An aqua-adenine H-bonding interaction controlling the formation of the rare Zn(II)–N9(adenine) bond in crystal structure of diaqua(adenine)(iminodiacetato)zinc(II)

Buffer-Dependent Photophysics of 2-Aminopurine: Insights into Fluorescence Quenching and Excited-State Interactions

2-Aminopurine (2AP) is the most widely used fluorescent nucleobase analogue in DNA and RNA research. Its unique photophysical properties and sensitivity to environmental changes make it a useful tool for understanding nucleic acid dynamics and DNA-protein interactions. We studied the effect of ions present in commonly used buffer solutions on the excited-state photophysical properties of 2AP. Fluorescence quenching was negligible for tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS), but significant for phosphate, carbonate, 3-(N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid (MOPS), and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) buffers. Results indicate that the two tautomers of 2AP (7H, 9H) are quenched by phosphate ions to different extents. Quenching by the H2PO4- ion is more pronounced for the 7H tautomer, while the opposite is true for the HPO42- ion. For phosphate ions, the results of the time-resolved fluorescence study cannot be explained using a simple collisional quenching mechanism. Instead, results are consistent with transient interactions between 2AP and the phosphate ions. We postulate that excited-state interactions between the 2AP tautomers and an H-bond acceptor (phosphate and carbonate) result in significant quenching of the singlet-excited state of 2AP. Such interactions manifest in biexponential fluorescence intensity decays with pre-exponential factors that vary with quencher concentration, and downward curvatures of the Stern-Volmer plots.

Hybrid Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks: Structures and Functional Applications

As a new class of porous crystalline materials, hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) assembled from building blocks by hydrogen bonds have gained increasing attention. HOFs benefit from advantages including mild synthesis, easy purification, and good recyclability. However, some HOFs transform into unstable frameworks after desolvation, which hinders their further applications. Nowadays, the main challenges of developing HOFs lie in stability improvement, porosity establishment, and functionalization. Recently, more and more stable and permanently porous HOFs have been reported. Of all these design strategies, stronger charge-assisted hydrogen bonds and coordination bonds have been proven to be effective for developing stable, porous, and functional solids called hybrid HOFs, including ionic and metallized HOFs. This Review discusses the rational design synthesis principles of hybrid HOFs and their cutting-edge applications in selective inclusion, proton conduction, gas separation, catalysis and so forth.

Membranes Composed of Lipopeptides and Liponucleobases Inspired Protolife Evolution

Amino acids and peptides have been demonstrated to form lipoamino acids and lipopeptides under presumed prebiotic conditions, and readily form liposomes. Of the common nucleobases, adenine forms a liponucleobase even below 100 °C. Adenine as well as other nucleobases can also be derivatized with ethylene carbonate (and likely other similar compounds) onto which fatty acids can be attached. The fatty acid tails along with appropriately functionalized nucleobases provide some solubility of liponucleobases in membranes. Such membranes would provide a structure in which three of biology's major components are closely associated and available for chemical interactions. Nucleobase-to-nucleobase interactions would ensure that the liponucleobases would have a uniquely different head-group relationship than other amphiphiles within a membrane, likely forming rafts due their π-π interactions and providing surface discontinuities that could serve as catalytic sites. The π-π bond distance in aromatic compounds is typically 0.34 nm, commensurate with that of the amine to carboxylate distance in alpha amino acids. This would have provided opportunity for hydrogen bonding between amino acids and the distal primary amines or tautomeric carbonyl/hydroxyl groups of two π-bonded nucleobases. Such bonding would weaken the covalent linkages within the amino acids, making them susceptible to forming peptide bonds with an adjacent amino acid, likely a lipoamino acid or lipopeptide. Were this second lipoamino acid bound to a third π-bonded nucleobase, it could result in orientation, destabilization and peptide formation. The stacked triplet of nucleobases might constitute the primordial codon triplet from which peptides were synthesized: primordial translation.

An asymmetric binuclear zinc(ii) complex with mixed iminodiacetate and phenanthroline ligands: synthesis, characterization, structural conversion and anticancer properties

A water-soluble asymmetric binuclear zinc(ii) complex with mixed iminodiacetate and 1,10-phenanthroline ligands exhibited promising anticancer activity and low toxicity, suggesting potential as a chemotherapeutic agent.

From 7-azaindole to adenine: molecular recognition aspects on mixed-ligand Cu(II) complexes with deaza-adenine ligands

For a better understanding of the versatile behaviour of adenine as a ligand, a series of 10 ternary copper(II) complexes with deaza-adenine ligands [7-azaindole (1,6,7-trideaza-adenine, H7azain), 4-azabenzimidazole (1,6-dideaza-adenine, H4abim), 5-azabenzimidazole (3,6-dideaza-adenine, H5abim), and 7-deaza-adenine (H7deaA)] have been synthesised and characterised by X-ray diffraction. Likewise, all the compounds studied have been analysed by spectral and thermal methods. The proton tautomers and donor capabilities of the above-mentioned deaza-adenine ligands have been calculated by DFT. We conclude that the increasing presence of N-donors in deaza-adenine ligands favours the proton tautomerism and their versatility as co-ligands. Notably, H7azain consistently uses the same tautomer, H4abim uses two different tautomers but is not protonated by the pentadentate H(2)EDTA(2-) ligand, and H(N1)5abim displays the μ(2)-N7,N9 mode, whereas H(N9)7deaA binds Cu(II) by N3 in cooperation with an intra-molecular N9-H···O interaction or using the unprecedented bidentate μ(2)-N1,N3 bridging mode.

pH- and mol-ratio dependent formation of zinc(II) coordination polymers with iminodiacetic acid: synthesis, spectroscpic, crystal structure and thermal studies

Three novel zinc coordination polymers (NH(4))(n)[Zn(Hida)Cl(2)](n) (1), [Zn(ida)(H(2)O)(2)](n) (2), [Zn(Hida)(2)](n)·4nH(2)O (3) (H(2)ida = iminodiacetic acid) and a monomeric complex [Zn(ida)(phen)(H(2)O)]·2H(2)O (4) (phen=1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction methods. 1 and 2 form one-dimensional (1-D) chain structures, whereas 3 exhibits a three-dimensional (3-D) diamondoid framework with an open channel. The mononuclear complex 4 is extended into a 3-D supramolecular architecture through hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking. Interestingly, cyclic nonplanar tetrameric water clusters are observed that encapsulated in the 3-D lattice of 4. Based on (1)H and (13)C NMR observations, there is obvious coordination of complex 2 in solution, while 1 and 3 decompose into free iminodiacetate ligand. Monomer [Zn(ida)(H(2)O)(3)] (5) is considered as a possible discrete species from 2. These coordination polymers can serve as good molecular precursors for zinc oxide.

Aqua-(imino-diacetato-κO,N,O')(1,10-phenanthroline-κN,N')zinc(II) sesquihydrate

The imino­diacetate dianion in the title compound, [Zn(C₄H₅NO₄)(C₁₂H₈N₂)(H₂O)]·1.5H₂O, chelates to the Zn^II center with its N and two O atoms. The metal atom is also chelated by the N-heterocycle and coordinated by one water molecule, leading to a distorted octahedral environment. The dianion, and coordinated and uncoordinated water mol­ecules inter­act through O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating a three-dimensional network. One of the two uncoordinated water mol­ecules has half-site occupancy. The crystal studied was a non-merohedral twin with a 15% twin component.

Zinc(II) complexes with potent cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors derived from 6-benzylaminopurine: Synthesis, characterization, X-ray structures and biological activity

The synthesis, characterization and biological activity of the first zinc(II) complexes with potent inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) derived from 6-benzylaminopurine are described. Based on the results following from elemental analyses, infrared, NMR and ES+MS (electrospray mass spectra in the positive ion mode) spectroscopies, conductivity data, thermal analysis and X-ray structures, the tetrahedral Zn(II) complexes of the compositions [Zn(Olo)Cl(2)](n) (1), [Zn(iprOlo)Cl(2)](n) (2), [Zn(BohH(+))Cl(3)] x H(2)O (3) and [Zn(iprOloH(+))Cl(3)] x H(2)O (4) have been prepared, where Olo=2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)-6-benzylamino-9-methylpurine (Olomoucine), iprOlo=2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)-6-benzylamino-9-isopropylpurine (i-propyl-Olomoucine), Boh=2-(3-hydroxypropylamino)-6-benzylamino-9-isopropylpurine (Bohemine). The 1D-polymeric chain structure for [Zn(Olo)Cl(2)](n) (1) as well as the monomeric one for [Zn(BohH(+))Cl(3)] x H(2)O (3) and [Zn(iprOloH(+))Cl(3)] x H(2)O (4) have been revealed unambiguously by single crystal X-ray analyses. The 1D-polymeric chain of 1 consists of Zn(Olo)Cl(2) monomeric units in which the Zn(II) ion is coordinated by two chlorine atoms and one oxygen atom of the 2-hydroxyethylamino group of Olomoucine. The next monomeric unit is bonded to Zn(II) through the N7 atom of a purine ring. Thus, each of Zn(II) ions is tetrahedrally coordinated and a ZnCl(2)NO chromophore occurs in the complex 1. The complexes 3 and 4 are mononuclear species with a distorted tetrahedral arrangement of donor atoms around the Zn(II) ion with a ZnCl(3)N chromophore. The corresponding CDK inhibitor, i.e., both Boh and iprOlo, is coordinated to Zn(II) via the N7 atom of the purine ring in 3 and 4. The cytotoxicity of the zinc(II) complexes against human melanoma, sarcoma, leukaemia and carcinoma cell lines has been determined as well as the inhibition of the CDK2/cyclin E kinase. A relationship between the structure and biological activity of the complexes is also discussed.

Supramolecular architectures assembled by the interaction of purine nucleobases with metal-oxalato frameworks. Non-covalent stabilization of the 7H-adenine tautomer in the solid-state

The synthesis, crystal structure and variable-temperature magnetic measurements of the compounds [Mn(mu-ox)(H2O)(7H-pur-kappaN9)]n (1), {[Mn(mu-ox)(H2O)2].(7H-ade).(H2O)}n (2) and {[Cu(mu-ox)(H2O)(7H-ade-kappaN9)][Cu(mu-ox)(mu-H2O)(7H-ade-kappaN9)]. approximately 10/3H2O}n (3), (where ox: oxalato dianion, pur: purine, and ade: adenine) are reported. Compounds 1and 2 contain one-dimensional chains in which manganese(II) atoms are bridged by bis-bidentate oxalato ligands. The distorted octahedral geometry around each metal centre is completed in compound 1 by one water molecule and the imidazole N9 donor site of the purine ligand, which is a rare example of direct binding between the Mn(II) ion and the N donor site of an isolated nucleobase. Unlike 1, the adenine moiety in compound 2 is not bonded to manganese atoms and the metal coordination polyhedron is filled by two water molecules in a cis-arrangement. Its crystal building is constructed from pi-stacked layers of Watson-Crick hydrogen-bonded adenine...(H2O2)...adenine aggregates and zig-zag Mn(II)-oxalato chains held together by means of a strong network of hydrogen bonding interactions. The nucleobase exists in the lattice as the 7H-adenine tautomer which represents an unprecedented solid-state characterization of this minor tautomer as free molecule (without metal coordination) stabilized through non-covalent interactions. Compound consists of two slightly different [Cu(ox)(H2O)(7H-ade-kappaN9)] units in which the nucleobase coordinates through the imidazole N9 atom. The planar complex entities are parallel stacked and joined by means of long Cu-O bonds involving oxygen atoms from the oxalato and the aqua ligands, giving one-dimensional chains with a [4 + 1] square-planar pyramidal and a [4 + 2] octahedral coordination around the metal centre, respectively. Self-assembled process of compound 3 is further driven by an in-plane network of hydrogen bonding interactions to generate a porous 3D structure containing parallel channels filled by guest water molecules. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of all the complexes show the occurrence of antiferromagnetic interactions between the paramagnetic centres. DFT calculations have been performed to check the influence of packing in the stability of the 7H-amino tautomer of 2 and in the complex geometry of 3.

Ternary copper(II) complexes with N-carboxymethyl-l-prolinato(2−) ion and imidazole or creatinine: A comparative study of the interligand interactions influencing the molecular recognition and stability

The compounds {[Cu(CMP)(Him)].H(2)O}(n) (I) and [Cu(CMP)(crea)H(2)O].3H(2)O (II) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermal, spectral and magnetic methods (CMP=N-carboxymethyl-;l-prolinato(2-) ion, Him=imidazole and crea=creatinine). Appropriate structural comparison with other compounds such as {[Cu(CMP)(H(2)O)].H(2)O}(n), [Cu(crea)(2)Cl(2)] and [Cu(dipeptide)(crea)(H(2)O)(x)].nH(2)O (x=0 or 1) have been made in order to prove that crea can act as an imidazole-like ligand (because it is able to promote the same fac- to mer-CMP tridentate conformational change in copper(II) complexes) as well as to discuss the interligand interactions which control the 'Cu(CMP) complex-crea, molecular recognition processes. In contrast to that found in related ternary complexes, we have concluded that direct CMP-crea interligand interactions are missing in the Cu-CMP-crea complex due to the inappropriate correspondence between the donor and/or acceptor H-bonding properties of these ligands. CMP can only act as H-acceptor by its two terminal carboxylate group, and crea can display H-donor and H-acceptor roles by its exocyclic -NH(2) and O moieties, respectively. That promotes the reinforcement of the Cu-N(crea) bond by a bridge -N-H(crea)...O(aqua) (2.867(3)A, 176.4 degrees).

One-Dimensional Oxalato-Bridged Cu(II), Co(II), and Zn(II) Complexes with Purine and Adenine as Terminal Ligands

The reaction of nucleobases (adenine or purine) with a metallic salt in the presence of potassium oxalate in an aqueous solution yields one-dimensional complexes of formulas [M(mu-ox)(H(2)O)(pur)](n) (pur = purine, ox = oxalato ligand (2-); M = Cu(II) [1], Co(II) [2], and Zn(II) [3]), [Co(mu-ox)(H(2)O)(pur)(0.76)(ade)(0.24)](n)(4) and ([M(mu-ox)(H(2)O)(ade)].2(ade).(H(2)O))(n) (ade = adenine; M = Co(II) [5] and Zn(II) [6]). Their X-ray single-crystal structures, variable-temperature magnetic measurements, thermal behavior, and FT-IR spectroscopy are reported. The complexes 1-4 crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/a (No. 14) with similar crystallographic parameters. The compounds 5 and 6 are also isomorphous but crystallize in the triclinic space group P (No. 2). All compounds contain one-dimensional chains in which cis-[M(H(2)O)(L)](2+) units are bridged by bis-bidentate oxalato ligands with M(.)M intrachain distances in the range 5.23-5.57 A. In all cases, the metal atoms are six-coordinated by four oxalato oxygen atoms, one water molecule, and one nitrogen atom from a terminal nucleobase, building distorted octahedral MO(4)O(w)N surroundings. The purine ligand is bound to the metal atom through the most basic imidazole N9 atom in 1-4, whereas in 5 and 6 the minor groove site N3 of the adenine nucleobase is the donor atom. The crystal packing of compounds 5 and 6 shows the presence of uncoordinated adenine and water crystallization molecules. The cohesiveness of the supramolecular 3D structure of the compounds is achieved by means of an extensive network of noncovalent interactions (hydrogen bonds and pi-pi stacking interactions). Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of the Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes in the range 2-300 K show the occurrence of antiferromagnetic intrachain interactions.