The reduced Schiff bases of salicylaldehyde [and o-vanillin (o-van)] with D,L- and L-diaminopropionic acid (DPA), designated by salDPA, and L-2,4-diaminopentanoic acid [ornithine (Orn)], designated by salOrn, as well as the VIVO2+ and VVO2+ complexes of salDPA were prepared. The compounds were characterised in the solid state and in solution. The structure of H4salDPA+Cl- was determined by X-ray diffraction. Complexation of VIVO2+ and VVO2+ with salDPA and salOrn (only the VIVO system) in aqueous solution was studied by potentiometry, UV/Visible spectroscopy and circular dichroism, as well as by EPR spectroscopy for the VIVO-salDPA system and by 1H- and 51V NMR spectroscopy for the VVO2-salDPA system. Stoichiometries and complex formation constants were determined by potentiometry at 25 °C and I = 0.2 M KCl. Practically only 1:1 complexes were formed in both systems with composition (VO)LH2 and(VO)L in the VIVO-salDPA system, and with composition(VO2)LH and (VO2)L in the VVO2-salDPA system. Spectroscopic data provided information about the most probable binding modes of each stoichiometry. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)

The structural determination and characterization of molecules, namely proteins and enzymes, is crucial to gaining a better understanding of their role in different chemical and biological processes. The continuous technical developments in the experimental and computational resources of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and, more recently, cryogenic Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) led to an enormous growth in the number of structures deposited in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). Bioinorganic chemistry arose as a relevant discipline in biology and therapeutics, with a massive number of studies reporting the effects of metal complexes on biological systems, with vanadium complexes being one of the relevant systems addressed. In this review, we focus on the interactions of vanadium compounds (VCs) with proteins. Several types of binding are established between VCs and proteins/enzymes. Considering that the V-species that bind may differ from those initially added, the mentioned structural techniques are pivotal to clarifying the nature and variety of interactions of VCs with proteins and to proposing the mechanisms involved either in enzymatic inhibition or catalysis. As such, we provide an account of the available structural information of VCs bound to proteins obtained by both XRD and/or cryo-EM, mainly exploring the more recent structures, particularly those containing organic-based vanadium complexes.

Three new copper(II) complexes formulated as [Cu(L)(X)], where X = H2O or Cl and H2L is a Schiff base (H2L1,2) or its reduced version ((H3LCl)-Cl-3) derived from pyridoxal, are prepared, as well as two ternary complexes [Cu(L) (phen)] also containing 1,10-phenanthroline. All compounds are characterized by the usual techniques: elemental analyses, ESI mass spectrometry, UV-Vis absorption, FTIR and EPR spectroscopies. The ligands co-ordinate the Cu(II) center forming complexes with square-planar based geometries. Their antioxidant properties are evaluated with a radical scavenging activity assay, with one of the ligand precursors showing activity higher than the positive control, ascorbic acid. The antiproliferative activity of all compounds is evaluated against two cancer cell lines: ovarian (A2780) and breast (MCF7). All complexes show moderate to excellent activity with the ternary Cu-complexes showing IC50 values between 0.7 and 9.3 mu M after 24 h of incubation, values much lower than those reported for cisplatin, the reference drug. The hydrolytic stability of the complexes and their ability to bind albumin and DNA are evaluated by spectroscopic techniques, showing that the compounds bind bovine serum albumin. The [Cu(L)(phen)] complexes show ability to target DNA via intercalation.

(VO)-O-IV-complexes formulated as [(VO)-O-IV(OSO3)(phen)(2)] (1) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), [(VO)-O-IV(OSO3) (Me(2)phen)(2)] (2) (Me(2)phen = 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) and [(VO)-O-IV(OSO3)(amphen)(2)] (3) (amphen = 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline) were prepared and stability in cell incubation media evaluated. Their cytotoxicity was determined against the A2780 (ovarian), MCF7 (breast) and PC3 (prostate) human cancer cells at different incubation times. While at 3 and 24 h the cytotoxicity differs for complexes and corresponding free ligands, at 72 h incubation all compounds are equally active presenting low IC50 values. Upon incubation of A2780 cells with 1-3, cellular distribution of vanadium in cytosol, membranes, nucleus and cytoskeleton, indicate that the uptake of V is low, particularly for 1, and that the uptake pattern depends on the ligand. Nuclear microscopic techniques are used for imaging and elemental quantification in whole PC3 cells incubated with 1. Once complexes are added to cell culture media, they decompose, and with time most V-IV oxidizes to V-V-species. Modeling of speciation when [(VO)-O-IV(OSO3)(phen)(2)] (1) is added to cell media is presented. At lower concentrations of 1, (VO)-O-IV- and phen-containing species are mainly bound to bovine serum albumin, while at higher concentrations [(VO)-O-IV (phen)n](2+)-complexes become relevant, being predicted that the species taken up and mechanisms of action operating depend on the total concentration of complex. This study emphasizes that for these (VO)-O-IV-systems, and probably for many others involving oxidovanadium or other labile metal complexes, it is not possible to identify active species or propose mechanisms of cytotoxic action without evaluating speciation occurring in cell media.

Two tripodal vanadium complexes derived from modified L-phenylalanine were prepared and characterised. Both compounds were tested for their catalytic activity in the reductive coupling of benzaldehyde. Overall, the complexes are capable of catalysing the reductive coupling of benzaldehyde in the presence of metallic zinc as co-reductant and alkylammonium or alkylpyridinium acetate salts in ethanol under mild aerobic conditions. While benzyl alcohol is generally the major product, the yield of hydrobenzoin reaches ca. 38% under these conditions. Enantioselectivities reach 39% and there is a preferential formation of the trans diastereoisomer of hydrobenzoin. Attempts to study some aspects of the underlying mechanism were made. It was found that metallic zinc is capable of reducing the complexes to VIII species, which are likely to be the active catalytic species. The methodology described may set up a basis for the development of catalytic systems for the asymmetric synthesis of hydrobenzoins under mild conditions, not requiring chlorosilanes as electrophilic reagents for the regeneration of the catalyst.

The synthesis, characterization and catalytic performance of chiral Cu(II) complexes derived from N-carboxymethylated and N-carboxyethylated amino acids is reported. The ligand precursors are prepared by single step N-alkylation of the sodium salts of the appropriate chiral amino acid with either sodium chloroacetate or sodium 3-chloropropionate in water. The Cu(II) complexes are obtained upon reaction of Cu(CH3COO)2 with the aqueous or alcoholic suspension of the suitable ligand under vigorous stirring or ultrasound irradiation at room temperature. The Cu(II) compounds are characterised by EPR, UV–vis, circular dichroism and ESI-MS. The molecular structures of two of the prepared complexes are also obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The catalytic activity of the complexes in the asymmetric oxidative coupling of 2-naphthol is described. All compounds exhibit moderate activity, selectivity and enantioselectivity in ethanol/water mixtures, under aerobic conditions and using potassium iodide as additive. The yields of 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) reached 50% under the optimal conditions, while enantiomeric excesses reached ca. 48%. The effect of variables such as ligand substituents, solvent, temperature and additives on the catalytic activity is also described. In the absence of a base, the complexes only show catalytic activity in the presence of alkali metal iodide such as KI. Details of the oxidative coupling mechanism are studied using spectroscopic and electrochemical methodologies.

Wittig reactions between 10-(phenylsulfonyl)isobornyl (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetates (1 and 6) and ketenes resulted in asymmetric induction, with the selective synthesis of allenes with axial chirality. Use of the (1R)-(-)-10-(phenylsulfonyl)isoborneol unit allows the synthesis of allenes with S configuration, whereas use of the (1S)-(+)-10-(phenylsulfonyl)isoborneol unit produces allenes with R configuration. The structure of (1R)-(-)-10-(phenylsulfonyl)isobornyl (S)-5,5-dimethylhexa-2,3-dienoate (2e) was determined by X-ray crystallography. Chirooptical studies of the allenic esters were carried out, confirming that two sets of enantiomeric derivatives were obtained. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)

The synthesis, characterization and catalytic performance of chiral Cu(II) complexes derived from N-carboxymethylated and N-carboxyethylated amino acids is reported. The ligand precursors are prepared by single step N-alkylation of the sodium salts of the appropriate chiral amino acid with either sodium chloroacetate or sodium 3-chloropropionate in water. The Cu(II) complexes are obtained upon reaction of Cu(CH3COO)2 with the aqueous or alcoholic suspension of the suitable ligand under vigorous stirring or ultrasound irradiation at room temperature. The Cu(II) compounds are characterised by EPR, UV–vis, circular dichroism and ESI-MS. The molecular structures of two of the prepared complexes are also obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The catalytic activity of the complexes in the asymmetric oxidative coupling of 2-naphthol is described. All compounds exhibit moderate activity, selectivity and enantioselectivity in ethanol/water mixtures, under aerobic conditions and using potassium iodide as additive. The yields of 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) reached 50% under the optimal conditions, while enantiomeric excesses reached ca. 48%. The effect of variables such as ligand substituents, solvent, temperature and additives on the catalytic activity is also described. In the absence of a base, the complexes only show catalytic activity in the presence of alkali metal iodide such as KI. Details of the oxidative coupling mechanism are studied using spectroscopic and electrochemical methodologies.

The chemical modification of porphyran hydrocolloid is attempted, with the objective of enhancing its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Sulfated galactan porphyran is obtained from commercial samples of the red algae Porphyra dioica using Soxhlet extraction with water at 100ºC and precipitation with isopropyl alcohol. The extracted porphyran is then treated with modified L-tyrosines in aqueous medium in the presence of NaOH, at ca. 70ºC. The modified tyrosines L1 and L2 are prepared through a Mannich reaction with either thymol or 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, respectively. While the reaction with 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol yields the expected tyrosine derivative, a mixture of products is obtained with thymol. The resulting polysaccharides are structurally characterized and the respective antioxidant and antimicrobial activities are determined. Porphyran treated with the N-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butyl-benzyl)-L-tyrosine derivative, POR-L2, presents a noticeable superior radical scavenging and antioxidant activity compared to native porphyran, POR. Furthermore, it exhibited some antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. The surface morphology of films prepared by casting with native and modified porphyrans is studied by SEM/EDS. Both POR and POR-L2 present potential applicability in the production of films and washable coatings for food packaging with improved protecting characteristics.