Antitumor Activity and Reductive Stress by Platinum(II) N-Heterocyclic Carbenes based on Guanosine**

Funding Information: We thank Fernanda Murtinheira for the support on the autophagy measurements. This work was supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., through MOSTMICRO‐ITQB R&D Unit (UIDB/04612/2020, UIDP/04612/2020) and LS4FUTURE Associated Laboratory (LA/P/0087/2020). M.I.P.S.L. was supported by fellowships PD/BD/135483/2018 and COVID/BD/152502/2022 from FCT. A.P. acknowledges the contract CEECINST/00102/2018. The NMR spectra were acquired at CERMAX–ITQB, supported by Infrastructure Project No. 022161 (co‐financed by FEDER through COMPETE 2020, POCI, PORL and FCT through PIDDAC). C.S.B. Gomes acknowledges the XTAL – Macromolecular Crystallography group for granting access to the X‐ray diffractometer. X‐ray infrastructure financed by FCT‐MCTES through project RECI/BBBBEP/0124/2012. FH was supported by Centre grants from FCT to the BioISI Research Unit (Refs. UIDB/04046/2020 and UIDP/04046/2020) and the Microscopy facility at FCUL (as a node of the Portuguese Platform of BioImaging, reference PPBI‐POCI‐01‐0145‐FEDER‐022122), and by individual grants through FCT (Ref. PTDC/FIS‐MAC/2741/2021) and the ARSACS Foundation (Canada). Maria Turos‐Cabal was supported by fellowship from the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC, SV‐19‐AECC‐FPI) and the Consejería de Economía y Empleo del Principado de Asturias (FICYT, Severo‐Ochoa BP20‐073). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.Platinum(II) complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbenes based guanosine and caffeine have been synthesized by unassisted C−H oxidative addition, leading to the corresponding trans-hydride complexes. Platinum guanosine derivatives bearing triflate as counterion or bromide instead of hydride as co-ligand were also synthesized to facilitate correlation between structure and activity. The hydride compounds show high antiproliferative activity against all cell lines (TC-71, MV-4-11, U-937 and A-172). Methyl Guanosine complex 3, bearing a hydride ligand, is up to 30 times more active than compound 4, with a bromide in the same position. Changing the counterion has no significant effect in antiproliferative activity. Increasing bulkiness at N7, with an isopropyl group (compound 6), allows to maintain the antiproliferative activity while decreasing toxicity for non-cancer cells. Compound 6 leads to an increase in endoplasmic reticulum and autophagy markers on TC71 and MV-4-11 cancer cells, induces reductive stress and increases glutathione levels in cancer cells but not in non-cancer cell line HEK-293.preprintinpres

Search for Tensor, Vector, and Scalar Polarizations in the Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background

The detection of gravitational waves with Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo has enabled novel tests of general relativity, including direct study of the polarization of gravitational waves. While general relativity allows for only two tensor gravitational-wave polarizations, general metric theories can additionally predict two vector and two scalar polarizations. The polarization of gravitational waves is encoded in the spectral shape of the stochastic gravitational-wave background, formed by the superposition of cosmological and individually unresolved astrophysical sources. Using data recorded by Advanced LIGO during its first observing run, we search for a stochastic background of generically polarized gravitational waves. We find no evidence for a background of any polarization, and place the first direct bounds on the contributions of vector and scalar polarizations to the stochastic background. Under log-uniform priors for the energy in each polarization, we limit the energy densities of tensor, vector, and scalar modes at 95% credibility to Ω0T<5.58×10-8, Ω0V<6.35×10-8, and Ω0S<1.08×10-7 at a reference frequency f0=25 Hz. © 2018 American Physical Society

On the progenitor of binary neutron star merger GW170817

On 2017 August 17 the merger of two compact objects with masses consistent with two neutron stars was discovered through gravitational-wave (GW170817), gamma-ray (GRB 170817A), and optical (SSS17a/AT 2017gfo) observations. The optical source was associated with the early-type galaxy NGC 4993 at a distance of just ∼40 Mpc, consistent with the gravitational-wave measurement, and the merger was localized to be at a projected distance of ∼2 kpc away from the galaxy's center. We use this minimal set of facts and the mass posteriors of the two neutron stars to derive the first constraints on the progenitor of GW170817 at the time of the second supernova (SN). We generate simulated progenitor populations and follow the three-dimensional kinematic evolution from binary neutron star (BNS) birth to the merger time, accounting for pre-SN galactic motion, for considerably different input distributions of the progenitor mass, pre-SN semimajor axis, and SN-kick velocity. Though not considerably tight, we find these constraints to be comparable to those for Galactic BNS progenitors. The derived constraints are very strongly influenced by the requirement of keeping the binary bound after the second SN and having the merger occur relatively close to the center of the galaxy. These constraints are insensitive to the galaxy's star formation history, provided the stellar populations are older than 1 Gyr

Bis-Triazolylidenes of Manganese and Rhenium and Their Catalytic Application in N-Alkylation of Amines with Alcohols

Funding Information: The authors thank Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) for Projects PTDC/QUI-QIN/0359/2021, MOSTMICRO-ITQB, UIDB/04612/20220, and UIPD/04612/2020 and Ph.D. Fellowship SFRH/BD/131955/2017 (S.F.). The National NMR Facility is supported by CERMAX through Project 022162. The authors also thank C. Almeida for elemental analysis at ITQB laboratories. For the X-ray diffraction studies, C.S.B.G. thanks FCT for Projects LAQV (UIDB/50006/2020, UIDP/50006/2020, and LA/P/0008/2020), UCIBIO (UIDB/04378/2020 and UIDP/04378/2020), and i4HB (LA/P/0140/2020). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.A new family of air-stable Mn and Re complexes bearing bidentate bis(1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene) ligands with the general formula [M(bis-triazolylidene)(CO)3X] (M = Mn or Re; X = Cl or Br), containing a methylene linker or a direct link between the two triazolylidene ligands, is presented. All complexes have been applied as catalysts for the N-alkylation of anilines with benzylic alcohols. The Mn complex bearing a bis-triazolylidene with a methylene bridge between the two triazolylidene fragments was shown to be a highly efficient catalyst, affording the corresponding amine in 92% yield in the presence of a low base loading (t-BuOK, 0.1 equiv). Comparison between Mn complexes bearing imidazolium- and triazolium-derived N-heterocyclic carbene ligands showed that Mn triazolylidenes displayed higher catalytic activity when a low base loading was used.publishersversionpublishe

L-Phenylalanine derived tripodal vanadium complexes as catalysts for the asymmetric reductive coupling of benzaldehyde

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.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cu(II) complexes derived from N-carboxymethyl and N-carboxyethyl amino acids as catalysts for asymmetric oxidative coupling of 2-naphthol

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.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Harnessing Liquid Crystal Attributes of Near-Unit Photoluminescent Benzothioxanthene Photosensitizers: Photophysical Profiling in Solution, Solid State, and Polymer Matrix Embedding

Liquid crystals (LCs) have garnered significant attention for their unique optical and electrical properties, making them promising candidates in various technological applications such as smart displays, sensors, telecommunications, biomedicals or wearable electronics. In this study, we explore the potential of several highly emissive benzothioxanthene imide (BTI) derivatives as LC materials with a focus on their robustness and temperature-stable emission behavior. By tailoring the molecular structure of BTIs, we have accomplished exceptional emissive properties while maintaining the inherent advantages of LCs, such as their self-organizing ability and responsive nature. We describe the formation of enantiotropic liquid crystals whose mesomorphic properties dependent on the nature, length, and position of the side chain. Moreover, we have investigated the thermal stability of their emission spectra over a wide range of temperature, highlighting their potential use in demanding conditions where precise optical performances are critical. Our findings underscore the importance of molecular design in achieving highly emissive LC materials with enhanced robustness and temperature stability, opening new avenues for the use of BTI derivatives

Luminescent halogen-substituted 2-(N-arylimino)pyrrolyl boron complexes: the internal heavy-atom effect

A group of new boron complexes [BPh2{2N,N’-NC4H3-2-C(H)=N-C6H4X}] (X= 4-Cl 4c, 4-Br 4d, 4-I 4e, 3-Br 4f, 2-Br 4g, 2-I 4h) containing different halogens as substituents in the N-aryl ring have been synthesized and characterized in terms of their molecular properties. Their photophysical characteristics have been thoroughly studied in order to understand whether these compounds exhibit internal heavy atom effect. Phosphorescence emission was found for some of the synthesized halogen-substituted boron molecules, in particular for 4g and 4h. DFT and TDDFT calculations showed that the lower energy absorption band resulted from the HOMO to LUMO (-*) transition, except for 2-I 4h, where the HOMO-1 to LUMO transition was also involved. The strong participation of iodine orbitals in HOMO-1 is reflected on the calculated absorption spectra of the iodine derivatives, especially 2-I 4h, when spin-orbit coupling (SOC) was included. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on these compounds, in the neat form or dispersed in a matrix, were also fabricated and tested. The devices based on films prepared by thermal vacuum deposition showed the best performance. When neat compounds were used, a maximum luminance (Lmax) of 1812 cd m-2 was obtained, with maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 0.15%. An EQEmax of ca. 1% along with a maximum luminance of 494 cd m-2 were obtained for a device fabricated by co-deposition of the boron complex and a host compound (1,3-bis(N-carbazolyl)benzene, mCP)

Antimicrobial and antitumor activity of S-methyl dithiocarbazate Schiff base zinc(II) complexes

Schiff bases (SB) obtained from S-methyl dithiocarbazate and aromatic aldehydes: salicylaldehyde (H2L1), o-vanillin (H2L2), pyridoxal (H2L3) and 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol (H3L4), and their corresponding Zn(II)-complexes (1-4), are synthesized. All compounds are characterized by elemental analyses, infrared, UV-Vis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The structures of H2L2 and [Zn2(L1)2(H2O)(DMF)] (1a) (DMF = dimethylformamide) are solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The SB coordinates the metal center through the Ophenolate, Nimine and Sthiolate atoms. The radical scavenging activity is tested using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, with all ligand precursors showing IC50 values ~40 μM. Cytotoxicity studies with several tumor cell lines (PC-3, MCF-7 and Caco-2) as well as a non-tumoral cell line (NHDF) are reported. Interestingly, 1 has relevant and selective antiproliferative effect against Caco-2 cells (IC50 = 9.1 μM). Their antimicrobial activity is evaluated in five bacterial strains (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) and two yeast strains (Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis) with some compounds showing bacteriostatic and fungicidal activity. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC90) of HnL against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is also reported, with H2L2 and H3L4 showing very high activity (MIC90 < 0.6 μg/mL). The ability of the compounds to bind bovine serum albumin (BSA) and DNA is evaluated for H3L4 and [Zn2(L4)(CH3COO)] (4), both showing high binding constants to BSA (ca. 106 M-1) and ability to bind DNA. Overall, the reported compounds show relevant antitumor and antimicrobial properties, our data indicating they may be promising compounds in several fields of medicinal chemistry.FCT (projects UIDB/00100/2020, UIDP/00100/2020, PTDC/QUI-QAN/32242/2017, UID/Multi/00709/2019, UIDB/50006/2020, UIDB/04378/2020 , SAICTPAC/0019/2015; PD/BD/128320/2017), Programa Operacional Regional de Lisboa (LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-007317) e FEDER POCI-COMPETE 2020-Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalisation (Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007491). Yemataw Addis and Israel Tekamo thank the Erasmus Mundus program.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Antimicrobial and antitumor activity of S-methyl dithiocarbazate Schiff base zinc(II) complexes

Schiff bases (SB) obtained from S-methyl dithiocarbazate and aromatic aldehydes: salicylaldehyde (H2L1), o-vanillin (H2L2), pyridoxal (H2L3) and 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol (H3L4), and their corresponding Zn(II)-complexes (1-4), are synthesized. All compounds are characterized by elemental analyses, infrared, UV-Vis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The structures of H2L2 and [Zn2(L1)2(H2O)(DMF)] (1a) (DMF = dimethylformamide) are solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The SB coordinates the metal center through the Ophenolate, Nimine and Sthiolate atoms. The radical scavenging activity is tested using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, with all ligand precursors showing IC50 values ~40 μM. Cytotoxicity studies with several tumor cell lines (PC-3, MCF-7 and Caco-2) as well as a non-tumoral cell line (NHDF) are reported. Interestingly, 1 has relevant and selective antiproliferative effect against Caco-2 cells (IC50 = 9.1 μM). Their antimicrobial activity is evaluated in five bacterial strains (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) and two yeast strains (Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis) with some compounds showing bacteriostatic and fungicidal activity. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC90) of HnL against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is also reported, with H2L2 and H3L4 showing very high activity (MIC90 < 0.6 μg/mL). The ability of the compounds to bind bovine serum albumin (BSA) and DNA is evaluated for H3L4 and [Zn2(L4)(CH3COO)] (4), both showing high binding constants to BSA (ca. 106 M-1) and ability to bind DNA. Overall, the reported compounds show relevant antitumor and antimicrobial properties, our data indicating they may be promising compounds in several fields of medicinal chemistry.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio