Due to increases in antibiotic resistance stemming from the overuse of commercial antibiotics, the need to discover novel antibacterial compounds is becoming more urgent. A species of Rhodococcus, MTM3W5.2, has been discovered and was found to produce a metabolite with inhibitory activity against closely related species. The aim of this study is to elucidate the structure of the inhibitory metabolite by isolating and purifying it; then characterizing it using spectroscopic techniques. The compound was isolated from MTM3W5.2 RM broth cultures using n-butanol extraction, which yielded an active crude extract. The crude extract was then subjected to fractionation using a Sephedex LH-20 column with a 100% methanol solvent. The inhibitory activity of the fractions was tested through disk diffusion assay using Rhodococcus erythropolis as an indicator. Further preparation was completed using preparative reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Advanced purification was conducted by multiple rounds of analytical reverse-phase HPLC. Throughout the study the HPLC fractions were characterized and stability was monitored using UV-Visible spectroscopy. Two pure samples at 58.xx and 72.xx minutes from HPLC collections were selected for further structural identification and are currently being studied using spectroscopic techniques, most notably 2D NMR

In enzymatic and synthetic catalytic oxidations, high-valent iron-oxo intermediates play a vital role as the active oxidant. In this regard, many synthetic metal catalysts are designed as biomimetic models to resemble the active site of Cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450) which are the predominant oxidation catalysts in nature. Vitamin B12 cofactors, with a corrole-like structure corrin, are also utilized in some of the more difficult reactions in nature such as rearrangement and reductase reactions. In this work, application of the promising photochemical method to corrolecontaining ligands systems showed much success in the generation of manganese(V)-oxo corrole intermediates using two electron-deficient corrole ligands 5,10,15-tris-(4- trifluoromethylphenyl) corrole (4-CF3)TPC and 5,10,15-tris-(4-nitrophenyl) corrole (4- NO2)TPC. Homolytic cleavage of the O-N or O-ClO2 bond led to generation of the detectable manganese(V)-oxo corroles which were found to act as a competent oxotransfer agent in the presence of various organic reductants. The reaction was marked by the return to a low-valent manganese(III) corrole through a direct oxygen atom transfer (OAT) pathway or formation of manganese(VI)-oxo corrole and manganese(IV) product through a disproportionation pathway. The photo-generated manganese(V)-oxo corrole intermediates were tested as the oxidizing agent for substrate oxidation reactions. More importantly, accomplished within this work is the synthesis for a novel porphyrin complex with light-harvesting functionalities. The light harvesting porphyrin complex (L-Por) exhibits remarkable spectral absorption properties within the range of 400-550 nm allowing for the efficient harvesting of a broad spectrum of light. It is expected that the attached antennae chromophores and metalloporphyrin core will absorb visible light and, at the same time, the antennae could transfer energy to the metalloporphyrin core. Ruthenium(II)(L-Por)(CO) was found to efficiently photo-eject the carbonyl ligand when subjected to visible light. Generation of ruthenium(VI)(LPor)( O)2 was achieved through application of sacrificial oxidant iodobenzene diacetate (PhI(OAc)2). Stoichiometric oxidation of ruthenium(VI)(L-Por)(O)2 formed ruthenium(IV)(L-Por)(O) and cis-cyclooctene oxide with observed rate constants that were 10-fold greater under visible light irradiation. Future investigations will employ a bis-porphyrin-diruthenium(IV)-μ-oxo dimeric complex as a potential catalyst in photocatalytic aerobic oxidation reactions.

High-valent transition metal-oxo intermediates play essential roles as active oxidizing species in enzymatic and biomimetic catalytic systems. Extensive research has been conducted on a variety of transition metal catalysts being studied as models for the ubiquitous cytochrome P450 enzymes. In doing so, the production of enzyme-like oxidation catalysts and probing studies on the sophisticated oxygen atom transfer mechanism are taking place. In this work, visible-light irradiation of highly-photo-labile corrole-manganese(IV) bromates and chlorates was studied in two corrole systems with differing electronic environments, i.e. 5,10,15-trisphenylcorrole (H3TPC) and 5,10,15- tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole (H3TPFC). In both systems, homolytic cleavage of the O- Br and O-Cl bonds in the ligands was observed to result in one-electron photo-oxidation to afford the corrole-manganese(V)-oxo species as determined by their distinct UV-vis spectra. Kinetics of oxygen atom transfer (OAT) reactions by each photo-generated [MnV(Cor)O] species with various substrates were conducted in two solvents, CH3CN and CH2Cl2. It was found that [MnV(Cor)O] exhibits noteworthy solvent and ligand effects on its reactivity and spectroscopic behavior. In the more electron-withdrawing TPFC species in polar CH3CN solvent, MnV-oxo corrole returned to MnIII corrole following oxidation of substrate. However, the TPFC species in the less polar CH2Cl2 solvent, and in both solvents for the TPC system, MnIV product was formed instead of MnIII. An inverted reactivity pattern, i.e. TPC > TPFC, for the MnV-oxo corroles was observed. These spectral and kinetic results were rationalized by a multiple oxidation pathway model, where either a two-electron oxidation for oxygen atom transfer reactions takes place or a disproportionation reactive takes place forming the elusive manganese(VI)-oxo as the true oxidant. The preferred pathway is highly dependent on the nature of the corrole ligand and the solvent. Furthermore, a variety of [MnIV(Cor)Cl] complexes were investigated as biomimetic catalysts for the selective catalytic oxidation of the organic sulfide with mild sacrificial oxidant PhI(OAc)2. It was found that catalytic activity was affected by the oxidation state and electron environment of the catalyst. It was also found that in the same TPC system, [MnIV(TPC)Cl] was more reactive than [MnIII(TPC)], presumably due to the MnIV-corrole having easier access to the active metal-oxo intermediates than MnIII-corrole. In the same oxidation state, catalytic sulfoxidation of thioanisole resulted in a slower reaction rate for corrole species with more electron withdrawing ligands. In addition to thioanisole, [MnIV(TPC)Cl] was tested for its reactivity under catalytic conditions for eight other substrates. In most cases, quantitative conversions and excellent selectivity for sulfoxide were achieved.

Platinum(II) anticancer medications essentially react with DNA forming kinks inthe double helix of DNA and causing apoptosis. It has also been noted that theseanticancer medications react with methionine and cysteine in the body. With the new discoveries of selenium containing amino acids including selenomethionine and selenocysteine, new research is ongoing to see what types of products can be formed from these amino acids. Our research reacts [Pt(Met-S,N)Cl2] 2+ with selenomethionine to determine what types of products are produced. Monochelates including [Pt(SeMet-Se,N)Cl2] 2+ have formed two isomers, as well as other products that insinuate both selenomethionine and methionine binding with the platinum to form various [Pt(SeMet- Se,N)(Met-S,N)]2+ products. When initially reacting 6 mM [Pt(Met-S,N)Cl2] 2+ with 3 mM SeMet, the monochelates of both are produced without forming any free methionine which would suggest that there is free platinum in our solution creating the SeMet monochelate. When adding additional SeMet to the solution the same products are formed that are created when reacting 6 mM [Pt(Met-S,N)Cl2] 2+ and 6 mM SeMet. The 1H NMR spectrum for these products imply a product of [Pt(SeMet-Se,N)(Met-S,N)] 2+. Also, reactions with [Pt(en)(ox)] 2+ and SeMet were conducted and produced various products at two different pH’s. A [Pt(SeMet-Se,N2] 2+ product was formed at lower pH and produced free ethylenediamine, however at a higher pH only [Pt(en)(SeMet-Se,N)]2+ was produced.

The anticancer activity of several platinum compounds is due to the formation of complexes with DNA. We hypothesize that the size and shape of the platinum compounds would impact interaction with proteins, and these interactions may be partly responsible for the anticancer activity. Chymotrypsin and subtilisin are serine proteases that have a histidine residue in the active site. We are investigating the inhibition of the digestive enzymes chymotrypsin and subtilisin by analogs of the anticancer drug cisplatin and trying to discern trends in the inhibition as the active site residues vary. In our research, we found that the enzyme subtilisin did not show any significant inhibition with different platinum compounds we used, while chymotrypsin showed inhibition only with the potassium tetrachloroplatinate and this inhibition is concentration dependent

Chemotherapy is the first line of treatment used in cancer. Chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin are used in treatment. Cisplatin enters the cell through copper transporter CTR1 by passive diffusion and bind to DNA and proteins. Cisplatin is found to inhibit several enzymes targeting cysteine, histidine and methionine residues, which are expected to be responsible for its anticancer activity. A better understanding of how the size and shape and leaving ligands of platinum complexes affect cysteine protease, papain enzyme are studied. This could give new ways to optimize anticancer activity. The activity of papain enzyme was measured on UV-Visible spectroscopy. The inhibition profile of papain with different platinum (II) complexes, and with different combinations was studied.

The antimicrobial properties of dextrose encapsulated gold nanoparticles (dGNPs) with average diameters of 25 nm, 60 nm, and 120 nm (± 5 nm) synthesized by green chemistry principles were investigated against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Studies were performed involving the effect of the dGNPs on the growth, morphology and the ultrastructural properties of bacteria. dGNPs were found to have significant dose dependent antibacterial activity which was directly proportional to their size and also their concentration. The microbial assays revealed the dGNPs to be bacteriostatic as well as bactericidal. The dGNPs exhibited their bactericidal action through the disruption of the bacterial cell membrane causing leakage of cytoplasmic content. The overall outcomes of this study suggest that dGNPs hold promise as a potent antimicrobial agent against a wide range of disease causing bacteria and can control and prevent possible infections or diseases.

Since the discovery of anti-tumor activity of cisplatin in 1960, significant progress has been made in treating metastatic or advanced cancer with cisplatin and platinum compounds. Platinum compounds covalently bind to DNA and disrupt DNA function. They are also known to bind with amino acids like methionine, histidine and cysteine to form cisplatin-protein adducts which are responsible for most of its cytotoxicity and side effects. Recent articles on cisplatin-protein have shown that adding bulky adjuncts to cisplatin or using different platinum compounds varies the degree and extent of reaction thus possibly reducing cisplatin resistance and side effects. One of the proteins to study is cytochrome C, which is an intermediate in apoptosis (a controlled form of cell death used to kill cells in the process of development or in response to infection or DNA damage). Cytochrome C activates caspase 9, a cysteine protease, which in turn goes on to activate caspases 3 and 7, which are responsible for destroying the cell from within. In this study, we tried to examine how various platinum compounds like cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl2, cis-Pt(NH3)2(NO3)2, Pt(en)(NO3)2, Pt(Me4en)(NO3)2, Pt(NH3)2 (oxalate), Pt(en)(oxalate),Pt(Me4en)(oxalate), which have different ligands/bulk, react with cytochrome C in different physiological conditions. This research project subsequently focused on three main aspects: 1) to determine whether the concentration of platinum compounds made a difference in the reaction rate, 2) to determine whether the pH of the buffer shows any difference in the reaction rate, 3) to determine how the ligands coordinated to the platinum affected the rate. We used 1) HPLC with vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) as an internal standard. 2) Separate samples of platinum compounds with bovine serum albumin were then subjected to dialysis and were then sent to the Materials Characterization Center for analysis by ICP-AES spectroscopy. In summary, the following conclusions are stated: •The leaving group, pH, bulk and the concentration play a very vital role in determining the reaction rate for platinum-cytochrome C interactions. •Chlorides form excellent leaving groups followed by oxalates then nitrates. •Pt(en) reacts faster than Pt(NH3)2 which reacts faster than Pt(Me4en). •Nitrates, Pt(en) and few oxalate form multiple products showing non-specific binding. Only cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl2 and Pt(Me4en)(oxalate) formed predominately a single product showing target specific binding. •cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl2 showed an increased reaction rate at lower pH while cis-Pt(NH3)2(NO3)2 and Pt(Me4en)(NO3)2 showed higher reactions at higher pH. •Despite platinum compound was present in significant molar excess relative to cytochrome C, at the end of 21 hrs there was a significant amount of unreacted cytochrome C left except in case of cis-Pt(en)Cl2 which reacted with the whole cytochrome C in less than ten minutes. •We saw the rate of reaction in order of cis-Pt(en)Cl2 > Pt(en)(oxalate) > cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl2 > Pt(en)(NO3)2 > cis-Pt(NH3)2(NO3)2 > cis-Pt(NH3)2(oxalate) > Pt(Me4en)(oxalate) > Pt(Me4en)(NO3)2

Water soluble platinum complexes are a recent area of emphasis of cisplatin chemistry. The water soluble complexes could have a reduced toxicity compared with cisplatin. Oxaliplatin, which has an oxalate leaving group, has previously been shown to have less nephro-toxicity and higher water solubility than cisplatin. [Pt(en)(oxalate)] (en = ethylenediamine) has been prepared from Pt(en)Cl2 and silver oxalate. This complex has been reacted with methionine and N-acetylmethionine at different molar ratios. At high Pt: methionine ratios, chelates with the sulfur and nitrogen atoms of the methionine are dominant; at lower Pt: methionine ratios, a bis-methionine product is formed. The en ligand is displaced by methionine but not N-acetylmethionine.

The selective oxidation of organic compounds represents a leading technology for chemical industries. They are used in chemical synthesis in the pharmaceutical and petrochemicals industries, and possible the decontamination of harmful substances. However, oxidations reaction are among the most challenging processes to control. Many stoichiometric oxidants with heavy metals are expensive, or toxic maybe both, and therefore unfeasible to be utilized. The ideal processes for catalytic oxidation would use molecular oxygen or hydrogen peroxide as the primary oxygen source, with transition metal catalysts to mimic the predominant oxidation catalysts in Nature, the cytochrome P450 enzymes. This study focuses on the synthesis of porphyrin and corrole macrocyclic ligands and the corresponding iron(III) complexes which are fully characterized by UV-vis, GC/MS, and NMR spectroscopies. In this work, the potential of catalytic oxidation reactions towards organic sulfides by these metal complexes were studied. The iron(III) porphyrin and iron(III) corrole catalysts have shown excellent activity and selectivity for sulfoxidation reactions. Various reaction conditions and environmental effects were investigated including solvent, axial ligands, water, amounts of oxygen source, and substrate scope. The optimal conditions were determined for iron(III) porphyrin/ corrole-catalyzed sulfoxidations with PhI(OAc)2 as the mild oxygen source. Competitive catalytic oxidation of substituted thioanisoles versus thioanisole by iron(III) corrole with PhI(OAc)2 were studied. The spectral studies of iron(III) corrole with PhI(OAc)2 in the presence of organic sulfide showed that a well-known diiron(IV)-μ-oxo biscorrole was formed with a second-order rate constant of k2= (3.5 ± 0.3)×103 M-1·s-1. A catalytic cycle was proposed on the basis of the mechanistic study, suggesting a highly reactive iron(V)-oxo corrole as the active oxidizing intermediate.