Iridium Azocarboxamide Complexes: Variable Coordination Modes, C–H Activation, Transfer Hydrogenation Catalysis, and Mechanistic Insights

Azocarboxamides, a special class of azo ligands, display intriguing electronic properties due to their versatile binding modes and coordination flexibility. These properties may have significant implications for their use in homogeneous catalysis. In the present report, half-sandwich Ir–Cp* complexes of two different azocarboxamide ligands are presented. Different coordination motifs of the ligand were realized using base and chloride abstracting ligand to give N∧N-, N∧O-, and N∧C-chelated monomeric iridium complexes. For the azocarboxamide ligand having methoxy substituted at the phenyl ring, a mixture of N∧C-chelated mononuclear (Ir-5) and N∧N,N∧C-chelated dinuclear complexes (Ir-4) were obtained by activating the C–H bond of the aryl ring. No such C–H activation was observed for the ligand without the methoxy substituent. The molecular identity of the complexes was confirmed by spectroscopic analyses, while X-ray diffraction analyses further confirmed three-legged piano-stool structure of the complexes along with the above binding modes. All complexes were found to exhibit remarkable activity as precatalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl groups in the presence of a base, even at low catalyst loading. Optimization of reaction conditions divulged superior catalytic activity of Ir-3 and Ir-4 complexes in transfer hydrogenation over the other catalysts. Investigation of the influence of binding modes on the catalytic activity along with wide range substrates, tolerance to functional groups, and mechanistic insights into the reaction pathway are also presented. These are the first examples of C–H activation in azocarboxamide ligands

Copper(I)-Catalyzed [3+2] Cycloaddition of 3-Azidoquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones with Terminal Alkynes

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The Eighth Central European Conference "Chemistry towards Biology": snapshot

The Eighth Central European Conference "Chemistry towards Biology" was held in Brno, Czech Republic, on 28 August – 1 September 2016The Eighth Central European Conference "Chemistry towards Biology" was held in Brno, Czech Republic, on 28 August-1 September 2016 to bring together experts in biology, chemistry and design of bioactive compounds; promote the exchange of scientific results, methods and ideas; and encourage cooperation between researchers from all over the world. The topics of the conference covered "Chemistry towards Biology", meaning that the event welcomed chemists working on biology-related problems, biologists using chemical methods, and students and other researchers of the respective areas that fall within the common scope of chemistry and biology. The authors of this manuscript are plenary speakers and other participants of the symposium and members of their research teams. The following summary highlights the major points/topics of the meeting

Preparation of quinoline-2,4-dione functionalized 1,2,3-triazol-4-ylmethanols, 1,2,3-triazole-4-carbaldehydes and 1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxylic acids

(1-(2,4-Dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-3-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl acetates substituted on nitrogen atom of quinolinedione moiety with propargyl group or (1-substituted 1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl group, which are available from the appropriate 3-(4-hydroxymethyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones unsubstituted on quinolone nitrogen atom by the previously described procedures, were deacetylated by acidic ethanolysis. Thus obtained primary alcohols, as well as those aforenamed unsubstituted on quinolone nitrogen atom, were oxidized to aldehydes on the one hand with pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC), on the other hand with manganese dioxide, and to carboxylic acids using Jones reagent in acetone. The structures of all prepared compounds were confirmed by H-1, C-13 and N-15 NMR spectroscopy. The corresponding resonances were assigned on the basis of the standard 1D and gradient selected 2D NMR experiments (H-1-H-1 gs-COSY, H-1-C-13 gs-HSQC, H-1-C-13 gs-HMBC) with H-1-N-15 gs-HMBC as a practical tool to determine N-15 NMR chemical shifts at the natural abundance level of N-15 isotope.TBU in Zlin [IGA/FT/2019/010]; Slovenian Research AgencySlovenian Research Agency - Slovenia [P1-0230, J1-8147, J1-9166

Discovery of ‘click’ 1,2,3-triazolium salts as potential anticancer drugs

In order to increase the effectiveness of cancer treatment, new compounds with potential anticancer activities are synthesized and screened. Here we present the screening of a new class of compounds, 1-(2-picolyl)-, 4-(2-picolyl)-, 1-(2-pyridyl)-, and 4-(2-pyridyl)-3-methyl-1,2,3-triazolium salts and ‘parent’ 1,2,3-triazole precursors

Discovery of ‘click’ 1,2,3-triazolium salts as potential anticancer drugs

In order to increase the effectiveness of cancer treatment, new compounds with potential anticancer activities are synthesized and screened. Here we present the screening of a new class of compounds, 1-(2-picolyl)-, 4-(2-picolyl)-, 1-(2-pyridyl)-, and 4-(2-pyridyl)-3-methyl-1,2,3-triazolium salts and ‘parent’ 1,2,3-triazole precursors

Discovery of ‘click’ 1,2,3-triazolium salts as potential anticancer drugs

BACKGROUND: In order to increase the effectiveness of cancer treatment, new compounds with potential anticancer activities are synthesized and screened. Here we present the screening of a new class of compounds, 1-(2-picolyl)-, 4-(2-picolyl)-, 1-(2-pyridyl)-, and 4-(2-pyridyl)-3-methyl-1,2,3-triazolium salts and ‘parent’ 1,2,3-triazole precursors. METHODS: Cytotoxic activity of new compounds was determined by spectrophotometric MTT assay on several tumour and one normal cell line. Effect of the selected compound to bind double stranded DNA (ds DNA) was examined by testing its influence on thermal stability of calf thymus DNA while its influence on cell cycle was determined by flow cytometric analysis. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was determined by addition of specific substrate 5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2’,7’-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, acetyl ester (CM-H(2)DCFDA). RESULTS: Parent triazoles were largely inactive, while some of the triazolium salts were highly cytotoxic for HeLa cells. Triazolium salts exhibited high cell-type dependent cytotoxicity against different tumour cells. Selected compound (4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1-(2-picolyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazolium hexafluorophosphate(V) (2b) was significantly more cytotoxic against tumour cells than to normal cells, with very high therapeutic index 7.69 for large cell lung carcinoma H460 cells. Additionally, this compound was similarly cytotoxic against parent laryngeal carcinoma HEp-2 cells and their drug resistant 7T subline, suggesting the potential of this compound in treatment of drug resistant cancers. Compound 2b arrested cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. It did not bind ds DNA, but induced ROS in treated cells, which further triggered cell death. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the ‘click’ triazolium salts are worthy of further investigation as anti-cancer agents