Spectroscopy and theoretical studies of natural melanin (<i>eumelanin</i>) and its complexation by iron(III)

<p><i>Eumelanin</i> is an oligomeric pigment that has a high affinity for metal ions, which induces the formation of reactive oxygen species, causing melanoma cell apoptosis due to the acceleration of intracellular or extracellular oxidative stress. Melanin in the skin and in dark hair, known as <i>eumelanin</i>, has three main groups that serve as donors: carboxylic acid, catechol, and quinone-imine. In this study, <i>eumelanin</i> was extracted and purified from dark hair using a modified Prota method and characterized by elemental analysis. The sample shows the absence of sulfur-containing groups, and the infrared spectrum shows characteristic <i>ν</i>O–H, <i>ν</i>C–H, <i>ν</i>C=C, <i>ν</i>C=O, and <i>ν</i>C–O stretches, which are confirmed by electronic structure calculations. The major interactions with Fe(III) in solution are at acidic pH values: [Fe(Ac)]²⁺ and [Fe(Qi)]²⁺, and at neutral and alkaline pH values: [Fe(OH)(Cat)] and [Fe(OH)₂(Cat)₂]³⁻, evaluated by electronic structure calculations. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements in the solid state showed that the species isolated at acidic pH provided <i>g</i> = 4.3, characteristic for high-spin Fe(III) and the presence of a discrete semi-quinone with <i>g</i> = 2.003; at alkaline pH, it was observed that <i>g</i> = 4.3, and there was also a large increase in the radical species, suggesting interaction of the metal ion with the catechol.</p

New La(III) Complex Immobilized on 3‑Aminopropyl-Functionalized Silica as an Efficient and Reusable Catalyst for Hydrolysis of Phosphate Ester Bonds

Described herein is the synthesis, structure, and monoesterase and diesterase activities of a new mononuclear [La^III(L¹)­(NO₃)₂] (<b>1</b>) complex (H₂L¹ = 2-bis­[{(2-pyridylmethyl)-aminomethyl}-6-[<i>N</i>-(2-pyridylmethyl) aminomethyl)])-4-methyl-6-formylphenol) in the hydrolysis of 2,4-bis­(dinitrophenyl)­phosphate (2,4-BDNPP). When covalently linked to 3-aminopropyl-functionalized silica, <b>1</b> undergoes disproportionation to form a dinuclear species (<b>APS-1</b>), whose catalytic efficiency is increased when compared to the homogeneous reaction due to second coordination sphere effects which increase the substrate to complex association constant. The anchored catalyst <b>APS-1</b> can be recovered and reused for subsequent hydrolysis reactions (five times) with only a slight loss in activity. In the presence of DNA, we suggest that <b>1</b> is also converted into the dinuclear active species as observed with <b>APS-1</b>, and both were shown to be efficient in DNA cleavage

Synthesis, Magnetostructural Correlation, and Catalytic Promiscuity of Unsymmetric Dinuclear Copper(II) Complexes: Models for Catechol Oxidases and Hydrolases

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization, through elemental analysis, electronic spectroscopy, electrochemistry, potentiometric titration, electron paramagnetic resonance, and magnetochemistry, of two dinuclear copper­(II) complexes, using the unsymmetrical ligands <i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>-tris­(2-pyridylmethyl)-<i>N</i>-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-<i>tert</i>-butylbenzyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol (<b>L1</b>) and <i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>′-bis­(2-pyridylmethyl)-<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-(2-hydroxybenzyl)­(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-<i>tert</i>-butylbenzyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol (<b>L2</b>). The structures of the complexes [Cu₂(<b>L1</b>)­(μ-OAc)]­(ClO₄)₂·(CH₃)₂CHOH (<b>1</b>) and [Cu₂(<b>L2</b>)­(μ-OAc)]­(ClO₄)·H₂O·(CH₃)₂CHOH (<b>2</b>) were determined by X-ray crystallography. The complex [Cu₂(<b>L3</b>)­(μ-OAc)]²⁺ [<b>3</b>; <b>L3</b> = <i>N</i>-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-<i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>-tris­(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol] was included in this study for comparison purposes only (Neves et al. <i>Inorg. Chim. Acta</i> <b>2005</b>, <i>358</i>, 1807–1822). Magnetic data show that the Cu^II centers in <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> are antiferromagnetically coupled and that the difference in the exchange coupling <i>J</i> found for these complexes (<i>J</i> = −4.3 cm^–1 for <b>1</b> and <i>J</i> = −40.0 cm^–1 for <b>2</b>) is a function of the Cu–O–Cu bridging angle. In addition, <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were tested as catalysts in the oxidation of the model substrate 3,5-di-<i>tert</i>-butylcatechol and can be considered as functional models for catechol oxidase. Because these complexes possess labile sites in their structures and in solution they have a potential nucleophile constituted by a terminal Cu^II-bound hydroxo group, their activity toward hydrolysis of the model substrate 2,4-bis­(dinitrophenyl)­phosphate and DNA was also investigated. Double electrophilic activation of the phosphodiester by monodentate coordination to the Cu^II center that contains the phenol group with <i>tert</i>-butyl substituents and hydrogen bonding of the protonated phenol with the phosphate O atom are proposed to increase the hydrolase activity (<i>K</i>_ass. and <i>k</i>_cat.) of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> in comparison with that found for complex <b>3</b>. In fact, complexes <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> show both oxidoreductase and hydrolase/nuclease activities and can thus be regarded as man-made models for studying catalytic promiscuity

Synthesis, Magnetostructural Correlation, and Catalytic Promiscuity of Unsymmetric Dinuclear Copper(II) Complexes: Models for Catechol Oxidases and Hydrolases

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization, through elemental analysis, electronic spectroscopy, electrochemistry, potentiometric titration, electron paramagnetic resonance, and magnetochemistry, of two dinuclear copper­(II) complexes, using the unsymmetrical ligands <i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>-tris­(2-pyridylmethyl)-<i>N</i>-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-<i>tert</i>-butylbenzyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol (<b>L1</b>) and <i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>′-bis­(2-pyridylmethyl)-<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-(2-hydroxybenzyl)­(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-<i>tert</i>-butylbenzyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol (<b>L2</b>). The structures of the complexes [Cu₂(<b>L1</b>)­(μ-OAc)]­(ClO₄)₂·(CH₃)₂CHOH (<b>1</b>) and [Cu₂(<b>L2</b>)­(μ-OAc)]­(ClO₄)·H₂O·(CH₃)₂CHOH (<b>2</b>) were determined by X-ray crystallography. The complex [Cu₂(<b>L3</b>)­(μ-OAc)]²⁺ [<b>3</b>; <b>L3</b> = <i>N</i>-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-<i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>-tris­(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol] was included in this study for comparison purposes only (Neves et al. <i>Inorg. Chim. Acta</i> <b>2005</b>, <i>358</i>, 1807–1822). Magnetic data show that the Cu^II centers in <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> are antiferromagnetically coupled and that the difference in the exchange coupling <i>J</i> found for these complexes (<i>J</i> = −4.3 cm^–1 for <b>1</b> and <i>J</i> = −40.0 cm^–1 for <b>2</b>) is a function of the Cu–O–Cu bridging angle. In addition, <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were tested as catalysts in the oxidation of the model substrate 3,5-di-<i>tert</i>-butylcatechol and can be considered as functional models for catechol oxidase. Because these complexes possess labile sites in their structures and in solution they have a potential nucleophile constituted by a terminal Cu^II-bound hydroxo group, their activity toward hydrolysis of the model substrate 2,4-bis­(dinitrophenyl)­phosphate and DNA was also investigated. Double electrophilic activation of the phosphodiester by monodentate coordination to the Cu^II center that contains the phenol group with <i>tert</i>-butyl substituents and hydrogen bonding of the protonated phenol with the phosphate O atom are proposed to increase the hydrolase activity (<i>K</i>_ass. and <i>k</i>_cat.) of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> in comparison with that found for complex <b>3</b>. In fact, complexes <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> show both oxidoreductase and hydrolase/nuclease activities and can thus be regarded as man-made models for studying catalytic promiscuity

Synthesis, Magnetostructural Correlation, and Catalytic Promiscuity of Unsymmetric Dinuclear Copper(II) Complexes: Models for Catechol Oxidases and Hydrolases

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization, through elemental analysis, electronic spectroscopy, electrochemistry, potentiometric titration, electron paramagnetic resonance, and magnetochemistry, of two dinuclear copper­(II) complexes, using the unsymmetrical ligands <i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>-tris­(2-pyridylmethyl)-<i>N</i>-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-<i>tert</i>-butylbenzyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol (<b>L1</b>) and <i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>′-bis­(2-pyridylmethyl)-<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-(2-hydroxybenzyl)­(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-<i>tert</i>-butylbenzyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol (<b>L2</b>). The structures of the complexes [Cu₂(<b>L1</b>)­(μ-OAc)]­(ClO₄)₂·(CH₃)₂CHOH (<b>1</b>) and [Cu₂(<b>L2</b>)­(μ-OAc)]­(ClO₄)·H₂O·(CH₃)₂CHOH (<b>2</b>) were determined by X-ray crystallography. The complex [Cu₂(<b>L3</b>)­(μ-OAc)]²⁺ [<b>3</b>; <b>L3</b> = <i>N</i>-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-<i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>′,<i>N</i>-tris­(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol] was included in this study for comparison purposes only (Neves et al. <i>Inorg. Chim. Acta</i> <b>2005</b>, <i>358</i>, 1807–1822). Magnetic data show that the Cu^II centers in <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> are antiferromagnetically coupled and that the difference in the exchange coupling <i>J</i> found for these complexes (<i>J</i> = −4.3 cm^–1 for <b>1</b> and <i>J</i> = −40.0 cm^–1 for <b>2</b>) is a function of the Cu–O–Cu bridging angle. In addition, <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were tested as catalysts in the oxidation of the model substrate 3,5-di-<i>tert</i>-butylcatechol and can be considered as functional models for catechol oxidase. Because these complexes possess labile sites in their structures and in solution they have a potential nucleophile constituted by a terminal Cu^II-bound hydroxo group, their activity toward hydrolysis of the model substrate 2,4-bis­(dinitrophenyl)­phosphate and DNA was also investigated. Double electrophilic activation of the phosphodiester by monodentate coordination to the Cu^II center that contains the phenol group with <i>tert</i>-butyl substituents and hydrogen bonding of the protonated phenol with the phosphate O atom are proposed to increase the hydrolase activity (<i>K</i>_ass. and <i>k</i>_cat.) of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> in comparison with that found for complex <b>3</b>. In fact, complexes <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> show both oxidoreductase and hydrolase/nuclease activities and can thus be regarded as man-made models for studying catalytic promiscuity