Isonitrile Complexes Research Articles

Preparation and Evaluation of a Novel 99mTc-Labeled Niraparib Isonitrile Complex as a Potential PARP-1 Imaging Agent.

Poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) plays an important role in the DNA repair process and has become an attractive target for cancer therapy in recent years. Given that niraparib has good clinical efficacy as a PARP inhibitor, this study aimed to develop radiolabeled niraparib derivatives for tumor imaging to detect PARP expression and improve the accuracy of stratified patient therapy. The niraparib isonitrile derivative (CNPN) was designed, synthesized, and radiolabeled to obtain the [99mTc]Tc-CNPN complex with high radiochemical purity (>95%). It was lipophilic and stable in vitro. In HeLa cell experiments, the uptake of [99mTc]Tc-CNPN was effectively inhibited by the ligand CNPN, indicating the binding affinity for PARP. According to the biodistribution studies of HeLa tumor-bearing mice, [99mTc]Tc-CNPN has moderate tumor uptake and can be effectively inhibited, demonstrating its specificity for targeting PARP. The SPECT imaging results showed that [99mTc]Tc-CNPN had tumor uptake at 2 h postinjection. All of the results of this study indicated that [99mTc]Tc-CNPN is a promising tumor imaging agent that targets PARP.

Unlocking Air- and Water-Stable Technetium Acetylides and Other Organometallic Complexes.

The first technetium complexes containing anionic alkynido ligands in an end-on coordination mode have been prepared by using the nonprotic, cationic precursor mer,trans-[Tc(SMe2)(CO)3(PPh3)2]+. This cation acts as a functional analogue of the highly reactive 16-electron metallo Lewis acid {Tc(CO)3(PPh3)2}+ in reactions with alkynes, acetylides, and other organometallic reagents. Such reactions give a variety of organometallic technetium complexes in excellent yields and enable the preparation of [Tc(CH3)(CO)3(PPh3)2], [Tc(Ph)(CO)3(PPh3)2], [Tc(Cp)(CO)2(PPh3)], [Tc(═CCH2CH2CH2O)(CO)3(PPh3)2]+, [Tc(═CCH2CH2CH2CH2O)(CO)3(PPh3)2]+, [Tc(C≡C-H)(CO)3(PPh3)2], [Tc(C≡C-Ph)(CO)3(PPh3)2], [Tc(C≡C-tBu)(CO)3(PPh3)2], [Tc(C≡C-nBu)(CO)3(PPh3)2], [Tc(C≡C-SiMe3)(CO)3(PPh3)2], and [Tc{C≡C-C6H3(CF3)2}(CO)3(PPh3)2]. The bonding situation in the alkynyl complexes is compared to that in corresponding alkyl- and arylnitrile and -isonitrile complexes. [Tc(N≡C-Ph)(CO)3(PPh3)2](BF4), [Tc(C≡N-Ph)(CO)3(PPh3)2](BF4), [Tc(N≡C-tBu)(CO)3(PPh3)2](BF4), and [Tc(C≡N-tBu)(CO)3(PPh3)2](BF4) were prepared in high yields by ligand exchange reactions starting from mer,trans-[Tc(OH2)(CO)3(PPh3)2](BF4). The novel complexes were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic methods. In particular, 99Tc nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy proved to be an invaluable and sensitive tool for the characterization of the complexes. Density functional theory calculations strongly suggest similar bonding situations for the related alkynyl, nitrile, and isonitrile complexes of technetium.

Label-Free Target Identification Reveals the Anticancer Mechanism of a Rhenium Isonitrile Complex

Elucidation of the molecular mechanism of therapeutic agents and potential candidates is in high demand. Interestingly, rhenium-based complexes have shown a highly selective anticancer effect, only on cancer cells, unlike platinum-based drugs, such as cisplatin and carboplatin. These differences might be attributed to their different molecular targets. We confirmed that the target of tricarbonyl rhenium isonitrile polypyridyl (TRIP) complex is a protein, not DNA, using ICP-MS analysis and identified heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) as its target protein using a label-free target identification method. The subsequent biological evaluation revealed that TRIP directly inhibits the chaperone function of HSP60 and induces the accumulation of misfolded proteins in mitochondria, thereby leading to the activation of mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR)-mediated JNK2/AP-1/CHOP apoptotic pathway.

Exploring the In Vivo and In Vitro Anticancer Activity of Rhenium Isonitrile Complexes.

The established platinum-based drugs form covalent DNA adducts to elicit their cytotoxic response. Although they are widely employed, these agents cause toxic side-effects and are susceptible to cancer-resistance mechanisms. To overcome these limitations, alternative metal complexes containing the rhenium(I) tricarbonyl core have been explored as anticancer agents. Based on a previous study ( Chem. Eur. J. 2019, 25, 9206), a series of highly active tricarbonyl rhenium isonitrile polypyridyl (TRIP) complexes of the general formula fac-[Re(CO)3(NN)(ICN)]+, where NN is a chelating diimine and ICN is an isonitrile ligand, that induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress via activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway are investigated. A total of 11 of these TRIP complexes were synthesized, modifying both the equatorial polypyridyl and axial isonitrile ligands. Complexes with more electron-donating equatorial ligands were found to have greater anticancer activity, whereas the axial ICN ligands had a smaller effect on their overall potency. All 11 TRIP derivatives trigger a similar phenotype that is characterized by their abilities to induce ER stress and activate the UPR. Lastly, we explored the in vivo efficacy of one of the most potent complexes, fac-[Re(CO)3(dmphen)(ptolICN)]+ (TRIP-1a), where dmphen = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and ptolICN = para-tolyl isonitrile, in mice. The 99mTc congener of TRIP-1a was synthesized, and its biodistribution in BALB/c mice was investigated in comparison to the parent Re complex. The results illustrate that both complexes have similar biodistribution patterns, suggesting that 99mTc analogues of these TRIP complexes can be used as diagnostic partner agents. The in vivo antitumor activity of TRIP-1a was then investigated in NSG mice bearing A2780 ovarian cancer xenografts. When administered at a dose of 20 mg/kg twice weekly, this complex was able to inhibit tumor growth and prolong mouse survival by 150% compared to the vehicle control cohort.

X-Ray fluorescence microscopy reveals that rhenium(i) tricarbonyl isonitrile complexes remain intact in vitro.

The complex fac-[Re(CO)3(dmphen)(para-tolylisonitrile)]+ (TRIP), where dmphen = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, is an endoplasmic reticulum stress-inducing anticancer agent (A. P. King, S. C. Marker, R. V. Swanda, J. J. Woods, S.-B. Qian and J. J. Wilson, Chem. - Eur. J., 2019, 25, 9206-9210). A second-generation compound fac-[Re(CO)3(dmphen)(para-iodobenzeneisonitrile)]+ (I-TRIP) was synthesized, and its intracellular distribution was investigated using X-ray fluorescence microscopy to show that these complexes are highly stable in vitro.

A Rhenium Isonitrile Complex Induces Unfolded Protein Response-Mediated Apoptosis in Cancer Cells.

Complexes of the element Re have recently been shown to possess promising anticancer activity through mechanisms of action that are distinct from the conventional metal-based drug cisplatin. In this study, we report our investigations on the anticancer activity of the complex [Re(CO)3 (dmphen)(p-tol-ICN)]+ (TRIP) in which dmphen=2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and p-tol-ICN=para-tolyl isonitrile. TRIP was synthesized by literature methods and exhaustively characterized. This compound exhibited potent in vitro anticancer activity in a wide variety of cell lines. Flow cytometry and immunostaining experiments indicated that TRIP induces intrinsic apoptosis. Comprehensive biological mechanistic studies demonstrated that this compound triggers the accumulation of misfolded proteins, which causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, the unfolded protein response, and apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, TRIP induced hyperphosphorylation of eIF2α, translation inhibition, mitochondrial fission, and expression of proapoptotic ATF4 and CHOP. These results establish TRIP as a promising anticancer agent based on its potent cytotoxic activity and ability to induce ER stress.

Interconversion and reactivity of manganese silyl, silylene, and silene complexes.

Manganese disilyl hydride complexes [(dmpe)2MnH(SiH2R)2] (4Ph : R = Ph, 4Bu : R = n Bu) reacted with ethylene to form silene hydride complexes [(dmpe)2MnH(RHSi[double bond, length as m-dash]CHMe)] (6Ph,H : R = Ph, 6Bu,H : R = n Bu). Compounds 6R,H reacted with a second equivalent of ethylene to generate [(dmpe)2MnH(REtSi[double bond, length as m-dash]CHMe)] (6Ph,Et : R = Ph, 6Bu,Et : R = n Bu), resulting from apparent ethylene insertion into the silene Si-H bond. Furthermore, in the absence of ethylene, silene complex 6Bu,H slowly isomerized to the silylene hydride complex [(dmpe)2MnH([double bond, length as m-dash]SiEt n Bu)] (3Bu,Et ). Reactions of 4R with ethylene likely proceed via low-coordinate silyl {[(dmpe)2Mn(SiH2R)] (2Ph : R = Ph, 2Bu : R = n Bu)} or silylene hydride {[(dmpe)2MnH([double bond, length as m-dash]SiHR)] (3Ph,H : R = Ph, 3Bu,H : R = n Bu)} intermediates accessed from 4R by H3SiR elimination. DFT calculations and high temperature NMR spectra support the accessibility of these intermediates, and reactions of 4R with isonitriles or N-heterocyclic carbenes yielded the silyl isonitrile complexes [(dmpe)2Mn(SiH2R)(CNR')] (7a-d: R = Ph or n Bu; R' = o-xylyl or t Bu), and NHC-stabilized silylene hydride complexes [(dmpe)2MnH{[double bond, length as m-dash]SiHR(NHC)}] (8a-d: R = Ph or n Bu; NHC = 1,3-diisopropylimidazolin-2-ylidene or 1,3,4,5-tetramethyl-4-imidazolin-2-ylidene), respectively, all of which were crystallographically characterized. Silyl, silylene and silene complexes in this work were accessed via reactions of [(dmpe)2MnH(C2H4)] (1) with hydrosilanes, in some cases followed by ethylene. Therefore, ethylene (C2H4 and C2D4) hydrosilylation was investigated using [(dmpe)2MnH(C2H4)] (1) as a pre-catalyst, resulting in stepwise conversion of primary to secondary to tertiary hydrosilanes. Various catalytically active manganese-containing species were observed during catalysis, including silylene and silene complexes, and a catalytic cycle is proposed.

CoIII -Catalyzed Isonitrile Insertion/Acyl Group Migration Between C-H and N-H bonds of Arylamides.

A general efficient and site-selective cobalt-catalyzed insertion of isonitrile into C-H and N-H bonds of arylamides through C-H bond activation and alcohol assisted intramolecular trans-amidation is demonstrated. This straightforward approach overcomes the limitation by the presence of strongly chelating groups. Isolation of CoIII -isonitrile complex B has been achieved for the first time to understand the reaction mechanism.

Photophysical and ion-binding studies of a tetranuclear alkynylgold(I) isonitrile complex

A number of polyamide-containing multinuclear alkynylgold(I) isonitrile complexes have been designed, synthesized and characterized. The tetranuclear gold(I) complex is found to show spectroscopic responses in the presence of cadmium ions. The photophysical properties of the complex can be modulated via the suppression of photo-induced electron transfer (PET) and intramolecular Au⋯Au interactions. The binding mode of the complex has also been investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The complex is found to be highly selective towards cadmium ions as well as zinc ions.

Base-Free Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of 1,2-Di- and Monoketones Catalyzed by a (NH)2 P2 -Macrocyclic Iron(II) Hydride.

The hydride isonitrile complex [FeH(CNCEt3 )(1 a)]BF4 (2) containing a chiral P2 (NH)2 macrocycle (1 a), in the presence of 2-propanol as hydrogen donor, catalyzes the base-free asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of prostereogenic ketones to alcohols and the hemihydrogenation of benzils to benzoins, which contain a base-labile stereocenter. Benzoins are formed in up to 83 % isolated yield with enantioselectivity reaching 95 % ee. Ketones give the same enantioselectivity observed with the parent catalytic system [Fe(CNCEt3 )2 (1 a)] (3 a) that operates with added NaOt Bu.

Base‐Free Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of 1,2‐Di‐ and Monoketones Catalyzed by a (NH)2P2‐Macrocyclic Iron(II) Hydride

AbstractThe hydride isonitrile complex [FeH(CNCEt3)(1 a)]BF4 (2) containing a chiral P2(NH)2 macrocycle (1 a), in the presence of 2‐propanol as hydrogen donor, catalyzes the base‐free asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of prostereogenic ketones to alcohols and the hemihydrogenation of benzils to benzoins, which contain a base‐labile stereocenter. Benzoins are formed in up to 83 % isolated yield with enantioselectivity reaching 95 % ee. Ketones give the same enantioselectivity observed with the parent catalytic system [Fe(CNCEt3)2(1 a)] (3 a) that operates with added NaOtBu.

Multiple Mechanisms for the Thermal Decomposition of Metallaisoxazolin-5-ones from Computational Investigations.

The thermal decompositions of metallaisoxazolin-5-ones containing Ir, Rh, or Co are investigated using density functional theory. The experimentally observed decarboxylations of these molecules are found to proceed through retro-(3+2)-cycloaddition reactions, generating the experimentally reported η2 side-bonded nitrile complexes. These intermediates can isomerize in situ to yield a η1 nitrile complex. A competitive alternative pathway is also found where the decarboxylation happens concertedly with an aryl migration process, producing a η1 isonitrile complex. Despite their comparable stability, these η1 bonded species were not detected experimentally. The experimentally detected η2 side bound species are likely involved in the subsequent C-H activation reactions with hydrocarbon solvents reported for some of these metallaisoxazolin-5-ones.

Synthesis and Properties of Hydrazino Amino Acyclic Carbenes of Gold(I), Platinum(II), Palladium(II) and Rhodium(III)

AbstractThe nucleophilic addition of protected and substituted hydrazine derivatives to isonitrile complexes of gold(I), platinum(II), palladium(II) and rhodium(III) provides the corresponding hydrazino amino acyclic carbene complexes. These are characterized by their spectroscopic data, four different X‐ray single crystal structure analyses and their catalytic activity in the gold(I)‐catalyzed cycloisomerization of N‐propargylcarboxamides to alkylideneoxazolines is investigated.magnified image

Catalytic Production of Isothiocyanates via a Mo(II)/Mo(IV) Cycle for the “Soft” Sulfur Oxidation of Isonitriles

In the presence of excess amounts of elemental sulfur, the dimolybdenum dinitrogen complex {Cp*Mo[N(iPr)C(Ph)N(iPr)]}2(μ-N2) (4; Cp* = η5-C5Me5) serves as a precatalyst for the production of isothiocyanates from isonitriles via highly efficient and atom-economical metal-mediated sulfur atom transfer (SAT) under mild conditions. Mechanistic and structural studies support a catalytic cycle for SAT involving initial formation of a Mo(II) bis(isonitrile) complex that then undergoes sulfination to generate a formal “side-bound” Mo(IV) κ2-(C,S)-isothiocyanate as the key intermediate. This metal-catalyzed SAT process has further been employed for the “on-demand” production of isothiocyanates that are trapped in situ by benzhydrazides to provide thiosemicarbazides, which are useful precursors to biologically active thiadiazoles.

Synthesis of Different Classes of Six-Membered Gold(I) NHC Complexes by the Isonitrile Route

Different types of six-membered N-heterocyclic gold carbene complexes were prepared by using gold(I) isonitrile complexes as precursors in combination with suitably functionalized amines. The simple procedures provide an easy access to not only unsymmetrically substituted saturated carbene complexes but rarely reported types of carbene complexes such as six-membered N-heterocyclic oxo-carbene complexes, and six-membered partly unsaturated ligands can be obtained following the strategy.

Iminoborylene complexes: evaluation of synthetic routes towards BN-allenylidenes and unexpected reactivity towards carbodiimides.

The synthetic and reaction chemistries of cationic iminoborylene complexes [LnM=B=N=CR2](+), which feature a unique heterocumulene structure, have been systematically investigated. Precursors of the type CpFe(CO)2B(Cl)NCAr2 (Ar = p-Tol/Mes, 5c/d) have been generated by B-centred substitution chemistry using CpFe(CO)2BCl2 and suitable lithiated ketimines - a reaction which is found to be highly sensitive to the steric bulk at both the metal fragment and the ketimino group. Carbonyl/phosphine exchange (using PCy3 or PPh3), followed by halide abstraction allows for the generation of the cationic iminoborylenes [CpFe(PR3)(CO)(BNCAr2)](+)[BAr(X)4](-) (R = Cy, Ar = p-Tol/Mes, 12c/d; R = Ph, Ar = Mes, 13d; Ar(X) = 3,5-X2C6H3 where X = Cl, CF3) which have been characterized spectroscopically and by X-ray crystallography. The reactivity of these iminoborylene systems towards a range of nucleophiles and unsaturated substrates has been investigated. The latter includes the first examples of M=B metathesis reactivity with a carbodiimide, and results in Fe=B cleavage and formation of the isonitrile complexes [CpFe(PCy3)(CO)(CNR)](+)[BAr(Cl)4](-) (R = (i)Pr/Cy, 16/17).

Cationic isonitrile complexes of the CpFe(CO)2 fragment

[CpFe(CO)2(THF)]+BF4− undergoes exchange of the labile THF ligand against isonitriles resulting in a shift of the NC-stretching vibration to higher energies compared to the free isonitriles. Quantum chemical calculations show that this shift is not a real indicator for the electronic character and thus the electronic influence of the substituents at the para-functionalized phenylisonitriles. In contrast, other calculated parameters such as reactions enthalpies, Fe–C distances, charges and CO-stretching frequencies clearly correlate with the Hammett constant σp.

Imidazole-Nitrile or Imidazole-Isonitrile CC Coupling on Rhenium Tricarbonyl Complexes

Ligand activation: Deprotonation of the nitrile or isonitrile complexes [Re(CO)3(N-RIm)2(L)](+) (N-RIm = N-alkylimidazole; L = N≡CtBu, C≡NtBu) selectively afforded alkylidenamido or iminoacyl derivatives, respectively, in which C-C coupling has occurred. Protonation of the latter complex leads to aminocarbene products.

Theoretical study of the reactivity of Rh(I) and Rh(III) Bis(isonitrile) complexes in cycloaddition reactions with nitrones

The mechanism of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrone (CH2=N(Me)O) to methylisonitrile coordinated to Rh(I) and Rh(III) in the [RhCl(PH3)(CNMe)2] and [RhCl3(PH3)(CNMe)2] complexes has been studied by quantum-chemical methods. The molecular and electronic structures of the cycloaddition products, the nature of transition states, the mechanism of reactions, their kinetic and thermodynamic parameters, and the solvent effect have been described. The reactions occur via the concerted strongly asynchronous mechanism involving the formation of a five-membered cyclic transition state. The use of rhodium complexes as reagents leads to a noticeable decrease in the activation barriers of the processes under consideration and an increase in the magnitudes of energy effects of the reactions. It has been demonstrated that the Rh(III) complexes are better activators of the cycloaddition of nitrone to isonitrile than the Rh(I) complex. The calculations predict that in the case of the Rh(I) complexes, only one isonitrile ligand can be involved in cycloaddition of nitrone, whereas the use of the Rh(III) complexes enables the participation of both ligands. The solvation effects inhibit the reactions.

Theoretical study of Rh(I) and Rh(III) bis(isonitrile) complexes as promising reagents for synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbenes

The properties of the [RhCl(PH3)(CNMe)2] and [RhCl3(PH3)(CNMe)2] complexes (relative stability of different isomers, structural features, vibrational frequencies, bond nature, atomic charge distribution, and well as analysis of the MO composition and energies) have been studied by quantum-chemical methods. For the [RhCl(PH3)(CNMe)2] complex, the cis isomer is the most stable one; for the [RhCl3(PH3)(CNMe)2] complex, the cis-mer isomer is the most stable one. In the [RhCl(PH3)(CNMe)2] complex, the moderate π back-donation effect is observed. The coordination of C≡NMe to the metal should lead to activation of the ligand in nucleophilic addition and cycloaddition reactions with a normal electron distribution and hinder the electrophilic attack at the N atom of isonitrile.