Three-legged Piano Stool Research Articles

Application of enaminone ruthenium(II) complexes as catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones

This study reported the synthesis of two new ligands (1,2) and their Ru(II)-enaminone complexes (3,4). The Ru(II) complexes were obtained from the reaction of the [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 dimers with the new enaminone derivative ligands (1,2). The use of standard spectroscopy techniques entirely characterized the compounds. Single crystal studies investigated the crystal structure of ligand (1) and complexes (3,4). X-ray diffraction data analysis was used to confirm the enaminone form of 1. Also, 3 and 4 exhibited the classical three-legged piano stool structure with Ru(II) coordinated by the nitrogen and oxygen atoms of 1 and a chloride ligand as the legs and the η6-π-bound p-cymene ligand occupies the seat of the piano stool. The Ru(II) complexes have been studied as catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone and other various ketones in the presence of KOtBu. The catalytic conditions were optimized using different substrate/catalyst and base/catalyst ratios. We found that the complexes show good activities and up to 100 % selectivity. The best turnover frequency (1667 h−1) was found for 3 when using acetophenone as the substrate.

Ruthenium p-Cymene Complexes Incorporating Substituted Pyridine-Quinoline-Based Ligands: Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytotoxic Properties.

Organometallic complexes of the formula [Ru(N^N)(p-cymene)Cl][X] (N^N = bidentate polypyridyl ligands, p-cymene = 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-benzene, X = counter anion), are currently studied as possible candidates for the potential treatment of cancer. Searching for new organometallic compounds with good to moderate cytotoxic activities, a series of mononuclear water-soluble ruthenium(II)-arene complexes incorporating substituted pyridine-quinoline ligands, with pending -CH2OH, -CO2H and -CO2Me groups in the 4-position of quinoline ring, were synthesized, for the first time, to study their possible effect to modulate the activity of the ruthenium p-cymene complexes. These include the [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(pqhyme)Cl][X] (X = Cl- (1-Cl), PF6- (1-PF6), pqhyme = 4-hydroxymethyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline), [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(pqca)Cl][Cl] ((2-Cl), pqca = 4-carboxy-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline), and [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(pqcame)Cl][X] (X = Cl- (3-Cl), PF6- (3-PF6), pqcame = 4-carboxymethyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline) complexes, respectively. Identification of the complexes was based on multinuclear NMR and ATR-IR spectroscopic methods, elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, UV-Vis spectroscopic, and ESI-HRMS techniques. The solid-state structures of 1-PF6 and 3-PF6 have been elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealing a three-legged piano stool geometry. This is the first time that the in vitro cytotoxic activities of these complexes are studied. These were conducted in HEK293T (human embryonic kidney cells) and HeLa cells (cervical cancer cells) via the MTT assay. The results show poor in vitro anticancer activities for the HeLa cancer cell lines and 3-Cl proved to be the most potent (IC50 > 80 μΜ). In both cell lines, the cytotoxicity of the ligand precursor pqhyme is significantly higher than that of cisplatin.

Novel half-sandwich ruthenium(II) nicotinic hydrazone complexes: An efficient class of catalyst for the N-alkylation of amines with benzyl alcohol via transfer hydrogen mechanism and effective antibacterial agents

A new series of half sandwich ruthenium(II) complexes supported by nicotinic acid hydrazone derivatives of general formula [Ru(ɳ6-p-cymene)(Cl)(L)], where L represents N’-benzylidenenicotinohydrazide (HL1), N’-(naphthalen-1-ylmethylene)nicotinohydrazide (HL2) or N’-(pyren-1-ylmethylene)nicotinohydrazide (HL3) were synthesized and fully characterized. The solid-state molecular structures of ligands and complexes were elucidated with single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The ligands HL1 and HL2 possess monoclinic crystal system with P21/c and C2/c space groups respectively, whereas all the three Ru(II) complexes C1–3 are typical three-legged piano-stool geometries with orthorhombic(Aba2) (C1) and triclinic(P-1) (C2–3) systems respectively. The catalytic activities of these ruthenium complexes in the synthesis of N-alkylated amines were explored. Under optimal reaction condition, the complex C3 was found to be the most efficient catalyst for the N-alkylation of primary to secondary amines using benzyl alcohol. A wide range of substrates have been studied that includes anilines bearing electron withdrawing/electron donating group, fused aromatic, heteroaromatic, alicyclic and aliphatic amines with good to excellent yield. In addition, the antibacterial activity of the complexes were tested against different human pathogenic bacteria, among them C2 complex with naphthyl moiety was found to be the most active one against both Gram-positive (S. aureus and E. faecalis) and Gram-negative (E. coli and K. pneumoniae) bacteria. These two different studies demonstrate the catalytic and biological importance of our newly prepared Ruthenium complex.

Mononuclear η6-arene ruthenium(II) complexes with pyrazolyl-pyridazine ligands: synthesis, CT-DNA binding, reactivity towards glutathione, and cytotoxicity.

Organometallic η6-arene ruthenium(II) complexes with 3-chloro-6-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridazine (Ru1, Ru2, and Ru5) and 3-chloro-6-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridazine (Ru3-4) N,N' heterocyclic and η6-arene (cymene (Ru1-4) or toluene (Ru 5)) have been synthesized. The ruthenium(II) complexes have common "three-legged piano-stool" pseudo-octahedral structures known for half-sandwich complexes. Evolution of their UV-Visible absorption spectra in PBS buffer or DMSO over 24h confirmed their good solvolysis stability. Titrations of the complexes with the calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) were monitored using UV-Visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies. The complexes interact moderately with CT-DNA and their binding constants are in the order of 104M-1. Competitive binding of the complexes to a DNA-Hoechst 33,258 depicted competitive displacement of Hoechst from DNA's minor grooves. These complexes bind to glutathione forming GSH-adducts through S coordination by replacement of a halide, with the iodo-analogues having higher binding constants than the chloro-complexes. Cyclic voltammograms of the complexes exhibited one electron-transfer quasi-reversible process. Trends in the molecular docking data of Ru1-5/DNA were similar to those for DNA binding constants. Of the five, only Ru1, Ru3 and Ru5 showed some activity (moderate) against the MCF-7 breast cancer cells with IC50 values in the range of 59.2-39.9 for which Ru5 was the most active. However, the more difficult-to-treat cell line, MDA-MB 231 cell was recalcitrant to the treatment by these complexes.

Synthesis, crystal structure, and anticancer studies of organoruthenium(II) p-cymene N-phenyldithiocarbamate complex

Organoruthenium(II) p-cymene N-phenyldithiocarbamate complex, [Ru(phdtc)(η⁶-p-cym)]₂, was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic techniques, and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The single crystal X-ray structure of the complex shows that the compound crystallizes in a monoclinic crystal system with a P21/c space group to form a centrosymmetric binuclear complex. The structure consists of two divalent ruthenium(II) ions, two N-phenyldithiocarbamato anions and two p-cymene molecules. Each N-phenyldithiocarbamato anion acts as a chelating ligand to one ruthenium(II) and a bridging ligand to second ruthenium(II) ion in a classic “three-legged piano-stool” arrangement with a pseudo-tetrahedral geometry. The geometry around the ruthenium(II) ions is completed through η6 coordination to the p-cymene carbon atoms. Anticancer studies showed that the compound is potently cytotoxic (complete kill between 10 and 50 μM) when tested up to 100 μM for up to 48 h against two cell lines, HeLa and MRC5-SV2, models of cervical and lung cancer, respectively, and in some instances outperformed the standard platinum-based anticancer drug cisplatin for cytotoxic potency, highlighting the anti-cancer prospect of the complex.

(2,2'-Bipyrid-yl)(η6-p-cymene)iodidoruthenium(II) hexa-fluorido-phosphate.

The title compound, having the mol-ecular formula [RuI(η6-C10H14)(C10H8N2)]PF6, crystallizes in the triclinic P (Z = 2) space group as a half-sandwich complex resembling a three-legged piano stool. Important geometrical parameters include Ru-cymene centroid = 1.6902 (17) Å, Ru-I = 2.6958 (5) Å, [Ru-N]avg = 2.072 (3) Å, N1-Ru-N2 = 76.86 (12)° and a dihedral angle between the planes of the two rings of the bipyridyl system of 5.9 (2)°. The PF6 - ion was treated with a twofold disorder model, refining to a 65.0 (8):35.0 (8) occupancy ratio. The crystal packing features C-H⋯F/I inter-actions.

Ruthenium(II)–Arene Complexes with Glycosylated NHC-Carbene Co-Ligands: Synthesis, Hydrolytic Behavior, and Binding to Biological Molecules

Ruthenium(II) complexes with a three-legged piano-stool structure based on an arene ring, an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-carbene ligand with a peracetylated glucose moiety and two chlorides or one bidentate ligand, were prepared and characterized by spectroscopy and crystallography. In one case, the sugar substituent is replaced by an ethyl. The chirality of the sugar results in the formation of two diastereomers that interconvert through rotations around the Ccarbene–Ru and Carene–Ru bonds. In water, the complexes undergo a series of equilibrium hydrolysis steps involving the Ru–Cl bonds. The Ru–arene bond and the sugar acetyls are also partially hydrolyzed, and the selectivity of the process is governed by the nature of the arene and the pH of the solution. The reactivity of the compounds was studied against model nucleophiles and biological macromolecules. In the former case, mass experiments demonstrated a variety of binding modes with a trend reflecting the stability in aqueous environment. In the latter case, protein crystallography was used to characterize the preferential binding sites of one of the complexes. The X-ray structure of the adduct formed upon reaction of one representative complex with hen egg white lysozyme contains a Ru center, which retains the carbene ligand, close to the side chain of Asp119. In the adduct with bovine pancreatic ribonuclease, there are two protein molecules in the asymmetric unit. In one molecule, two Ru centers are located close to the side chains of His105 and of His119, which is the protein active site. In the second molecule, only one Ru center was found in the proximity of the side chain of His105. The Ru complexes also interact with calf-thymus DNA, although without displacing the intercalating probe EB. Finally, the complexes are essentially inactive against the human ovarian carcinoma A2780 cells, the cisplatin-resistant A2780cis cells, and the human embryonic kidney HEK293T cells.

{μ-2,2'-(Ethane-1,2-di-yl)bis-[4,6-bis-(tri-methyl-sil-yl)-1,3-di-hydro-cyclo-penta-[c]pyrrol-5-one]}bis-[tri-carbonyl-iron(0)

The binuclear title compound, [Fe2(C28H48N2O2Si4)(CO)6], consists of two central iron(0) atoms, each of them surrounded by a cyclo-penta-dienone moiety and three carbonyl ligands in a three-legged piano-stool shape. Furthermore, the bis-(cyclo-penta-dienone) ligand acts as a bridge between the two metal atoms.

Phosphite Bearing [(μ-ADT)RFe2(CO)6] (ADT = Azadithiolate) Moieties: A Tool for the Building of Multimetallic [FeFe]-Hydrogenase Mimics

A new phosphite ligand having three [(μ-ADT)RFe2(CO)6] (R= p-HOC6H4) moieties (2) has been prepared in good yield by the reaction of complex [(μ-ADT)RFe2(CO)6] (R= p-HOC6H4) 1a with PCl3. Coordination of this phosphite to [PdCl2(MeCN)2] or [PtCl2(DMSO)2] forms heterometallic square planar complexes 5 (C84H48Cl2Fe12N6O42P2MS12) (M = Pt, Pd) in excellent yields. Three-legged piano stool complexes 6 (C52H39Cl2Fe6N3O21PMS6) (M = Rh, Ir) were obtained by the reaction of phosphite 2 with [MCl2Cp*]2 (M = Rh, Ir) in good yields. The formation of complexes 5 and 6 demonstrates the versatility of this new ligand for forming different heteropolymetallic complexes under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, the open-chain derivatives [(μ-ADT)RFe2(CO)6] (R= HOCH2CH2, o-HOC6H4) (1b and 1c, respectively) form cyclic complexes 4 by spontaneous intramolecular CO substitution by the P atom in one of the three [FeFe] fragments. The electrocatalytic behavior of complexes 2 and 4 upon the addition of AcOH is similar to that of related [(μ-ADT)Fe2(CO)6] derivatives. The successive additions of AcOH cause an increase in the current intensity in the wave at about −1.80 V for heteropolymetallic complexes 5 and 6. However, the appearance of a new wave around −1.40 V in complexes 5 points to an acid-promoted side reaction in the electrochemical process.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Phosphinidenide Complexes as Hydroboration Catalysts.

The reactions of the N-heterocyclic carbene-phosphinidene adducts (NHC)PSiMe3 and (NHC)PH with the dinuclear ruthenium and osmium complexes [(η6-p-cymene)MCl2]2 (M = Ru, Os) afforded the half-sandwich complexes [(η6-p-cymene){(NHC)P}MCl] and [(η6-p-cymene){(NHC)PH}MCl2] with two- and three-legged piano-stool geometries, respectively (NHC = IDipp, IMes; IDipp = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene; IMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene). The complexes were initially tested as precatalysts for the hydroboration of benzonitrile, and the most active species, the ruthenium complex [(η6-p-cymene){(IMes)P}RuCl], was further used for the efficient hydroboration of a wide range (ca. 50 substrates) of nitriles, carboxylic esters, and carboxamides in neat pinacolborane (HBpin) under comparatively mild reaction conditions (60-80 °C, 3-5 mol % catalyst loading). Preliminary mechanistic and kinetic studies are reported, and stoichiometric reactions with HBpin indicate the initial formation of the monohydride complex [(η6-p-cymene){(IMes)P}RuH] as the putative catalytically active species.

Iridium Azocarboxamide Complexes: Variable Coordination Modes, C–H Activation, Transfer Hydrogenation Catalysis, and Mechanistic Insights

Azocarboxamides, a special class of azo ligands, display intriguing electronic properties due to their versatile binding modes and coordination flexibility. These properties may have significant implications for their use in homogeneous catalysis. In the present report, half-sandwich Ir–Cp* complexes of two different azocarboxamide ligands are presented. Different coordination motifs of the ligand were realized using base and chloride abstracting ligand to give N∧N-, N∧O-, and N∧C-chelated monomeric iridium complexes. For the azocarboxamide ligand having methoxy substituted at the phenyl ring, a mixture of N∧C-chelated mononuclear (Ir-5) and N∧N,N∧C-chelated dinuclear complexes (Ir-4) were obtained by activating the C–H bond of the aryl ring. No such C–H activation was observed for the ligand without the methoxy substituent. The molecular identity of the complexes was confirmed by spectroscopic analyses, while X-ray diffraction analyses further confirmed three-legged piano-stool structure of the complexes along with the above binding modes. All complexes were found to exhibit remarkable activity as precatalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl groups in the presence of a base, even at low catalyst loading. Optimization of reaction conditions divulged superior catalytic activity of Ir-3 and Ir-4 complexes in transfer hydrogenation over the other catalysts. Investigation of the influence of binding modes on the catalytic activity along with wide range substrates, tolerance to functional groups, and mechanistic insights into the reaction pathway are also presented. These are the first examples of C–H activation in azocarboxamide ligands.

Synthesis and characterization of the N-heterocyclic carbene ligand (NHC) precursors bearing long-alkyl chain substituent and the corresponding Ru(II)-carbene complexes for transfer hydrogenation catalysts

A new series of Ru(II)-NHC complexes [RuCl2(NHC)(p-cymene)] (4a-e) were obtained through a transmetallation reaction of the corresponding Ag(I)-NHC complexes with [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 in dichloromethane (DCM) under Argon atmosphere. All new compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, FT-IR, MS, and the molecular structure of 4a was determined by X-ray crystallography. The complex of 4a adopts three-legged piano stool geometry with the facial planar p-cymene representing the “seat”, and the two chloro and one NHC ligands form the three “legs”. All complexes have been tested as catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones, showing moderate to high activity in this reaction.

Luminescent naphthalimide-tagged ruthenium(ii)-arene complexes: cellular imaging, photocytotoxicity and transferrin binding.

Two water-soluble piano-stool shaped ruthenium(ii)-arene complexes, [RuII(η6-p-cymene)(L)Cl2] [RuLCl] and [RuII(η6-p-cymene)(L)(PTA)Cl] [RuLPTA], were designed as emissive photocytotoxic agents tagged with morpholine as the lysosome targeting moiety. Here, L = N-(2-morpholinoethyl)-4-(2-aminoethyl)amino-naphthalimide, and PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphatricyclo-[3.3.1.1]decane. The crystal structure of [RuLCl] exhibits the pseudooctahedral 'three-legged piano-stool' geometry, wherein Ru(ii) is bound to the η6-p-cymene moiety as a base and two chlorides and the amine-N of the ligand L occupies the three legs of the stool. The complexes exhibited both the possibility of covalent adduct formation via the hydrolyzed Ru-Cl bond and non-covalent intercalation binding through planar naphthalimide moieties. The complexes showed enhanced photo-cytotoxicity under low-power blue LED light irradiation (λmax = 448 nm) mediated by 1O2, thereby acting as potential PDT agents. Fluorescence microscopy studies revealed that luminescent complexes preferentially localized in both the lysosomes and nucleus for effectively targeting and damaging the nuclear DNA for PDT effects. Due to enhanced lipophilicity of [RuLCl], it showed higher internalization into MCF-7 cell, measured in terms of the ruthenium content using ICP-MS. The interaction of the complexes with human transferrin (hTf) proteins was studied through molecular docking calculations, suggesting favorable binding through histidine residues and possible internalization into cancer cells via TfR-mediated endocytosis. The luminescence properties of the complexes were well-utilized to study their cellular uptake mechanism via endocytosis using fluorescence microscopy.

Cyanosilylation of carbonyl compounds catalyzed by half-sandwich (η6-p-cymene) Ruthenium(II) complexes bearing heterocyclic hydrazone derivatives

A new class of half-sandwich (ƞ6-p-cymene) ruthenium(II) complexes supported by heterocyclic hydrazone derivatives of general formula [Ru(ƞ6-p-cymene)(Cl)(L)] where L represents N’-((1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene)furan-2-carbohydrazide (L1), N’-((1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene)thiophene-2-carbohydrazide (L2) or N’-((1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene)isonicotinohydrazide (L3) were synthesized. Both ligand precursors and complexes were characterized by elemental and spectral analysis (IR, UV–Vis, NMR and mass spectrometry). The molecular structures of all Ru complexes [Ru(ƞ6-p-cymene)(Cl)(L)] were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction as three-legged piano-stool. The Ru(II) complexes were used as catalysts for the cyanosilylation of aldehydes (aliphatic, aromatic, α,β-unsaturated and heterocyclic aldehydes) with trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN). All reactions were performed at room temperature and catalytic conditions as solvents, catalyst and catalyst loading were experimentally optimized. Using 0.5 mol% of Ru catalyst 3 in Et2O it was possible to prepare cyanosilylethers in good-to-excellent isolated yields.

Comparative structural description of five arene ruthenium(II) complexes of N,N-bidentate Schiff base ligands to related complexes from literature

A series of new half-sandwich Ru(II) complex salts of the general formula [(η6-arene)RuX(L)]PF6 (where arene = p-cymene, X = Br and ligand L1 = N-tert-butyl-N-(pyridyl methylene) amine (complex 1), ligand L2 = N-isopropyl-2-pyridine carbaldimine (complex 2), ligand L3 = (2,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-pyridin-2-yl methylene amine (complex 3), ligand L4 = (3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-pyridin-2-yl methylene (complex 4) and arene = C6H6, X = I, ligand L5 = (4-bromo-phenyl)-pyridin-2-yl methylene (complex 5) have been synthesized by reacting the ruthenium arene precursors [(η6-arene)Ru(μ-X)X]2 with N,N-bidentate ligands in a 1:2 ratio. Full characterization of the complexes was accomplished by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods and X-ray structures of all the complexes 1–5. The crystal structures reveal that the ruthenium centers in 1–5 are coordinated to the N,N-bidentate ligand in a bidentate manner, to the respective halide, and to the arene ring to give a pseudo-tetrahedral geometry around them. The whole arrangement is referred to as the three-legged piano stool, in which the N,N-bidentate ligand and the halide (Br or I) serve as the base occupying three coordination sites, while the arene ring serves as the apex of the stool and occupy the remaining coordination sites.

Comparative Structural Description of Five Arene Ruthenium(Ii) Complexes with N,N- Bidentate Schiff Base Ligands and Related Complexes from Literature

Isostructurality between certain pairs of complexes A series of new half-sandwich Ru(II) complex salts of the general formula [(η6-arene)RuX(L)]PF6 (where arene = p-cymene, X = Br and L = N-tert-butyl-N-(pyridyl methylene) amine (1), N-isopropyl-2-pyridine carbaldimine (2), (2,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-pyridin-2-yl methylene amine (3), (3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-pyridin-2-yl methylene (4) and arene = C6H6, X = I, L = (4-bromo-phenyl)-pyridin-2-yl methylene (5) have been synthesized by reacting the ruthenium arene precursors [(η6-arene)Ru(μ-X)X]2 with N,N-bidentate ligands in a 1:2 ratio. Full characterization of the complexes was accomplished using 1H and 13C NMR, elemental analyses, UV-Vis, IR and X-ray structures of all the complexes 1 - 5. The crystal structures reveal that the ruthenium centers in 1 - 5 are coordinated to the N,N-bidentate ligand in a bidentate manner, to the respective halide and to the arene ring. The whole arrangement is referred to as the three-legged piano stool, in which the N,N-bidentate ligand and the halide (Br or I) serve as the base, while the arene ring serves as the apex of the stool. A comparison to related structures from the CSD reveal isostructurality amongst certain pairs of complexes.

Arene platinum group metal complexes containing imino-quinolyl ligands: synthesis and antibacterial studies

Imino-quinolyl Schiff-base ligands have been prepared by the condensation reaction of substituted 2-aminopyridine and quinoline-2-carbaldehyde. The reaction of [(arene)MCl2]2 with imino-quinolyl Schiff-base ligands leads to the formation of cationic complexes [(arene)M(L)Cl]+ (1–12). Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies were used to confirm the coordination mode and structures of these complexes. The molecular structures of these complexes revealed that they adopt characteristic three-legged piano stool geometry with the metal coordinating through a terminal chloride and imino-quinolyl ligands in a bidentate chelating NN′ fashion. The ligand coordinates to the metal center through the nitrogen of the quinoline and the imine nitrogen forming a five-membered metallacycle. These compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activity by the agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. Results show that all the ligands and complexes inhibited the growth of bacteria.

Dianionic Mononuclear Cyclo-P4 Complexes of Zero-Valent Molybdenum: Coordination of the Cyclo-P4 Dianion in the Absence of Intramolecular Charge Transfer.

Relative to other cyclic poly-phosphorus species (that is, cyclo-Pn ), the planar cyclo-P4 group is unique in its requirement of two additional electrons to achieve aromaticity. These electrons are supplied from one or more metal centers. However, the degree of charge transfer is dependent on the nature of the metal fragment. Unique examples of dianionic mononuclear η4 -P4 complexes are presented that can be viewed as the simple coordination of the [cyclo-P4 ]2- dianion to a neutral metal fragment. Treatment of the neutral, molybdenum cyclo-P4 complexes Mo(η4 -P4 )I2 (CO)(CNArDipp2 )2 and Mo(η4 -P4 )(CO)2 (CNArDipp2 )2 with KC8 produces the dianionic, three-legged piano stool complexes, [Mo(η4 -P4 )(CO)(CNArDipp2 )2 ]2- and [Mo(η4 -P4 )(CO)2 (CNArDipp2 )]2- , respectively. Structural, spectroscopic, and computational studies reveal a similarity to the classic η6 -benzene complex (η6 -C6 H6 )Mo(CO)3 regarding the metal-center valence state and electronic population of the planar-cyclic ligand π system.

Synthesis and characterization of water-soluble arene-ruthenium complexes and their application in biphasic olefin oxidation

New water-soluble complexes [(η6-C6H6)RuCl(C5H4N-2-CH = N-R)]Cl (1) (with R = 4-hydroxymethylphenyl (a), 2,4-dichlorophenyl (b), 2-fluorophenyl (c), 3-carboxyphenyl (d)) have been synthesized by reacting [(η6-C6H6)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]2 with the N,N′-bidentate ligands in a 1:2 ratio. Full characterization of all complexes was accomplished using 1H and 13C NMR, elemental analyses, UV-Vis spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray crystallography for determination of the structure of 1d, as 1d·4H2O. The single crystal structure confirmed coordination of the ligand to the ruthenium(II) center leading to a structure commonly described as a pseudo-octahedral, three-legged piano stool. The geometry around the Ru(II) center is such that the arene ring occupies the apex of the stool while the N,N′-bidentate ligand and a chloride occupy the base of the stool. The synthesized Ru(II) complexes were tested as catalysts for oxidation of styrene using NaIO4 as a co-oxidant in a biphasic system. All complexes were active, giving good yields of benzaldehyde. Catalyst 1c was later investigated for olefin oxidation and gave high yields of the corresponding aldehydes as the major products in all cases.

Fluorescent half-sandwich phosphine-sulfonate iridium(III) and ruthenium(II) complexes as potential lysosome-targeted anticancer agents

The synthesis, characterization and biological activity of neutral fluorescent Ir(III) and Ru(II) half-sandwich organometallic complexes containing phosphine-sulfonate ligands are reported. X-ray crystal structure of complexes 1–3, 10 and 11 exhibits the expected half-sandwich “three-legged piano-stool” pseudo-octahedral geometry. Spectroscopic properties study displays that these complexes show rich fluorescence properties. With the exception of 9, 10 and 11 toward A549 human lung cancer cells and 10 towards HeLa human cervical cancer cells, each complex shows promising cytotoxicity toward HeLa and A549 cells line with IC50 values in the range of 3.6–53.1 μM, and 6.5–34.5 μM, respectively. Hydrolysis, DNA cleavage and depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) appear not to be the main mechanism of action. However, these complexes are able to covert NADH to NAD+ via the transfer hydrogenation. Mechanism studies by flow cytometry display that the complexes exert their anticancer efficacy by inducing apoptosis, perturbing the cell cycle and increasing the intracellular ROS level. Furthermore, fluorescence property of these complexes provides a tool to investigate the microscopic mechanism by confocal microscopy. Notably, the typical Ir(III) complex 3 can specially localize to lysosome and damage it. In addition, complex 3 enters into HeLa cells mainly through energy-dependent pathway.