Trinuclear Platinum Complex Research Articles

Enhanced Electrical Conductivity of Polyoxometalates by Bridging with Mixed‐Valent Multinuclear Platinum Complexes

AbstractPolyoxometalates (POMs) are nanosized molecular metal oxide anion clusters with tuneable structures and functionalities, and they exhibit a redox chemistry and catalytic activity in multielectron redox processes. These are typically poor electrical conductors (<10−10 Scm−1), which is attributed to negligible electronic interactions among anions in the solid state. Since the reduced electrons on the d0 metals in POMs are delocalized, electrical conductivity was improved when judicious pathways for the electrons were created by bridging the POMs. Utilized with the electronic interactions between bridging oxygen atoms with the highest occupied molecular orbital in the POMs and the metal dz2 orbitals in the multinuclear platinum complexes, and three mixed‐valent assemblies were synthesized and characterized. Simply mixing Keggin‐type or Dawson‐type POMs with tetranuclear or trinuclear platinum complexes in solution afforded three single crystals, and all three compounds were paramagnetic with mixed oxidation states and better conductivities at room temperature than the parent compounds.

Enhanced Electrical Conductivity of Polyoxometalates by Bridging with Mixed-Valent Multinuclear Platinum Complexes.

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are nanosized molecular metal oxide anion clusters with tuneable structures and functionalities, and they exhibit a redox chemistry and catalytic activity in multielectron redox processes. These are typically poor electrical conductors (<10-10 Scm-1), which is attributed to negligible electronic interactions among anions in the solid state. Since the reduced electrons on the d0 metals in POMs are delocalized, electrical conductivity was improved when judicious pathways for the electrons were created by bridging the POMs. Utilized with the electronic interactions between bridging oxygen atoms with the highest occupied molecular orbital in the POMs and the metal dz2 orbitals in the multinuclear platinum complexes, and three mixed-valent assemblies were synthesized and characterized. Simply mixing Keggin-type or Dawson-type POMs with tetranuclear or trinuclear platinum complexes in solution afforded three single crystals, and all three compounds were paramagnetic with mixed oxidation states and better conductivities at room temperature than the parent compounds.

A Comparison of Di- and Trinuclear Platinum Complexes Interacting with Glycosaminoglycans for Targeted Chemotherapy.

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and their associated proteins aid in tumor progression through modulation of biological events such as cell invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and immunological responses. Metalloshielding of the anionic heparan sulfate (HS) chains by cationic polynuclear platinum complexes (PPCs) prevents the HS from interacting with HS-associated proteins and thus diminishes the critical functions of HSPG. Studies herein exploring the PPC-HS interactions demonstrated that a series of PPCs varying in charge, nuclearity, distance between Pt centers, and hydrogen-bonding ability influence HS affinity. We report that the polyamine-linked complexes have high HS affinity and display excellent in vivo activity against breast cancer metastases and those arising in the bone and liver compared to carboplatin. Overall, the PPC-HS niche offers an attractive approach for targeting HSPG-expressing tumor cells.

A novel star-shaped trinuclear platinum(II) complex based on a 1,3,5-triazine core displaying potent antiproliferative activity against TNBC by the mitochondrial injury and DNA damage mechanism.

Polynuclear platinum(II) complexes represent a class of great prospective Pt-based antitumor drugs that may expand the antitumor spectrum and overcome the clinical problems of drug resistance and side effects of platinum-based drugs. Herein, a novel star-shaped trinuclear platinum(II) complex [Pt3(L-3H)Cl3] (1, L = 2,4,6-tris[(2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine]-1,3,5-triazine) and its monomer [Pt(L'-H)Cl] (2, L' = (2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) were synthesized and characterized. The in vitro antiproliferative activities of complexes 1 and 2 against a panel of human cancer cell lines including MDA-MB-231 (triple-negative breast cancer, TNBC), MCF-7 (breast), HepG-2 (liver), and A549 (lung) were investigated. The results revealed that 1 exhibited much higher antiproliferative properties than its monomer 2 against the tested cell lines. Importantly, 1 possessed 3.3-fold higher antiproliferative activity as compared with cisplatin against the TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231. Another TNBC cell line MDA-MB-468 is also sensitive to 1. The results indicated that 1 might have the potential to act as a candidate for the treatment of TNBC. Cellular uptake and distribution studies showed that 1 could pass through the membrane of cells and enter into cells and mainly accumulate in the nuclei and mitochondria. 1 could bind to DNA in a cooperative groove-electrostatic-platinating binding mode and induce stronger DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and damaging effects on MDA-MB-231 than cisplatin (upregulation of γ-H2AX). Moreover, the DNA damage could not be easily repaired (upregulation of p53), which would exert a much positive influence on the overcoming of drug resistance. Additionally, flow cytometry studies showed that 1 arrested the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase, induced mitochondrial membrane depolarization, increased ROS generation, and induced cell apoptosis. The results demonstrated that 1 could target simultaneously mitochondria and nuclei that gave rise to mitochondrial injury and DNA damage and ultimately efficiently promote the apoptotic death of tumor cells. Further mechanistic studies showed that 1 induced MDA-MB-231 cell apoptosis via the p53-mediated mitochondrial pathway by upregulating Bax and cytochrome c and downregulating Bcl-2 proteins, leading to the activation of caspase-3 and upregulation of the cleaved-PARP level. Taken together, 1 with such a synergic mechanism has great potential to be an effective anticancer agent that can overcome treatment resistance in TNBC.

Coordination Methods of Thioligands in Trinuclear Complexes of Platinum (II)

The trinuclear complexes with simple and mixed ligands of platinum (II) with mercaptoethanol and mercaptoethylamine have been generated and their contents and structures investigated by numerous physicochemical methods. Mercaptoethanol (SHCH2CH2OH) is coordinated monodentally with just sulfur atom and forms pentacyclic metalchelate ring, where as mercaptoethylamine (HSCH2CH2NH2) is coordinated monodentally as well as bidentally and forms an identical ring (pentacyclic metalchelate). The sulfur atom of ligands plays a bridge role between the metals in the trinuclear platinum complexes. The hydroxyl group of mercaptoethanol does not participate in the coordination

DNA Structural Distortions Induced by a Monofunctional Trinuclear Platinum Complex with Various Cross-Links Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

The monofunctional trinuclear platinum complex (MTPC), as a promising antitumor agent, can form MTPC-DNA adducts via bifunctional and trifunctional cross-links. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate DNA structural distortions of the MTPC-DNA adducts. MTPC coordinating to DNA results in the decrease of base-pair thermal stability and DNA structural distortions. It is found that there are more significant DNA structural distortions in the trifunctional cross-link than in the bifunctional cross-link, in the 1,4-GG than in the 1,3-GG cross-link, and in the intrastrand than in the interstrand cross-link with the same spans. The results provide a better understanding of DNA structural distortions induced by MTPC with various cross-links at the nucleotide level and are helpful for exploring novel Pt-based anticancer drugs.

A Triangular Platinum(II) Multinuclear Complex with Cytotoxicity Towards Breast Cancer Stem Cells.

The preparation of multinuclear metal complexes offers a route to novel anticancer agents and delivery systems. The potency of a novel triangular multinuclear complex containing three platinum atoms, Pt-3, towards breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) is reported. The trinuclear platinum(II) complex, Pt-3 exhibits selective toxicity towards breast CSCs over bulk breast cancer cells and non-tumorigenic breast cells. Remarkably, Pt-3 inhibits the formation, size, and viability of mammospheres to a better extent than salinomycin, an established CSC-potent agent, and cisplatin and carboplatin, clinically used platinum drugs. Mechanism of action studies show that Pt-3 effectively enters breast CSCs, penetrates the nucleus, induces genomic DNA damage, and prompts caspase-dependent apoptosis. To the best of our knowledge, Pt-3 is the first multinuclear platinum complex to selectively kill breast CSCs over other breast cell types.

A Triangular Platinum(II) Multinuclear Complex with Cytotoxicity Towards Breast Cancer Stem Cells

AbstractThe preparation of multinuclear metal complexes offers a route to novel anticancer agents and delivery systems. The potency of a novel triangular multinuclear complex containing three platinum atoms, Pt‐3, towards breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) is reported. The trinuclear platinum(II) complex, Pt‐3 exhibits selective toxicity towards breast CSCs over bulk breast cancer cells and non‐tumorigenic breast cells. Remarkably, Pt‐3 inhibits the formation, size, and viability of mammospheres to a better extent than salinomycin, an established CSC‐potent agent, and cisplatin and carboplatin, clinically used platinum drugs. Mechanism of action studies show that Pt‐3 effectively enters breast CSCs, penetrates the nucleus, induces genomic DNA damage, and prompts caspase‐dependent apoptosis. To the best of our knowledge, Pt‐3 is the first multinuclear platinum complex to selectively kill breast CSCs over other breast cell types.

The trinuclear platinum(ii) complex in Vèzes' red salt as a building block of coordination polymers.

One-dimensional (1D) and three-dimensional (3D) coordination polymers comprising triangular [Pt3(NO2)6(μ3-O)]2- ([Pt3]2-) units were prepared from K2[Pt3]·3H2O (1), also known as Vèzes' red salt. The reaction between 1 and excess 18-crown-6 ether afforded the 1D coordination polymer [K(18-crown-6)]2[Pt3] (2), whereas the reaction between 1, excess 18-crown-6 ether, and AgPF6 afforded the 1D coordination polymer [Ag(18-crown-6)]2[Pt3]·(CH3)2CO (3). However, the reaction between 1 and equimolar amounts of 18-crown-6 and AgPF6 afforded the 3D coordination polymer [Ag2(18-crown-6)][Pt3]·(CH3)2CO (4). Furthermore, the 3D coordination polymer [Ag2Pt3(μ3-O)(NO2)6((CH3)2CO)2]·(CH3)2CO (5) containing three Pt2+ → Ag+ dative bonds was obtained by the reaction of 1, Bu4NPF6, and AgPF6. The N2, O2, and CO2 gas absorption isotherms of 1-5 were obtained, revealing that the dry crystals of 4 exhibit a selective CO2 absorption ability.

Synthesis, characterization and DNA interactions of [Pt3(TPymT)Cl3], the trinuclear platinum(II) complex of the TPymT ligand

The triplatinum complex of the 2,4,6-Tris(2-pyrimidyl)-1,3,5-triazine ligand, Pt3TPymT hereafter, has been prepared and characterized for the first time. NMR studies point out that the three platinum(II) centers possess an identical coordination environment. The interactions of Pt3TPymT with DNA were explored in comparison to the free ligand. Specifically, fluorescence, mass spectrometry, viscometry and melting measurements were carried out. In contrast to expectations, the obtained data reveal that no intercalative binding takes place; we propose that binding of Pt3TPymT to DNA mainly occurs through external/groove binding.

Hydrosilylation of Aromatic Aldehydes and Ketones Catalyzed by Mono- and Tri-Nuclear Platinum(0) Complexes

Abstract Hydrosilylation of aromatic aldehydes and acetophenone with H2SiPh2 was studied by using Pt complexes as the catalyst. Reaction of aromatic aldehydes, such as PhCHO, 4-FC6H4CHO, 4-MeC6H4CHO and 4-CF3C6H4CHO with H2SiPh2 in the presence of [Pt(PPh3)3] catalyst proceeds smoothly at room temperature with similar reaction rates. The hydrosilylation of PhCHO with H2Si(C6H4-4-Me)2 proceeds faster than that with H2SiPh2. Comparison of the reactions of PhCHO with H2SiPh2 and with D2SiPh2 demonstrated a large kinetic isotope effect (3.1). The hydrosilylation of the aldehydes catalyzed by [Pt(PMe3)(μ-SiPh2)]3, reported in our previous paper, shows large dependence of the reaction rate on the aryl group of the substrate, in the order, 4-MeC6H4CHO ≫ PhCHO = 4-FC6H4CHO &amp;gt; 4-CF3C6H4CHO. Hydrosilylation of (3-vinyl)benzaldehyde and 10-undecenal in the presence of [Pt(PPh3)3] catalyst occurs at the carbonyl group selectively to form the corresponding alkoxysilanes. The hydrosilylation of acetophenone with H2SiPh2 catalyzed by [Pt(PPh3)3] forms 1-phenylethyl(diphenylsilyl)ether, while the reaction using the Pt3 catalyst is accompanied by dehydrosilylation to yield a mixture of the saturated and unsaturated silyl ethers.

Inhibition of nuclear factor kappaB proteins-platinated DNA interactions correlates with cytotoxic effectiveness of the platinum complexes.

Nuclear DNA is the target responsible for anticancer activity of platinum anticancer drugs. Their activity is mediated by altered signals related to programmed cell death and the activation of various signaling pathways. An example is activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB). Binding of NF-κB proteins to their consensus sequences in DNA (κB sites) is the key biochemical activity responsible for the biological functions of NF-κB. Using gel-mobility-shift assays and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy we examined the interactions of NF-κB proteins with oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplexes containing κB site damaged by DNA adducts of three platinum complexes. These complexes markedly differed in their toxic effects in tumor cells and comprised highly cytotoxic trinuclear platinum(II) complex BBR3464, less cytotoxic conventional cisplatin and ineffective transplatin. The results indicate that structurally different DNA adducts of these platinum complexes exhibit a different efficiency to affect the affinity of the platinated DNA (κB sites) to NF-κB proteins. Our results support the hypothesis that structural perturbations induced in DNA by platinum(II) complexes correlate with their higher efficiency to inhibit binding of NF-κB proteins to their κB sites and cytotoxicity as well. However, the full generalization of this hypothesis will require to evaluate a larger series of platinum(II) complexes.

The phosphate clamp as recognition motif in platinum–DNA interactions

This review summarizes studies on substitution-inert polynuclear platinum complexes (PPCs) which bind to DNA through the phosphate clamp – a discrete mode of DNA–ligand recognition distinct from the canonical intercalation and minor-groove binding. Especially, this review concentrates on comparing the binding and conformational changes induced by trinuclear platinum complexes with dinuclear spermine-linked complexes. The protonated central polyamine –+NH2–(CH2)4–N+H2– of spermine allows direct comparison with the central Pt(tetraamine) moiety of the trinuclear complexes. The weight of the evidence suggests that while overall charge on the small molecule determines binding affinity, the presence of minor groove spanning from the phosphate clamp is important in conformational changes and in sequence selectivity.

Competitive formation of DNA linkage isomers by a trinuclear platinum complex and the influence of pre-association.

2D [(1)H, (15)N] HSQC NMR spectroscopy has been used to monitor the reaction of fully (15)N-labelled [{trans-PtCl(NH3)2}2(μ-trans-Pt(NH3)2{NH2(CH2)6NH2}2)](4+) (BBR3464 ((15)N-1)) with the 14-mer duplex (5'-{d(ATACATG(7)G(8)TACATA)}-3'·5'-{d(TATG(18)TACCATG(25)TAT)}-3' or I) at pH 5.4 and 298 K, to examine the possible formation of 1,4 and 1,5-GG adducts in both 5'-5' and 3'-3' directions. In a previous study, the binding of the dinuclear 1,1/t,t to I showed specific formation of the 5'-5' 1,4 G(8)G(18) cross-link, whereas in this case a mixture of adducts were formed. Initial (1)H NMR spectra suggested the presence of two pre-associated states aligned in both directions along the DNA. The pre-association was studied in the absence of covalent binding, by use of the "non-covalent" analog [{trans-Pt(NH3)3}2(μ-trans-Pt(NH3)2{NH2(CH2)6NH2}2)](6+) (AH44, 0). Chemical shift changes of DNA protons combined with NOE connectivities between CH2 and NH3 protons of 0 and the adenine H2 protons on I show that two different molecules of 0 are bound in the minor groove. Molecular dynamic simulations were performed to study the interaction of 0 at the two pre-association sites using charges derived from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Structures where the central platinum is located in the minor groove and the aliphatic linkers extend into the major groove, in opposite directions, often represent the lowest energy structures of the snapshots selected. In the reaction of (15)N-1 and I, following the pre-association step, aquation occurs to give the mono aqua monochloro species 2, with a rate constant of 3.43 ± 0.03 × 10(-5) s(-1). There was evidence for two monofunctional adducts (3, 4) bound to the 3' (G8) and 5' (G7) residues and the asymmetry of the (1)H,(15)N peak for 3 suggested two conformers of the 3' adduct, aligned in different directions along the DNA. The rate constant for combined monofunctional adduct formation (0.6 ± 0.1 M(-1)) is ca. 2-fold lower for 1 compared to 1,1/t,t, whereas the rate constant for conversion of the combined monofunctional species to combined bifunctional adducts (5) (8.0 ± 0.2 × 10(-5) s(-1)) is two-fold higher.

Substitution-inert trinuclear platinum complexes efficiently condense/aggregate nucleic acids and inhibit enzymatic activity.

The trinuclear platinum complexes (TriplatinNC-A [{Pt(NH3 )3 }2 -μ-{trans-Pt(NH3 )2 (NH2 (CH2 )6 NH2 )2 }](6+) , and TriplatinNC [{trans-Pt(NH3 )2 (NH2 (CH2 )6 NH3 (+) )}2 -μ-{trans-Pt(NH3 )2 (NH2 (CH2 )6 NH2 )2 }](8+) ) are biologically active agents that bind to DNA through noncovalent (hydrogen bonding, electrostatic) interactions. Herein, we show that TriplatinNC condenses DNA with a much higher potency than conventional DNA condensing agents. Both complexes induce aggregation of small transfer RNA molecules, and TriplatinNC in particular completely inhibits DNA transcription at lower concentrations than naturally occurring spermine. Topoisomerase I-mediated relaxation of supercoiled DNA was inhibited by TriplatinNC-A and TriplatinNC at concentrations which were 60 times and 250 times lower than that of spermine. The mechanisms for the biological activity of TriplatinNC-A and TriplatinNC may be associated with their ability to condense/aggregate nucleic acids with consequent inhibitory effects on crucial enzymatic activities.

Substitution‐Inert Trinuclear Platinum Complexes Efficiently Condense/Aggregate Nucleic Acids and Inhibit Enzymatic Activity

AbstractThe trinuclear platinum complexes (TriplatinNC‐A [{Pt(NH3)3}2‐μ‐{trans‐Pt(NH3)2(NH2(CH2)6NH2)2}]6+, and TriplatinNC [{trans‐Pt(NH3)2(NH2(CH2)6NH3+)}2‐μ‐{trans‐Pt(NH3)2(NH2(CH2)6NH2)2}]8+) are biologically active agents that bind to DNA through noncovalent (hydrogen bonding, electrostatic) interactions. Herein, we show that TriplatinNC condenses DNA with a much higher potency than conventional DNA condensing agents. Both complexes induce aggregation of small transfer RNA molecules, and TriplatinNC in particular completely inhibits DNA transcription at lower concentrations than naturally occurring spermine. Topoisomerase I‐mediated relaxation of supercoiled DNA was inhibited by TriplatinNC‐A and TriplatinNC at concentrations which were 60 times and 250 times lower than that of spermine. The mechanisms for the biological activity of TriplatinNC‐A and TriplatinNC may be associated with their ability to condense/aggregate nucleic acids with consequent inhibitory effects on crucial enzymatic activities.

A monofunctional trinuclear platinum complex with steric hindrance demonstrates strong cytotoxicity against tumor cells

Polynuclear platinum complexes constitute a special class of hopeful antitumor agents. In this study, a Y-type monofunctional trinuclear platinum complex (MTPC) with 1,3,5-tris(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)benzene, ammine and chloride as ligands was synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The DNA binding mode of MTPC was investigated using circular dichroism spectroscopy and gel electrophoresis, and the reactivity of MTPC towards glutathione was studied by 1H NMR and ESI-MS. The results show that MTPC can affect the conformation of calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) significantly and tends to form 1,4-GG rather than 1,2-GG intrastrand crosslinks, which are different from the instance of cisplatin. MTPC reacts with glutathione quite slowly in comparison with cisplatin because of the steric hindrance. The cytotoxicity of MTPC was tested on the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, the human non-small-cell lung cancer cell line A549, and the human ovarian cancer cell line Skov-3 by the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. MTPC is more potent than or comparable to cisplatin. The cellular inhibition mode of MTPC was examined by flow cytometry using MCF-7 cells. MTPC arrests the cell cycle mainly in G2 or M phase, while cisplatin arrests the cell cycle in S phase. Similar to cisplatin, MTPC kills the cells predominantly through an apoptotic pathway.

Synthesis and activity of three new trinuclear platinums with cis-geometry for terminal metal centres.

BackgroundAs compared to cisplatin, trinuclear platinum compounds such as BBR3464 and DH6Cl have an altered spectrum of activity possibly because they form long-range adducts with DNA as against mainly intrastrand 1,2-bifunctional adducts formed by cisplatin and its analogues. Because of the labilizing effect associated with the trans-geometry, the compounds are expected to break down inside the cell thus serving to reduce the number of long-range adducts formed. In contrast, trinuclear platinum complexes with cis-geometry for the terminal metal centres would be less subject to such breakdown and hence may produce a greater number of long-range inter- and intrastrand adducts with the DNA. This paper describes the synthesis and activity against human ovarian tumour models of of three new trinuclear platinum complexes with cis-geometry for terminal platinum centres, coded as QH4, QH7 and QH8. The paper also describes cellular accumulation of platinum, level of drug−DNA binding, and nature of interaction of the compounds with pBR322 plasmid DNA.ResultsMethods of synthesis, elemental analysis, spectral studies and molar conductivity measurements provide support to the suggested structures of the compounds. QH4 and QH8 are found to be more cytotoxic than cisplatin against the parental A2780 cell line; QH8 is more active than cisplatin against the resistant A2780cisR and A2780ZD0473R cell lines as well. The least compound QH7 shows a greater activity against the resistant cell lines than the parental cell line; it is most damaging to pBR322 plasmid DNA and most able to induce changes in DNA conformation. The variations in activity of the compounds, changes in intracellular drug accumulation and levels of Pt−DNA binding with the changes in number of planaramine ligands bound to central platinum and the length of the linking diamines, can be seen (1) to illustrate structure-activity relationships and (2) to highlight that the relationship between antitumour activity and interaction with cellular platinophiles including DNA can be quite complex as the cell death is carried out by downstream processes in the cell cycle where many proteins are involved.ConclusionAmong the three designed trinuclear platinum complexes with cis-geometry for the terminal metal centres, the most active compound QH8 is found to be more active than cisplatin against the parental A2780 and the resistant A2780cisR and A2780ZD0473R cell lines.

Preparation and NMR study of trimetallic complexes of platinum and tungsten bridged by 4-pyridylacetylide and a binuclear complex of rhodium and tungsten bridged by 2-(4-pyridyl)thiazole-4-carboxylate (PTC): structure of [(Ph3P)2Rh(H)2(μ-PTC)W(CO)4(P(4-MeC6H4)3)

The complexes [(dppp)Pt{(μ-C2C5H4N)W(CO)4(PR3)}2] (dppp = Ph2P(CH2)3PPh2; PR3 = PPh3 (1), P(4-XC6H4)3 (X = Me (2), OMe (3), F (4)) P(NMe2)3 (5)) were prepared from [(dppp)Pt(C2C5H4N)2] and cis-[W(CO)4(PR3)(CH3CN)] and were characterized by 1H, 13C, 15N, 31P, 183W and 195Pt NMR spectroscopy. The complex [(Ph3P)2Rh(H)2(μ-PTC)W(CO)4(P(4-MeC6H4)3)] (6) was prepared similarly, from [(Ph3P)2Rh(H)2(PTC)] (thiazole nitrogen and carboxylate oxygen attached to the metal) and cis-[W(CO)4(P(4-MeC6H4)3)(CH3CN)] and was characterized by NMR (1H, 13C, 15N, 31P, 103Rh and 183W) and by X-ray crystallography, which shows π–π interactions between the bridging pyridyl and a phenyl group from a phosphine on each metal. In complexes 1–5, there is little variation in the platinum chemical shift, indicating that electronic influences through the pyridylacetylide bridge are minimal. A bimetallic complex of rhodium and tungsten bridged by 2-(4-pyridyl)-thiazole-4-carboxylate is reported together with an NMR spectroscopic study of a series of trinuclear complexes of platinum and tungsten bridged by 4-pyridylacetylide.

Competitive formation of both long-range 5'-5' and short-range antiparallel 3'-3' DNA interstrand cross-links by a trinuclear platinum complex on binding to a 10-mer duplex.

2D [(1)H, (15)N] HSQC NMR spectroscopy has been used to monitor the reaction of fully (15)N-labelled [{trans-PtCl(NH(3))(2)}(2)(μ-trans-Pt(NH(3))(2){NH(2)(CH(2))(6)NH(2)}(2))](4+) (Triplatin, BBR3464 or 1,0,1/t,t,t ((15)N-1)) with the self-complementary 10-mer DNA duplex 5'-{d(ACGTATACGT)(2)} (duplex I) at pH 5.4 and 298 K. Initial electrostatic interactions were observed in the minor groove of the duplex, followed directly by aquation to form the monoaqua monochloro species. There was evidence for two discrete monofunctional adducts, through covalent binding at the guanine N7 sites, and one had distinctly different (1)H/(15)N chemical shifts to those observed previously in analogous reactions. Bifunctional adduct formation followed by binding at a second guanine N7 site with evidence for both the 3'-3' 1,2-GG and 5'-5' 1,6-GG interstrand cross-links in a ratio of 2 : 1. The results show that cross-link preference is kinetically controlled and will depend critically on the reaction conditions, explaining why in a previous reaction of 1 with duplex I the major adduct isolated by HPLC had two simultaneous 3'-3' 1,2-interstrand cross-links.