This work describes the synthesis and characterization of organometallic N-acylhydrazones (NAHs) of general formula R1-C(O)-NH-NC(R2)(4- or 5-nitrothienyl) (4a,b-7a,b), where R1 = ferrocenyl (a) or cyrhetrenyl (b) and R2 = H or Me. The X-ray crystal structures of 4b, 5a, 5b, and 6b are described. UV-Vis studies confirmed that the compounds remained stable in DMSO/buffer mixtures for 24 h. In vitro studies of the biological activities of 4a,b-7a,b against Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) and Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei) showed that the organometallic derivatives were more active against T. brucei (EC50 = 0.18-12.9 μM) than against T. cruzi (EC50 = 4.24-78.8 μM). Except for 5b, cyrhetrenyl derivatives were more potent than their ferrocenyl analogs, showing up to a 7-fold increase in antiparasitic activity. In all cases, the 5-nitrothiophene derivatives (6a,b-7a,b) also outperformed their 4-nitro analogs (4a,b-5a,b), underscoring the strong impact of nitro-group positioning on biological activity. Compound 6b proved to be the most promising anti-T. brucei agent due to its potency (EC50 = 0.47 μM) and selectivity (SI = 110). Comparison of data for 6a and 6b and their isomers 8a and 8b [R1-C(H)N-NH-C(O)(5-nitrothienyl)] revealed that antiparasitic activity and cytotoxicity are strongly influenced by the position of the acylhydrazone group linking the organometallic fragment and the nitroheterocycle. Evaluation of T. brucei susceptibility showed that the 5-nitro derivatives undergo Type I nitroreductase-dependent activation (-tet/+tet ratios: 4.2-5.6), while the 4-nitro counterparts exhibited only minor shifts (1.5-2.0). These results indicate that small structural modifications in NAHs can significantly affect their antiparasitic properties.

Juliá and Colonna were one of the firsts chemists reporting examples of enantioselective organocatalyzed reactions, namely the Phase-Transfer Catalysis (PTC) olefin epoxidation. Although some reviews exist on the Juliá-Colonna reaction, none is devoted specifically to it. After an introduction reporting the main publications gathered in three tables, this review is organized into a) olefin epoxidation; b) other enantioselective catalysts; c) Juliá-Colonna papers; d, e) papers citing the "Juliá-Colonna" epoxidation with special stress on those by Stanley M. Roberts. This review summarizes the papers by these authors and reports the most relevant improvements.

Here we present comparative studies of: (i) the formation of ZnO thin films via the sol-gel method using zinc acetate dihydrate (ZAD), 2-methoxyethanol (ME) as solvent, and the aminoalcohols (AA): ethanolamine, (S)-(+)-2-amino-1-propanol, (S)-(+)-2-amino-3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-aminophenol, and aminobenzyl alcohol, and (ii) elemental analyses, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, absorption and emission spectra of films obtained after deposition by drop coating on glass surface, and thermal treatments at 300, 400, 500 and 600 °C. The results obtained provide conclusive evidences of the influence of the AA used (aliphatic vs. aromatic) on the ink stability (prior to deposition), and on the composition, structures, morphologies, and properties of films after calcination, in particular, those due to the different substituents, H, Me, or iPr, and to the presence or the absence of a –CH2 unit. Aliphatic films, more stable and purer than aromatic ones, contained the ZnO wurtzite form for all annealing temperatures, while the cubic sphalerite (zinc-blende) form was also detected after using aromatic AAs. Films having frayed fibers or quartered layers or uniform yarns evolved to “neuron-like” patterns. UV and photoluminescence studies revealed that these AAs also affect the optical band gap, the structural defects, and photo-optical properties of the films.

This paper reports a structural study of albendazole concerning the desmotropy of its amino and imino tautomers, ABZ-I and ABZ-II, mistakenly called polymorphs. Experimental NMR determination in solution, DMSO‑d6, HMPA-d18 and CF3CO2H, and in the solid state, CPMAS, together with DFT calculations, energies and NMR chemical shifts, has allowed to understand the complex problem of prototropy combined with rotation about the benzimidazole C2-N exocyclic group that explain the disorder problem of the S-propyl group. The structure of protonated albendazole, ABZH+, has also been studied. The role of the hybrid HF/DFT B3LYP computational method at the B3LYP/6–311++G(d,p) level has been determinant to solve the problems related to the structure of albendazole in the solid state and in solution and the barrier in solution of a phenomenon resulting either from annular tautomerism or from the rotation about the exocyclic CN bond.

A new series of twenty-three 1,5-benzodiazepin-2(3H)-ones were synthesized and evaluated in the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays as a new chemotype with antioxidant and good drug-like properties. All of the derivatives showed low cytotoxicity in comparison to curcumin against the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y and the human hepatoma HepG2 cell lines. Experimental solubility in bio-relevant media showed a good relationship with melting points in this series. Five compounds with the best antioxidant properties showed neuroprotectant activity against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in the SH-SY5Y cell line. From them, derivatives 4-phenyl-1H-1,5-benzodiazepin-2(3H)-one (18) and 4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1H-1,5-benzodiazepin-2(3H)-one (20) yielded good neuroprotection activity in the same neuronal cell line under 6-OHD and MPP+ insults as in vitro models of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Both compounds also demonstrated a significant reduction of intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and superoxide levels, in parallel with a good improvement of the Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (ΔΨm). Compared with curcumin, compound 18 better reduced lipid peroxidation levels, malondialdehyde (MDA), in SH-SY5Y cells under oxidative stress pressure and recovered intracellular glutathione synthetase (GSH) levels. Apoptosis and caspase-3 levels of SH-SY5Y under H2O2 pressure were also reduced after treatment with 18. Neuroprotection in neuron-like differentiated SH-SY5Y cells was also achieved with 18. In summary, this family of 1,5-benzodiazepin-2-ones with an interesting antioxidant and drug-like profile, with low cytotoxic and good neuroprotectant activity, constitutes a new promising chemical class with high potential for the development of new therapeutic agents against PD.

Four N-acylhydrazones of general formulae [R1-C(O)-NH-N=C(R2)(5-nitrofuryl)] with (R1 = ferrocenyl or cyrhetrenyl and R2 = H or Me) are synthesized and characterized in solution and in the solid-state. Comparative studies of their stability in solution under different experimental conditions and their electrochemical properties are reported. NMR studies reveal that the four compounds are stable in DMSO-d6 and complementary UV-Vis studies confirm that they also exhibit high stability in mixtures DMSO:H2O at 37 C. Electrochemical studies show that the half-wave potential of the nitro group of the N-acylhydrazones is smaller than that of the standard drug nifurtimox and the reduction process follows a self-protonation mechanism. In vitro studies on the antiparasitic activities of the four complexes and the nifurtimox against Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei reveal that: i) the N-acylhydrazones have a potent inhibitory growth activity against both parasites [EC50 in the low micromolar (in T. cruzi) or even in the nanomolar (in T. brucei) range] and ii) cyrhetrenyl derivatives are more effective than their ferrocenyl analogs. Parallel studies on the L6 rat skeletal myoblast cell line have also been conducted, and the selectivity indexes determined. Three of the four N-acylhydrazones showed higher selectivity towards T. brucei than the standard drug nifurtimox. Additional studies suggest that the organometallic compounds are bioactivated by type I nitroreductase enzymes.

Theoretical simulation of NMR parameters in compounds bearing heavy atoms generally requires the application of relativistic corrections. We report herein the theoretical characterization of 13C and 15N CPMAS NMR of known bromo-derivative crystals by using both the GIPAW and the combined GIAO-ZORA-SO approximation methods. Several statistical analyses were performed to compare both approaches, with non-relativistic GIPAW method being more useful to predict the 13C and 15N chemical shifts. The problem of applying GIPAW to crystal structures showing static or dynamic crystalline disorder of the special class resulting in half-protons will be discussed in detail.

The novel ferrocenyl sulfonyl hydrazide (2) and its homo (4) and heterobimetallic (5aand5b) imines were prepared and characterized. A comparative study of their electrochemical, spectroscopic and antitumor properties is also described.

The syntheses, characterization, X-ray crystal structures, electrochemical properties and anticancer and antichagasic activities of the first examples of 2-substituted 2,4-dihydro-1H-3,1-benzoxazines with half-sandwich organometallic arrays, [M(η5-C5H4)(CO)3] (M = Re or Mn), at position-2 are described. Experimental and computational studies based on DFT calculations on the open forms [Schiff bases of general formulae R-CH[double bond, length as m-dash]N-C6H4-2-CH2OH] (5), with R = ferrocenyl (a), phenyl (b), cyrhetrenyl (c) or cymantrenyl (d), and their tautomeric forms (2-substituted 2,4-dihydro-1H-3,1 benzoxazines) have allowed us to establish the influence of substituents a-d and solvents on: (a) the extent of tautomeric equilibria (5a-5d) ↔ (6a-6d) and (b) their electrochemical properties and the electronic distribution on the open and closed forms. Despite the formal similarity between 6c and 6d, their anticancer and antiparasitic activities are markedly different. Compound 6d is inactive in the HCT116, MDA-MB231 and MCF7 cancer cell lines, but 6c shows moderate activity in the latter cell line, while the Mn(i) complex (6d) is a more potent anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agent than its Re(i) analogue (6c).

Tetrakis(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methanes are very rare compounds of which only two are known: the unsubstituted 1 obtained classically by Hückel in 1937 from carbon tetrachloride and prepared again several times and the 3,5-dimethyl substituted 2 obtained serendipitously by Pombeiro in 2009. We have now extended this group to include four new derivatives 8, 9, 11 and 12 bearing methyl groups. The X-ray crystal structure of the four compounds has been determined. They have been studied by NMR both in solution (1H, 13C, 15N) and in the solid state (13C and 15N). DFT calculations of the six compounds (geometries, energies and absolute shieldings) have been used to discuss the experimental observations.

The study of the reactivity of three 2-phenyl-3H-indole ligands of general formulae C8H3N-2-(C6H4-4-R1)-3-NOMe-5-R2 (1) [with R1 = H, R2 = OMe (a); R1 = R2 = H (b) or R1 = Cl, R2 = H (c)] with [Pd(η3-1-R3C3H4)(μ-Cl)]2 (R3 = H or Ph) has allowed us to isolate two sets of new Pd(II)-allyl complexes of general formulae [Pd(η3-1-R3C3H4)(1)Cl] {R3 = H (2) or Ph (3)}. Compounds 2a–2c and 3a–3c were characterized by elemental analyses, mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of 2a, 3a and 3b were also determined by X-ray diffraction. 1H-NMR studies reveal the coexistence of two (for 2a–2c) or three (for 3a–3c) isomeric forms in CD2Cl2 solutions at 182 K. Additional studies on the catalytic activity of mixtures containing [Pd(η3-C3H5)(μ-Cl)]2 and the parent ligand (1a–1c) in the allylic alkylation of (E)-3-phenyl-2-propenyl (cinnamyl) acetate with sodium diethyl 2-methylmalonate as well as the stoichiometric reaction between compounds 3a and 3c with the nucleophile reveal that in both cases the formation of the linear trans- derivative is strongly preferred over the branched product. Computational studies at a DFT level on compound 3a allowed us to compare the relative stability of their isomeric forms present in solution and to explain the regioselectivity of the catalytic and stoichiometric processes.

This work presents experimental and computational studies on ZnO formation after decomposition of a sol-gel precursor containing ethanolamine and Zn(II) acetate. The structural modifications suffered during decomposition of the monomeric and dimeric Zn(II) complexes formed, containing bidentate deprotonated ethanolamine and acetato ligands, have been described experimentally and explained via Car-Parrinello Molecular Dynamics. Additional metadynamics simulations provide an overview of the dimer evolution by the cleavage of the Zn-N bond, the structural changes produced and their effects on the Zn(II) environment. The results provide conclusive evidence of the relevance of ethanolamine used as a stabilizer in the formation of ZnO.

In this work, we use Raman spectroscopy and quantum first-principles calculations to unveil the experimental spectrum of a complex molecular solid-like benzylic amide [2]catenane, a representative example of a mechanically interlocked molecular architecture. We use large-scale density functional theory calculations to obtain the complete set of vibrational normal modes of the catenane crystal, whose unit cell contains 544 atoms. Subsequently, we demonstrate that these calculations are able to accurately reproduce the experimental Raman spectrum of this molecular compound, without introducing any empirical corrections or fittings in the calculated eigen frequencies. Thanks to the good agreement between the experimental and theoretical spectra, it is possible to carry out the complete assignment of the main vibrational modes responsible for the whole spectrum. A detailed description in terms of the usual internal coordinates is given for all of these representative modes. This description, rather difficult from the experimental point of view, provides valuable information about the molecular structure of this compound, compatible with experimental evidences reported in the literature.

Cisplatin is an efficient anticancer drug, but its effects are often lost after several chemotherapy cycles, showing important secondary effects. For these reasons, new anticancer agents, with different coordination properties and mechanisms of action, are needed. Here we describe the reaction of 2-phenylaniline with cis-[PtCl2(dmso)(2)] and sodium acetate to afford a cycloplatinated compound 2 and the synthesis and some biological studies of 3-6 (two neutral and two ionic compounds): [PtCl(C-N)(L)], C-N cycloplatinated 2-phenylaniline with L = PPh3(3) or P(4-FC6H4)(3) (4) and [Pt(C-N)(L-L)]Cl with L-L = Ph2PCH2CH2Ph2(5) or (C6F5)(2)PCH2-CH2(C6F5)(2) (6). Ionic platinacycles 5 and 6 show a greater antiproliferative activity than that of cisplatin in human lung, breast, and colon cancer cell lines (A-549, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, and HCT-116), a remarkable result given the fact that they do not show covalent interaction with DNA. 5 and 6 have also been found able to oxidize NADH by a catalytic process prod- oducing H2O2 as ROS. The activity of these complexes to generate ROS seems to be the key factor to explain their potent anticancer activity; it should be noted that platinum(II) complexes showing biocatalytic activity for hydride transfer from NADH have not been described so far. Ionic complex 6 shows low affinity to some target proteins; the presence of perfluoroaromatic rings seems to hinder its interaction with some biomolecules.

†Departamento de Física Teórica de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain ‡Departamento de Ciencias y Técnicas Fisicoquímicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Paseo de la Senda del Rey 9, E-28040 Madrid, Spain ¶Departamento de Química Orgánica y Bio-Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Paseo de la Senda del Rey 9, E-28040 Madrid, Spain §Contributed equally to this work

The synthesis and characterization of two hybrid N-methylated carbazole derivatives containing a thiazolyl or a thienyl ring is reported. The thiazolyl derivative has been also characterised by X-ray diffraction analysis. The study of its reactivity in front of [MCl2(dmso)(2)] (M = Pd or Pt) or Na-2[PdCl4] in methanol has allowed us to isolate and characterize its complexes. However, for the thienyl analogue, the formation of any Pd(II) or Pt(II) complex was not detected, indicating that it is less prone to bind to the M(II) ions than its thiazolyl analogue. Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) calculations have also been carried out in order to rationalize the influence of the nature of the thiazolyl or thienyl group on the electronic delocalization. Molecular mechanics calculations show that the free rotation of the thiazolyl in relation to the carbazole requires a greater energy income than for its thienyl analogue. Studies of the cytotoxic activity of the new compounds on colon (HCT116) and breast (MDA-MB231 and MCF7) cancer cell lines show that the thiazolyl carbazole ligand and its Pt(II) complex are the most active agents of the series and in the MCF7 line their potency is higher than that of cisplatin. In the non-tumoral human skin fibroblast BJ cell line, all the compounds were less toxic than cisplatin. Their potential ability to modify the electrophoretic mobility of pBluescript SK+ plasmid DNA and to act as inhibitors of Topoisomerases I and II alpha or cathepsin B has also been investigated.

Since their first synthesis by Huckel (1937) and the first systematic exploration by Trofimenko (1970), interest in poly(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methanes (bis, tris and tetrakis) has increased dramatically. This review focuses on the synthesis and reactivity of these ligands and contains 541 different structures and 269 references. After a brief historical introduction, the synthesis, reactivity, and nature of the coordinated metals are described along with some properties of these compounds, particularly the complete set of X-ray molecular structures. All of the formulae are represented to show the extraordinary richness of poly(1H-pyrazol-1-yl) methanes and to promote the use of the already known poly(1H-pyrazol-1-yl) methanes in coordination chemistry and the design of new ligands with the reported procedures. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This work presents a detailed structural and chemical characterization of the system formed by zinc acetate dihydrate (ZAD) and ethanolamine (EA) with methoxyethanol (ME), in order to describe its stability. The origin of the mixture degradation during storage at room conditions. is analyzed. Complementary computational (or theoretical) DFT calculations on the precursor formed in this reaction in ME and those of EA (free or in the same solvent) and in the presence or absence of CO2, light, or both simultaneously are also reported in order to clarify the relative weight of these factors in the degradation process. In all cases, the models were tested as potential energy minimum, and their photo absorption spectra were simulated. The calculations show that the monomeric species formed in this process tend to into dimers, which are more photosensitive and reactive than the monomer. Our results explain the experimental observations and provide a better understanding of the role played by EA, ME, and CO2 in the formation of ZnO and, consequently, allow for the optimization of the technological processes used to prepare these films.