Yes / Alfred Werner was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry just over 100 years ago. We recall briefly the era in which he was working, his co-workers, and the equipment he used in his laboratories. His ideas were ground breaking: not only does a metal ion have a primary valency (“hauptvalenz”, now the oxidation state), but also a secondary valency, the coordination number (“nebenvalenz”). At that time some refused to accept this idea, but he realised that his new thinking would open up new areas of research. Indeed it did. We illustrate this for the emerging field of medicinal metal coordination chemistry, the design of metal-based therapeutic and diagnostic agents. The biological activity of metal complexes depends intimately not only on the metal and its oxidation state, but also on the type and number of coordinated ligands, and the coordination geometry. This provides a rich platform in pharmacological space for structural and electronic diversity. It is necessary to control both the thermodynamics (strengths of metal-ligand bonds) and kinetics of ligand substitution reactions to provide complexes with defined mechanisms of action. Outer-sphere interactions can also play a major role in target recognition. Our current interest is focussed especially on relatively inert metal complexes which were very familiar to Werner (RuII, OsII, RhIII, IrIII, PtII, PtIV). / We thank the Leverhulme Trust (Early Career Fellowship No. ECF-2013-414 to NPEB), the University of Warwick (Grant No. RDF 2013-14 to NPEB) the ERC (Grant No. 247450 to PJS), EPSRC (Grant No. EP/F034210/1) and EC COST Action CM1105 for support.

Yes / A range of oxobis(phenyl‐1,3‐butanedione) vanadium(IV) complexes have been successfully synthesized from cheap starting materials and a simple and solvent‐free one‐pot dry‐melt reaction. This direct, straightforward, fast and alternative approach to inorganic synthesis has the potential for a wide range of applications. Analytical studies confirm their successful synthesis, purity and solid‐state coordination, and we report the complexes’ uses as potential drug candidates for the treatment of cancer. After a 24‐hour incubation of A549 lung carcinoma cells with the compounds, they reveal cytotoxicity values 11‐fold greater than cisplatin, and remain non‐toxic towards normal cell types. Additionally, the complexes are stable over a range of physiological pH values and show the potential for interactions with BSA. / University of Bradford. Grant Number: Internal Research Development Fund

Yes / Electron‐deficient half‐sandwich complexes are a class of under‐studied organometallics with demonstrated potential as metallodrug candidates. The present study investigates the effect of two 16‐electron organoruthenium complexes ([( p‐ cym)Ru(benzene‐1,2‐dithiolato)] ( 1 ) and [( p ‐cym)Ru(maleonitriledithiolate)] ( 2 )) on the cell viability of non‐immortalised human lymphocytes from healthy individuals. The genotoxic effects of 1 and 2 in lymphocytes using the Comet and cytokinesis‐block micronucleus assays is also investigated. Gene expression studies were carried out on a panel of genes involved in apoptosis and DNA damage repair response. Results show that the two 16‐electron complexes do not have significant effect on the cell viability of human lymphocytes from healthy individuals. However, an increase in DNA damage is induced by both compounds, presumably through oxidative stress production. / This project was supported by the Royal Society (University Research Fellowship No. UF150295 to NPEB), the University of Bradford (RDF Award), and by the Academy of Medical Sciences/the Wellcome Trust/ the Government Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy/ the British Heart Foundation Springboard Award [SBF003\1170 to NPEB].

O manganês (Mn) é um elemento essencial, porém pode ser tóxico em concentrações acima do requerido fisiologicamente. Assim, motivado pelo aumento nos teores desse metal na bacia hidrográfica Alto do Paranapanema (ALPA) e o crescente número de estudos internacionais relacionando desordens neurológicas ao excesso de Mn em águas superficiais, o presente trabalho foi conduzido para avaliar o perfil geoquímico e neurotoxicológico do Mn nos organismos em desenvolvimento em função da especiação química do metal. Desta maneira, no período de agosto/2006 a abril/2007, foram realizadas quatro coletas de amostras de águas superficiais e de sedimentos, nos rios Paranapanema e Itapetininga e no reservatório Jurumirim, localizados na bacia hidrográfica Alto do Paranapanema (ALPA, SP). Os estudos de fracionamento químico demonstraram que na bacia ALPA o Mn ocorre basicamente nos sedimentos (Mn ligado a hidr(óxidos) de Fe e Mn > Mn ligado a carbonatos ≈ Mn intercambiável ≈ Mn ligado a silicatos > Mn ligado a matéria orgânica) porém em constante troca com a coluna líquida, onde o Mn ocorre como metal particulado e em menor proporção como metal lábil. Acredita-se que esse padrão de distribuição esteja governado pelas características oxidantes e alcalinas desses sistemas aquáticos. Adicionalmente, foi verificado que a origem do Mn nesses sistemas é de caráter natural, porém com ~ 30 % de riscos ecotoxicológicos. Neste sentido, estudos in vitro (modelos de neurônios) e in vivo (embriões de paulistinha, Danio rerio) com as espécies MnCl2, Mn(II)Cit, Mn(III)Cit, Mn(III)PPi (Cit: Citrato, PPi: Pirofosfato) sugeriram que o Mn(II) é mais tóxico do que o Mn(III). Contudo, independentemente da especiação química, o Mn foi mais tóxico para neurônios glutamatérgicos do cerebelo em diferenciação, e para o paulistinha no período embrio-larval, pós-eclosão (> 72 horas pós-fertilização), no qual foram verificados danos neuromusculares. No entanto, a espécie mais tóxica para embriões expostos por 48 h foi o MnCl2 e por 120 h o Mn(II)Cit, sugerindo que o citrato está mediando essa toxicidade, o que é uma exceção ao “Free Ion Activity Model”. Conforme esses resultados foram verificados inibição do metabolismo do lactato e do ascorbato in vitro. Estudos de expressão gênica no paulistinha, mediante RT-PCR qualitativo e quantitativo permitiram verificar alterações no gene mitocondrial mt-co1, que pode ser compensada pela superexpressão do gene hspb11. Esses resultados sugerem que os danos induzidos pelas espécies de Mn devem estar associados à disfunção mitocondrial e do metabolismo energético, seguido da indução de estresse oxi-redutivo, o qual pode ser parcialmente revertido pela administração exógena de lactato e/ou ascorbato, sendo propostos os prováveis mecanismos. A probabilidade de que esses eventos toxicológicos aconteçam em outras espécies, incluindo os seres humanos, é sustentada principalmente pelos estudos tóxico-genômicos, dado que em outras espécies podem ser encontrados ortologos para esses genes, e especialmente para mt-co1, que poderia ser um biomarcador da toxicidade do Mn. Finalmente, sugere-se que os valores de referência de Mn em sedimentos sejam revistos em função das contribuições de frações biodisponíveis, e que esses resultados sejam considerados pelas agências ambientais do Estado em seus programas de avaliação e gerenciamentos de riscos / Manganese (Mn) is an essential element, however it may be toxic in higher than recquired physiological levels. The present work was motivated by the increased levels of this metal in the Alto do Paranapanema (ALPA, São Paulo state) hydrographic basin and to the growing amount of international evidence relating neurological disorders to excess Mn in superficial waters. Therefore, experiments were conducted in order to evaluate Mn both geochemical and neurotoxicological profiles on the developmental stages of aquatic organisms and mammaliam models as a function of metal speciation. During August 2006 to April 2007, four expeditions to ALPA were performed to collect water and sediment samples from rivers Paranapanema and Itapetininga, as well as from Jurumirim reservoir. Chemical fractioning studies showed that Mn occurs mainly in sediments (Mn bound to Fe, Mn (hydr)oxides > Mn bound to carbonates ≈ Interchangeable Mn ≈ Mn bound to silicates > Mn bound to organic matter) but in constant exchange with the liquid column, where Mn occurs as particulated metal and, in lesser amounts, as a labile metal. This distribution pattern is thought to be governed by the oxidant and alkaline conditions of this aquatic system. Also, Mn was found to be of natural origin, however posing ~ 30% of ecotoxicological risks. In vitro (neuronal cells) and in vivo (zebrafish, Danio rerio embryos) studies with the species MnCl2, Mn(II)Cit, Mn(III)Cit, Mn(III)PPi (Cit: Citrate, PPi: Pyrophosphate) suggest that Mn(II) is more toxic than Mn(III). However, independently of chemical speciation, Mn was more toxic to cerebellar glutamatergic neurons during differentiation and to zebrafish in the embryo- larval period (> 72 hours pos-fertilization), to which neuromuscular damage was observed. The most toxic species for embryos exposed for 48 h was MnCl2, but in the 120 h exposition experiment Mn(II)Cit was more toxic, suggesting that citrate mediates the toxicity, in an exception to the Free Ion Activity Model. According to these results, it was observed inhibition in the metabolism of lactate and ascorbate in vitro. Gene expression studies of zebrafish were performed by both qualitative and quantitative RT-PCR, displaying changes in the expression of the mithocondrial gene mt-co1 which may be compensated by an overexpression of hspb11 gene. These results suggest that the damage induced by Mn species may be related to mitochondrial and energy metabolism disfunction followed by induction of oxi-reductive stress, which can be partially reverted by the exogenous administration of lactate and/or ascorbate. The putative mechanisms are proposed. The possibility that these toxic events might be important to other species, humans included, is substantiated mainly by the toxicogenomics studies, since ortologs for both genes are widespread. This is especially true to mt-co1, which may be a biomarker for Mn toxicity. Finally, it is suggested that the reference values of Mn in sediments should be revised to accomodate the contributions of bioavailable fractions, and that results should be considered by official environment control agencies during their evaluation and risk management programs

O manganês (Mn) é um elemento essencial, porém pode ser tóxico em concentrações acima do requerido fisiologicamente. Assim, motivado pelo aumento nos teores desse metal na bacia hidrográfica Alto do Paranapanema (ALPA) e o crescente número de estudos internacionais relacionando desordens neurológicas ao excesso de Mn em águas superficiais, o presente trabalho foi conduzido para avaliar o perfil geoquímico e neurotoxicológico do Mn nos organismos em desenvolvimento em função da especiação química do metal. Desta maneira, no período de agosto/2006 a abril/2007, foram realizadas quatro coletas de amostras de águas superficiais e de sedimentos, nos rios Paranapanema e Itapetininga e no reservatório Jurumirim, localizados na bacia hidrográfica Alto do Paranapanema (ALPA, SP). Os estudos de fracionamento químico demonstraram que na bacia ALPA o Mn ocorre basicamente nos sedimentos (Mn ligado a hidr(óxidos) de Fe e Mn > Mn ligado a carbonatos ≈ Mn intercambiável ≈ Mn ligado a silicatos > Mn ligado a matéria orgânica) porém em constante troca com a coluna líquida, onde o Mn ocorre como metal particulado e em menor proporção como metal lábil. Acredita-se que esse padrão de distribuição esteja governado pelas características oxidantes e alcalinas desses sistemas aquáticos. Adicionalmente, foi verificado que a origem do Mn nesses sistemas é de caráter natural, porém com ~ 30 % de riscos ecotoxicológicos. Neste sentido, estudos in vitro (modelos de neurônios) e in vivo (embriões de paulistinha, Danio rerio) com as espécies MnCl2, Mn(II)Cit, Mn(III)Cit, Mn(III)PPi (Cit: Citrato, PPi: Pirofosfato) sugeriram que o Mn(II) é mais tóxico do que o Mn(III). Contudo, independentemente da especiação química, o Mn foi mais tóxico para neurônios glutamatérgicos do cerebelo em diferenciação, e para o paulistinha no período embrio-larval, pós-eclosão (> 72 horas pós-fertilização), no qual foram verificados danos neuromusculares. No entanto, a espécie mais tóxica para embriões expostos por 48 h foi o MnCl2 e por 120 h o Mn(II)Cit, sugerindo que o citrato está mediando essa toxicidade, o que é uma exceção ao “Free Ion Activity Model”. Conforme esses resultados foram verificados inibição do metabolismo do lactato e do ascorbato in vitro. Estudos de expressão gênica no paulistinha, mediante RT-PCR qualitativo e quantitativo permitiram verificar alterações no gene mitocondrial mt-co1, que pode ser compensada pela superexpressão do gene hspb11. Esses resultados sugerem que os danos induzidos pelas espécies de Mn devem estar associados à disfunção mitocondrial e do metabolismo energético, seguido da indução de estresse oxi-redutivo, o qual pode ser parcialmente revertido pela administração exógena de lactato e/ou ascorbato, sendo propostos os prováveis mecanismos. A probabilidade de que esses eventos toxicológicos aconteçam em outras espécies, incluindo os seres humanos, é sustentada principalmente pelos estudos tóxico-genômicos, dado que em outras espécies podem ser encontrados ortologos para esses genes, e especialmente para mt-co1, que poderia ser um biomarcador da toxicidade do Mn. Finalmente, sugere-se que os valores de referência de Mn em sedimentos sejam revistos em função das contribuições de frações biodisponíveis, e que esses resultados sejam considerados pelas agências ambientais do Estado em seus programas de avaliação e gerenciamentos de riscos / Manganese (Mn) is an essential element, however it may be toxic in higher than recquired physiological levels. The present work was motivated by the increased levels of this metal in the Alto do Paranapanema (ALPA, São Paulo state) hydrographic basin and to the growing amount of international evidence relating neurological disorders to excess Mn in superficial waters. Therefore, experiments were conducted in order to evaluate Mn both geochemical and neurotoxicological profiles on the developmental stages of aquatic organisms and mammaliam models as a function of metal speciation. During August 2006 to April 2007, four expeditions to ALPA were performed to collect water and sediment samples from rivers Paranapanema and Itapetininga, as well as from Jurumirim reservoir. Chemical fractioning studies showed that Mn occurs mainly in sediments (Mn bound to Fe, Mn (hydr)oxides > Mn bound to carbonates ≈ Interchangeable Mn ≈ Mn bound to silicates > Mn bound to organic matter) but in constant exchange with the liquid column, where Mn occurs as particulated metal and, in lesser amounts, as a labile metal. This distribution pattern is thought to be governed by the oxidant and alkaline conditions of this aquatic system. Also, Mn was found to be of natural origin, however posing ~ 30% of ecotoxicological risks. In vitro (neuronal cells) and in vivo (zebrafish, Danio rerio embryos) studies with the species MnCl2, Mn(II)Cit, Mn(III)Cit, Mn(III)PPi (Cit: Citrate, PPi: Pyrophosphate) suggest that Mn(II) is more toxic than Mn(III). However, independently of chemical speciation, Mn was more toxic to cerebellar glutamatergic neurons during differentiation and to zebrafish in the embryo- larval period (> 72 hours pos-fertilization), to which neuromuscular damage was observed. The most toxic species for embryos exposed for 48 h was MnCl2, but in the 120 h exposition experiment Mn(II)Cit was more toxic, suggesting that citrate mediates the toxicity, in an exception to the Free Ion Activity Model. According to these results, it was observed inhibition in the metabolism of lactate and ascorbate in vitro. Gene expression studies of zebrafish were performed by both qualitative and quantitative RT-PCR, displaying changes in the expression of the mithocondrial gene mt-co1 which may be compensated by an overexpression of hspb11 gene. These results suggest that the damage induced by Mn species may be related to mitochondrial and energy metabolism disfunction followed by induction of oxi-reductive stress, which can be partially reverted by the exogenous administration of lactate and/or ascorbate. The putative mechanisms are proposed. The possibility that these toxic events might be important to other species, humans included, is substantiated mainly by the toxicogenomics studies, since ortologs for both genes are widespread. This is especially true to mt-co1, which may be a biomarker for Mn toxicity. Finally, it is suggested that the reference values of Mn in sediments should be revised to accomodate the contributions of bioavailable fractions, and that results should be considered by official environment control agencies during their evaluation and risk management programs

Macrocyclic ligand-complexed transition metal-oxo intermediates are the active oxidizing species in a variety of important biological and catalytic oxidation reactions. Many transition metal catalysts have been designed to mimic the predominant oxidation catalysts in Nature, namely the cytochrome P450 enzymes. Ruthenium porphyrin complexes have been the center of the research and have successfully been utilized, as catalysts, in major oxidation reactions such as the hydroxylation of alkanes. This study focuses on kinetic and photocatalytic studies of oxidation reactions with wellcharacterized high-valent ruthenium-oxo porphyrin complexes. The trans-dioxoruthenium(VI) porphyrins have been among the best characterized metal-oxo intermediates and their involvement as the active oxidant in the hydrocarbon oxidation have been extensively studied. Following the literature known methods, a series of trans-dioxoruthenium(VI) porphyrin complexes (3a-b) were synthesized and spectroscopically characterized by UV-vis, IR and lH-NMR. In addition to the well-known chemical methods, we developed a novel photochemical approach for generation of trans-dioxoruthenium(VI) porphyrins with visible light. The fast kinetic study of two-electron oxidations of para-substituted phenyl methyl sulfides by these dioxoruthenium(VI) species was conducted by using stopped-flow spectroscopy. Results showed that the decay of trans--dioxoruthenium(VI) porphyrins in the presence of reactive sulfides follows a biexponential process. The reactivity order in the series of dioxoruthenium complexes follows TPFPP> TPP> TMP, consistent with expectations based on the electrophilic nature of high-valent metal-oxo species. Moreover, the sulfoxidation reactions are 3 to 4 orders of magnitude faster than the well-known epoxidation reactions. In addition, several ruthenium porphyrins were used as the catalysts in the competitive oxidation reactions to identify the kinetically competent oxidants during catalytic turnover conditions. The photocatalytic studies of aerobic oxidation reactions of hydrocarbons catalyzed by a bis-porphyrin-ruthenium(lV) fl-OXO dimer using atmospheric oxygen as oxygen source in the absence of co-reductants were investigated as well. The ruthenium(lV) fl-OXO bisporphyrin (6a) was found to catalyze aerobic oxidation of a variety of organic substrates efficiently. By comparison, 6a was found to be more efficient photocatalyst than the well-known 3a under identical conditions. A KIE at 298K was found to be larger than those observed in autoxidation processes, suggesting a nonradical mechanism that involved the intermediacy of ruthenium(V)-oxo species as postulated.

Thesis (M.S.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Chemistry. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Chemistry. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

This thesis includes the synthesis, characterisation, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Cu(II)-, Co(II)- and Co(III) complexes with N,N'-bis(3- methoxysalicylaldimine)propan-2-ol, 2-OH-oVANPN. The Schiff base ligand, 2-OHoVANPN, is derived from o-vanillin and 1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol. The o-vanillin condensed with 1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol in a 2:1 molar ratio yields this potential tetraor pentadentate ligand. The complexes synthesized are tetra (or penta or hexa) coordinated. Formation of the complexes is symbolized as follows:- MX₂ + 2-OH-oVANPN (2:1) -> [M(2-OH-oVANPN)Xn] + HnX MX₂ + 2-OH-oVANPN (2:1) -> [Mn(2-OH-oVANPN)OH] + H₂X₂ MX₂ + (o-vanillin : diaminopropanol) (1:1) -> [M(1:1)X₂] MX₂ + (o-vanillin : diaminopropanol) (1:1) -> [M₃(1:1)X₄] M = Cu(II), Co(II) or Co(III); X = Cl; n = 1, 2. Their structural features have been deduced from their elemental analytical data, IR spectral data, and electronic spectral data. With the exception of {Cu₃(C₁₁H₁₄N₂O₃)(Cl)₄(H₂O)₆}(A4), the Cu(II) complexes were monomeric with 2-OH-oVANPN acting as a tetradentate ligand. A binuclear Co(II) complex, [Co₂(C₁₉H₁₉N₂O₅)(OH)] (B1), was synthesised and the rest of the Co(II) and Co(III) complexes were monomeric with chloride ions coordinating to the metal centre in some cases. Electronic data suggest that the cobalt(II) complexes have octahedral geometries and the copper(II) complexes have square planar structures – Co(III) is likely to be octahedral. Thermal analyses, which included the copper-block-method for determining sublimation temperatures, revealed that some copper(II) and cobalt(II) complexes are hygroscopic and sublime at 200 °C and below. DSC analyses of the Cu(II) complexes gave exotherms around 300 °C for complexes K[Cu(C₁₉H₂₀N₂O₅)(OH)]·2H₂O (A1) and [Cu(C₁₁H15N₂O₃)(Cl)₂]·2H₂O (A2) and above 400 °C for [Cu(C₁₁H₁₆N₂O₃)(Cl)₂] (A3) and {Cu₃(C₁₁H₁₄N₂O₃)(Cl)₄(H₂O)₆} (A4). Antioxidant studies were carried out against the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH·). The cobalt(II) complex, [Co₂(C₁₉H₁₉N₂O₅)(OH)] (B1), which was synthesized in the presence of KOH, had no antioxidant activity, whilst the other cobalt(II) complexes, [Co(C₁₇H₁₇N₂O₅(Cl))]·1½H₂O (B2), [Co(C₁₉H₂₂N₂O₅) (Cl)₂]·5½H₂O (B3) and [Co(C₁₉H₂₂N₂O₅)(Cl)₂]·5½H₂O (B4), which were synthesised in the absence of KOH, demonstrated antioxidant activity. The latter complexes are candidates for cancer cell line testing, while [Cu(C₁₁H₁₆N₂O₃)(Cl)₂] (A3), {Cu₃(C₁₁H₁₄N₂O₃)(Cl)₄(H₂O)₆} (A4), [Co(C₁₉H₂₁N₂O₅)(Cl)₂ ]·5H₂O (C2) and [Co(C₁₉H₂₀N₂O₅)(Cl)]·3H₂O (C3) may show anticancer activity through possible hydrolysis products. Most of the complexes synthesized displayed antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. The results indicated that complexes [Cu(C₁₁H₁₆N₂O₃)(Cl)₂](A3), [Co(C₁₉H₂₂N₂O₅)(Cl)₂]·5½H₂O (B3) and [Co(C₁₉H₂₁N₂O₅)(Cl)₂ ]·5H₂O (C2) are active against the Gram-negative Ps. aeruginosa and that the ligand, 2-OH-oVANPN, did not have any activity. The same trend was observed with 2-OH-oVANPN, {Cu₃(C₁₁H₁₄N₂O₃)(Cl)4(H₂O)₆} (A4) and [Co(C₁₉H₂₀N₂O₅)(Cl)]·3H₂O (C3) against the Gram-positive S. aureus. As for activity against E. coli and C. albicans, some complexes showed more activity than the ligand. There is an observed trend here that the metal complexes are more active (toxic) than the corresponding ligand, which is in agreement with Tweedy’s chelation theory.