Structural correlation and metal ion movement in stable pentaammineruthenium(III)-hypoxanthine complexes

The exocyclic amino group of adenine in PtII and PdII complexes: a critical comparison of the X-ray crystallographic structural data and gas phase calculations

A detailed computational (DFT level of theory) study regarding the nature of the exocyclic amino group, N6H₂, of the model nucleobase 9-methyladenine (9MeA) and its protonated (9MeAH⁺) and deprotonated forms (9MeA_-H), free and metal-complexed, has been conducted. The metals are Pt^II and Pd^II, bonded to nitrogen-containing co-ligands (NH₃, dien, bpy), with N1, N6, and N7 being the metal-binding sites, individually or in different combinations. The results obtained from gas phase calculations are critically compared with X-ray crystallography data, whenever possible. In the majority of cases, there is good qualitative agreement between calculated and experimentally determined C6-N6 bond lengths, but calculated values always show a trend to larger values, by 0.02-0.08 Å. Both methods indicate, with few exceptions, a high degree of double-bond character of C6-N6, consistent with an essentially sp²-hybridized N6 atom. The shortest values for C6-N6 distances in X-ray crystal structures are around 1.30 Å. Exceptions refer to cases in which DFT calculations suggest the existence of a hydrogen bond with N6H₂ acting as a H bond acceptor, hence a situation with N6 having undergone a substantial hybridization shift toward sp³. Nevertheless, even in these cases the C6-N6 bond (1.392 Å) is still halfway between a typical C-N single bond (1.48 Å) and a typical C=N double bond (1.28 Å). This scenario is, however, not borne out by X-ray crystallographic results, and is attributed to the absence of counter anions and solvent molecules in the calculated structures.

Connectivity patterns and rotamer states of nucleobases determine acid-base properties of metalated purine quartets

Potentiometric pH titrations and pD dependent (1)H NMR spectroscopy have been applied to study the acidification of the exocyclic amino group of adenine (A) model nucleobases (N9 position blocked by alkyl groups) when carrying trans-a2Pt(II) (with a=NH3 or CH3NH2) entities both at N1 and N7 positions. As demonstrated, in trinuclear complexes containing central A-Pt-A units, it depends on the connectivity pattern of the adenine bases (N7/N7 or N1/N1) and their rotamer states (head-head or head-tail), how large the acidifying effect is. Specifically, a series of trinuclear complexes with (A-N7)-Pt-(N7-A) and (A-N1)-Pt-(N1-A) cross-linking patterns and terminal 9-alkylguanine ligands (9MeGH, 9EtGH) have been analyzed in this respect, and it is shown that, for example, the 9MeA ligands in trans-,trans-,trans-[Pt(NH3)2(N7-9MeA-N1)2{Pt(NH3)2(9EtGH-N7)}2](ClO4)6·6H2O (4a) and trans-,trans-,trans-[Pt(NH3)2(N7-9EtA-N1)2{Pt(CH3NH2)2(9-MeGH-N7)}2](ClO4)6·3H2O (4b) are more acidic, by ca. 1.3 units (first pKa), than the linkage isomer trans-,trans-,trans-[Pt(CH3NH2)2(N1-9MeA-N7)2{Pt(NH3)2(9MeGH-N7)}2](NO3)6·6.25H2O (1b). Overall, acidifications in these types of complexes amount to 7-9 units, bringing the pKa values of such adenine ligands in the best case close to the physiological pH range. Comparison with pKa values of related trinuclear Pt(II) complexes having different co-ligands at the Pt ions, confirms this picture and supports our earlier proposal that the close proximity of the exocyclic amino groups in a head-head arrangement of (A-N7)-Pt-(N7-A), and the stabilization of the resulting N6H(-)⋯H2N6 unit, is key to this difference.

Binding of Antitumor Ruthenium Complexes to DNA and Proteins: A Theoretical Approach

The thermodynamics of the binding of the antitumor ammine, amine, and immine complexes of ruthenium(II) and ruthenium(III) to DNA and peptides was studied computationally using model molecules. We performed density functional calculations on several monofunctional ruthenium complexes of the formula [Ru(NH3)5B]z+, where B is an adenine, guanine, or cytosine nucleobase or an 4-methylimidazole, a dimethylthioether, or a dimethylphosphate anion and z = 2 and 3. The pentammineruthenium fragment has been intensively studied and also constitutes a good model for a wide class of antitumor ammine, amine, and imine complexes of Ru(II) and Ru(III), while the considered bases/ligands have been chosen as models for the main binding sites of DNA, nucleobases, and phosphate backbone and proteins, histidyl, and sulfur-containing residue such as methionine or cysteine. Bond dissociation enthalpies and free energies have been calculated for all the considered metal binding sites both in the gas phase and in solution and allow building a binding affinity order for the considered nucleic acid or protein binding sites. The binding of guanine to some bifunctional complexes, [Ru(NH3)(4)Cl2], [cis-RuCl(2)(bpy)2], and [cis-RuCl(2)(azpy)2], has also been considered to evaluate the effect of a second labile chloro or aquo ligand and more realistic polypyridyl and arylazopyridine ligands.

Crystal growth, structural and spectroscopic analysis of hypoxanthinium chloride monohydrate

Protonated form of hypoxanthinium chloride monohydrate single crystal has been grown from dilute hydrochloric acid. Single crystal X-ray analysis was carried out and the titled crystal belong to the monoclinic P2(1)/c space group. Hypoxanthine is protonated at N(1) with the hypoxanthine cations, linked to chlorine anion via weak bifurcated N-H...Cl hydrogen bonds and interconnected by hydrogen bonding contacts of the type N-H...O. Infrared, Raman and UV spectroscopic tools were applied to characterize hypoxanthinium chloride monohydrate. By applying group theoretical methods the internal and external modes of vibrations of the title crystal have been identified and discussed.

The role of intramolecular hydrogen bonding on nucleobase acidification following metal coordination: possible implications of an "indirect" role of metals in acid-base catalysis of nucleic acids

The acidifying effect of Pt(II) on nucleobase -NH and -NH2 groups depends both on the site of metal coordination and on the efficiency of stabilization of the deprotonated nucleobase via intracomplex hydrogen bonding. Weakly acidic nucleobase protons with pK (a) values between 9 and 17 can be acidified by a single Pt(II) to have pK (a) values which are well within the physiological pH range. This could open the possibility of an acid-base catalysis occurring at pH 7, with the metal-nucleobase entity functioning either as an acid or a base. Examples of Pt(II) complexes studied here include, among others, mixed nucleobase systems of 1-methylcytosine and 1,9-dimethyladenine as well as a complex of the rare iminooxo tautomer of 1-methylcytosine having the metal bonded at N4.

Solution, solid state and biological characterization of ruthenium(III)-DMSO complexes with purine base derivatives

Two new complexes of Ru(III) with purine base derivatives, [mer-RuCl(3)(acv)(DMSO-S)(C(2)H(5)OH)].C(2)H(5)OH (1) (acv=acyclovir, DMSO=dimethyl sulfoxide) and [trans-RuCl(4)(guaH)(DMSO-S)].2H(2)O (2) (guaH=protonated molecule of guanine), were prepared from the same Ru(III) precursor, [trans-RuCl(4)(DMSO-S)(2)](-), by substitution of one DMSO-S. Coordination of acv induced also replacement of one chloride by an ethanol molecule. This reactivity difference was explained by striking contrasts in the hydrogen bonding schemes of the two complexes, evidenced in their X-ray crystal structures. In 1 the guanine derivative acyclovir is coordinated to ruthenium through the N(7) atom, while in 2 the protonated guanine molecule is bound through the N(9) atom. Both complexes were also characterized by various physico-chemical methods in the solid state and in the solution. In vitro, the biological activity of 2 and of the previously described complexes [mer-RuCl(3)(acv)(DMSO-S)(CH(3)OH)].0.5CH(3)OH (3) and [mer-RuCl(3)(acv)(DMSO-S)(H(2)O)].H(2)O (4) on tumour cells appear to be very similar to that of NAMI-A (NAMI-A=[ImH][trans-RuCl(4)(DMSO-S)Im]). All compounds are only weakly active on tumour cell proliferation but show an interesting proadhesive effect that suggest possible activity on tumour malignancy.

1H and (31)P NMR and EPR of Pentaammineruthenium(III) Complexes of Endocyclically Coordinated Nucleotides, Nucleosides, and Related Heterocyclic Bases. Autoxidation of [(Guokappa(N7))(NH(3))(5)Ru(III)] (Guo = Guanosine). Crystal Structure of [7MeGuakappa(N9)(NH(3))(5)Ru]Cl(3).3H(2)O

The (1)H-NMR spectra of complexes involving the paramagnetic metal center [(NH(3))(5)Ru(III)] coordinated at ring nitrogens have been examined with pyridine, purine, nucleoside, and nucleotide ligands along with (31)P-NMR of the nucleotide complexes and EPR of representative complexes. Variations in the spectra have been investigated as a function of the coordination site and pH. Pseudocontact and contact shifts have been calculated for various protons, and an attempt has been made to correlate sugar conformations in coordinated 5'GMP, 5'IMP, Guo, and Ino with paramagnetically induced shifts. The compound [(7MeGuakappa(N9))(NH(3))(5)Ru]Cl(3).3H(2)O crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pna2(1) with cell parameters a = 25.375(4) Å, b = 11.803(4) Å, c = 6.958(2) Å, Z = 4, and R = 0.042. The autoxidation of [L(NH(3))(5)Ru(III)], where L = Guo, dGuo, and 1MeGuo, to the corresponding 8-oxo complexes under atmospheric oxygen is first order in the complex and [OH(-)]. For L = Guo, k = 6.6 x 10(-5) M(-1) s(-1), DeltaH = 58 kJ/mol, and DeltaS = -124 J/(mol K).

1H and (31)P NMR of Pentaammineruthenium(III) Complexes of Exocyclically-Coordinated Adenine and Cytosine Ligands. Evidence for Rotamers with Distinct Acidities

1H NMR spectra of the paramagnetic complexes [L(NH(3))(5)Ru(III)], where L = derivatives of cytosine-kappa(N4) and adenine-kappa(N6), reveal rotameric isomers with distinct acid-base equilibria. (31)P NMR spectra of the 5'CMPkappa(N4) and 5'AMPkappa(N6) complexes indicate little interaction between the metal and phosphate centers. Differences between the (1)H and (31)P NMR of endo- and exocyclically-coordinated nucleosides and nucleotides are discussed and provide a means of distinguishing exocyclic from endocyclic nitrogen coordination.