aqueous solution, in accordance with the high value of the proton relaxivity measured.

Hydrolytic behaviour and chloride ion binding capability of [Ru(η6-p-cym)(H2O)3]2+: a solution equilibrium study

Hydrolysis of an organometallic cation, [Ru(η(6)-p-cym)(H(2)O)(3)](2+) (p-cym = 1-isopropyl-4-methylbenzene), in the presence of 0.20 M KNO(3) or KCl as supporting electrolyte was studied in detail with the combined use of pH-potentiometry, (1)H-NMR, UV-VIS and ESI-TOF-MS. Stoichiometry and stability constants of chlorido, hydroxido and mixed chlorido-hydroxido complexes formed in aqueous solution have been determined. At pH < 4.0 where hydrolysis of [Ru(η(6)-p-cym)(H(2)O)(3)](2+) is negligible with increasing chloride ion concentration two chlorido complexes, [Ru(η(6)-p-cym)(H(2)O)(2)Cl](+) and [{Ru(η(6)-p-cym)}(2)(μ(2)-Cl)(3)](+), are detectable. At pH > 5.0, in chloride ion free samples the exclusive formation of [{Ru(η(6)-p-cym)}(2)(μ(2)-OH)(3)](+) is found. However, if chloride ion is present (in the range 0-3.50 M) novel mixed chlorido-hydroxido species, [{Ru(η(6)-p-cym)}(2)(μ(2)-OH)(2)(μ(2)-Cl)](+) and [{Ru(η(6)-p-cym)}(2)(μ(2)-OH)(μ(2)-Cl)(2)](+) can also be identified at pH > 4.0. The results obtained in this study may help in rationalizing the solution behaviour of half-sandwich [Ru(η(6)-p-cym)(XY)Z] type complexes which, after dissociation of both the monodentate Z and the chelating XY, are capable of yielding the free aqua species [Ru(η(6)-p-cym)(H(2)O)(3)](2+). Our results demonstrate that different chloride ion concentrations can influence the speciation in the acidic pH range but at biologically relevant conditions (pH = 7.4, c(Cl(-)) = 0.16 M) and at c(M) = 1 μM [{Ru(η(6)-p-cym)}(2)(μ(2)-OH)(3)](+) is predominant in the absence of any coordinating ligands.

Preparation of Thiocarboxylate, Thiocarbamate and Xanthate Complexes of Pentacoordinate Nickel(II): Insertion of Heterocumulenes Into Nickel(II) Hydroxido Complexes

AbstractThe hydroxido complexes [Ni(N3‐mc)(μ‐OH)]2[PF6]2 [N3‐mc = 2,4,4‐trimethyl‐1,5,9‐triazacyclododec‐1‐ene (N3‐mc1) or 2,4,4,9‐tetramethyl‐1,5,9‐triazacyclododec‐1‐ene (N3‐mc2)] react in the presence of alcohols with CS2 or PhNCS to yield xanthate [(N3‐mc)Ni{S2C(OR′)}][PF6] or O‐alkyl N‐phenylthiocarbamate [(N3‐mc)Ni{PhNC(OR′)S}][PF6] complexes; these compounds represent the first examples of N,S‐chelating thiocarbamates bound to nickel(II). The reactions of [Ni(N3‐mc)(μ‐OH)]2[PF6]2 with thiocarboxylic acids yield the corresponding thiocarboxylate derivatives [(N3‐mc)Ni{SC(O)R′}][PF6]. These paramagnetic nickel(II) complexes were characterized by both one‐ and two‐dimensional (COSY) 1H NMR spectroscopic techniques. The crystal structures of [(N3‐mc2)Ni(S2COCH3)][PF6] (2), [(N3mc2)Ni{PhNC(OCH2CH3)S}][PF6] (8), [(N3‐mc2)Ni{SC(O)CH3}][PF6] (10) and [(N3‐mc1)Ni{SC(O)Ph}][PF6] (11) were determined. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)

Tagging (Arene)ruthenium(II) Anticancer Complexes with Fluorescent Labels

AbstractFluorescent (arene)ruthenium(II) complexes have been prepared by tagging a small fluorogenic reporter onto the chelating ligand of complexes of the type [(η6‐arene)RuCl(Z)]+ (Z = chelating ligand). Complexes [(η6‐p‐cym)RuCl(NNO)](Cl) (2), [(η6‐p‐cym)RuCl(L3)](Cl) (3) and [(η6‐p‐cym)RuCl(L4)](Cl) (4) {p‐cym = p‐cymene, NNO = 2‐[(2‐aminoethyl)amino]ethanol, L3 = 2‐[(2‐aminoethyl)amino]ethyl‐2‐(methylamino)benzoate and L4 = N‐{2‐[(2‐aminoethyl)amino]ethyl}‐2‐(methylamino)benzamide} were obtained in good yield from the reaction of the Ru dimer [(η6‐p‐cym)RuCl2]2 (1) and the corresponding ligand. The compounds have been fully characterized and their X‐ray crystal structures are reported. Compounds 3 and 4 show a photoluminescence response centered at 435 nm with partial fluorescence quenching of the fluorogenic reporters L3 and L4 upon coordination to the metal center. Species 2–4 show good solubility both in water and organic solvents. In water, 2–4 readily hydrolyze to form the aqua complexes. These are stable at acidic pH forming 10–15 % of the corresponding hydroxido complexes in buffered solution (25 mM HEPES) as the pH is raised to a physiological value (pH = 7.44). Under these conditions, 4 (but not 2 or 3) undergoes a fast pH‐dependent reversible intramolecular rearrangement. Experimental data and semiempirical calculations indicate that the major species arising from this transformation is a complex with a tridentate chelating ligand following deprotonation at the nitrogen atom of the amide group. Esterase‐catalyzed hydrolysis of 3 liberates isatoic acid (MIAH) and generates 2 indicating that the complex is a substrate for the enzyme. Complexes similar to 3 may have potential for esterase‐activated Ru‐based prodrug delivery systems.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)

Reactivity of a Parent Amidoruthenium Complex: A Transition Metal Amide of Exceptionally High Basicity

Reactivity of a Parent Amidoruthenium Complex: A Transition Metal Amide of Exceptionally High Basicity