Characterization of supramolecular (H2O)18 water morphology and water-methanol (H2O)15(CH3OH)3 clusters in a novel phosphorus functionalized trimeric amino acid host

Dioxaphosphabicyclooctanes: small caged phosphines from tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine

Dioxaphosphabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes (L1-L4) have been prepared in a one-pot reaction from tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine and various α,β-unsaturated ketones. The non-volatile phosphines oxidise very slowly in air. They possess highly upfield 31P chemical shifts (-59 to -70 ppm), small cone angles (121-140°) and a similar electronic parameter to PPh3. Reaction of L1 with [Rh(acac)(CO)2] gave the complex [Rh(acac)(CO)(L1)] with a ν(CO) of 1981.5 cm-1, whereas reaction L1 with [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 gave [Rh(CO)(L1)2Cl] with a ν(CO) of 1979.9 cm-1, remarkably similar to the CO stretching frequencies reported for analogous PPh3 complexes. The cage phosphines were explored as ligands in rhodium catalysed hydroformylation of 1-octene. All of the ligands gave a linear selectivity to n-nonanal of 68%, regardless of the substituents. However the ligand substituents had a significant effect on the catalyst activity, with increased steric bulk around the coordination environment giving a three-fold increase in aldehyde yield. The phosphines undergo ligand subsitution with [Pd(MeCN)2Cl2] forming square planar trans-[Pd(L)2Cl2] complexes. Subsequent reduction with hydrazine furnishes homoleptic tetravalent [Pd(L1)4] which was applied as a catalyst in Suzuki-Miyaura couplings, furnishing the C-C coupled products in moderate yields.

Species-Specific in vitro and in vivo Evaluation of Toxicity of Silver Nanoparticles Stabilized with Gum Arabic Protein

Introduction

We report, herein, in vitro, and in vivo toxicity evaluation of silver nanoparticles stabilized with gum arabic protein (AgNP-GP) in Daphnia similis, Danio rerio embryos and in Sprague Dawley rats.

Purpose

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate in vitro and in vivo toxicity of silver nanoparticles stabilized with gum arabic protein (AgNP-GP), in multispecies due to the recognition that toxicity evaluations beyond a single species reflect the environmental realism. In the present study, AgNP-GP was synthesized through the reduction of silver salt using the tri-alanine-phosphine peptide (commonly referred to as “Katti Peptide”) and stabilized using gum arabic protein.

Methods

In vitro cytotoxicity tests were performed according to ISO 10993–5 protocols to assess cytotoxicity index (IC₅₀) values. Acute ecotoxicity (EC₅₀) studies were performed using Daphnia similis, according to the ABNT NBR 15088 protocols. In vivo toxicity also included evaluation of acute embryotoxicity using Danio rerio (zebrafish) embryos following the OECD No. 236 guidelines. We also used Sprague Dawley rats to assess the toxicity of AgNP-GP in doses from 2.5 to 10.0 mg kg⁻¹ body weight.

Results

AgNP-GP nanoparticles were characterized through UV (405 nm), core size (20±5 nm through TEM), hydrodynamic size (70–80 nm), Zeta (ζ) potential (- 26 mV) using DLS and Powder X ray diffraction (PXRD) and EDS. PXRD showed pattern consistent with the Ag (1 1 1) peak. EC₅₀ in Daphnia similis was 4.40 (3.59–5.40) μg L⁻¹. In the zebrafish species, LC₅₀ was 177 μg L⁻¹. Oral administration of AgNP-GP in Sprague Dawley rats for a period of 28 days revealed no adverse effects in doses of up to 10.0 mg kg⁻¹ b.w. in both male and female animals.

Conclusion

The non-toxicity of AgNP-GP in rats offers a myriad of applications of AgNP-GP in health and hygiene for use as antibiotics, antimicrobial and antifungal agents.

Selective Cu(I) complex with phosphine-peptide (SarGly) conjugate contra breast cancer: Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and insight into cytotoxic action

The main disadvantage of conventional anticancer chemotherapy is the inability to deliver the correct amount of drug directly to cancer. Those molecular delivering systems are very important to destroy cancer cells selectively. Herein we report synthesis of phosphine-peptide conjugate (Ph₂PCH₂-Sar-Gly-OH, PSG) derived from SarGly (sarcosine-glycine), which can be easily exchanged to other peptide carriers, its oxide (OPh₂PCH₂-Sar-Gly-OH, OPSG) and the first copper(I) complex ([CuI(dmp)(P(Ph)₂CH₂-Sar-Gly-OH)], 1-PSG, where dmp stands for 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline). The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR (1D, 2D), UV-Vis spectroscopy and DFT (Density Functional Theory) methods. PSG and 1-PSG proved to be stable in biological medium in the presence of atmospheric oxygen for several days. The cytotoxicity of the compounds and cisplatin was tested against cancer cell lines: mouse colon carcinoma (CT26; ^1-PSGIC₅₀ = 3.12 ± 0.1), human lung adenocarcinoma (A549; ^1-PSGIC₅₀ = 2.01 ± 0.2) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7; ^1-PSGIC₅₀ = 0.98 ± 0.2) as well as against primary line of human pulmonary fibroblasts (MRC-5; ^1-PSGIC₅₀ = 78.56 ± 1.1). Therapeutic index for 1-PSG (MCF7) equals 80. Intracellular accumulation of 1-PSG complex increased with time and was much higher (96%) inside MCF7 cancer cells than in normal MRC5 cells (20%). Attachment of SarGly to cytotoxic copper(I) complex via phosphine motif improved selectivity of copper(I) complex 1-PSG into the cancer cells. Precise mechanistic study revealed that the 1-PSG complex causes apoptotic cells MCF7 death with simultaneous decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential and increase of caspase-9 and -3 activities. Additionally, 1-PSG generated high level of reactive oxygen species that was the reason for oxidative damages to the sugar-phosphate backbone of plasmid DNA.

Interesting fluorine anion water clusters [F−·(H2O)n] in metal complex crystals

Three crystalline complexes containing fluorine anion water cluster were reported. The fluoride anions and water molecules are H-bonded to each other in an alternating fashion within the fluoride–water hybrid cluster, where a fluoride anion plays the important role.

A Series of Lanthanide-Germanate Oxo Clusters Decorated by 1,10-Phenanthroline Chromophores

A series of lanthanide-germanate oxo clusters, [Ln₈(phen)₂Ge₁₂(μ₃-O)₂₄T₁₂(H₂O)₁₆]·2H₂O [Ln = Dy (1a) and Er (1b); T = -CH₂CH₂COO^- group; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline], [Ln₈(phen)₂Ge₁₂(μ₃-O)₂₄T₁₂(H₂O)₁₆]·2phen·16H₂O [Ln = Sm (2a), Eu (2b), and Gd (2c)], and [Ho₈(phen)₂Ge₁₂(μ₃-O)₂₄T₁₂(H₂O)₁₄]·2phen·13H₂O (3), have been hydrothermally synthesized from the reactions of bis(carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide) and Ln₂O₃ with auxiliary phen chromophores. Compounds 1a and 1b consist of cage clusters [Ln₈(phen)₂Ge₁₂(μ₃-O)₂₄T₁₂(H₂O)₁₆] and free H₂O molecules, where cage clusters are arranged in a CsCl type, while compounds 2a-2c consist of cage clusters [Ln₈(phen)₂Ge₁₂(μ₃-O)₂₄T₁₂(H₂O)₁₆], free phen, and free H₂O molecules, where cage clusters are arranged in a NaCl type. Compound 3 consists of the one-dimensional neutral chain [Ho₈(phen)₂Ge₁₂(μ₃-O)₂₄T₁₂(H₂O)₁₄]_n and free H₂O molecules. These compounds provide the first examples of p-f heterometallic [Ge-O-Ln] oxo clusters decorated by phen chromophores. The photoluminescent and magnetic properties of all compounds have been investigated.

New ruthenium(II) coordination compounds possessing bidentate aminomethylphosphane ligands: synthesis, characterization and preliminary biological study in vitro

Addition of aminomethylphosphane P{CH2N(CH2CH2)2O}3 (), PPh2{CH2N(CH2CH2)2O} () or PPh2{CH2N(CH2CH2)2NCH2CH3} () to a methanolic solution of RuCl3 results in reduction of ruthenium(iii) ions giving finally ttt-[RuCl2()2] (), ttt-[RuCl2()2] () and ttt-[RuCl2()2] (). The synthesized complexes are the first examples of ruthenium(ii) coordination compounds possessing aminomethylphosphanes chelating via phosphorus and nitrogen atoms. They were fully characterized (NMR, ESI-MS, IR, elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography). Preliminary studies of the in vitro cytotoxicity on the A549 cell line (human lung adenocarcinoma) and interactions with human serum proteins (albumin and apotransferrin) showed moderate activity of the complexes. Interestingly, the P,N-chelation leads to formation of strained 4-membered Ru-P-C-N-Ru rings, which in the case of and undergo opening in the presence of CH3CN, which results in rearrangement to ctc-[RuCl2()2(CH3CN)2] () and ctc-[RuCl2()2(CH3CN)2] ().

Assembly of encapsulated water in hybrid bisamides: helical and zigzag water chains

The addition of water promotes the self-assembly of hybrid bisamides by bridging between the molecules and stabilizes the helical or zigzag one-dimensional water chains.

Unexpected formation of [Ru(η5-C5H5)(PH{CH2N(CH2CH2)2O}2)(PPh3)2]BF4 – the first “piano-stool” ruthenium complex bearing a secondary aminomethylphosphane ligand

[Ru(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PH{CH₂N(CH₂CH₂)₂O}₂)(PPh₃)₂]BF₄ – unexpected formation of the first “piano-stool” ruthenium complex bearing a secondary aminomethylphosphane ligand.

Simultaneous encapsulation of an infinite T4(0)A(0)6(0) water tape and discrete water hexamers in a hydrogen-bonded Ag(i) supramolecular framework

In a one-dimensional mixed-ligand Ag(i) coordination polymer, an infinite 1D T4(0)A(0)6(0) water tape and discrete water hexamers were simultaneously encapsulated.

Anisotropic growth of water-puckered pentamers on a mica terrace

Ice nucleation at mica terrace edges in air forms mounds of water molecules that grow larger as the step-edge height increases from a few Angstroms to hundreds of nanometers. The structures of the ice deposits at mica terrace edges were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the edges were shown to act as nucleators for water pentamers, thereby forming a zigzag structure with lattice parameters of 0.72 ± 0.07 and 0.60 ± 0.06 nm. A three-dimensional arrangement of three pentamers of water molecules, which formed a parasol-like structure, was assembled to match the AFM images. Seven three-fused pentamers were clustered to form large hexamers that cover the entire surface. The nucleation at the edges reveals a substantially larger growth rate than that on the mica terraces; consequently, highly terraced mica slabs could be used as new and more efficient structures for seeding clouds and causing rain. On the basis of this finding, a new ice-condensation structure was designed with pyramidal features and steps of 100 nm in height and width.