Herein we present four new ruthenium(II) complexes: [Ru(mtz)2(dppb)] (1), [Ru(mmi)2(dppb)] (2), [Ru(dmp)2(dppb)] (3), and [Ru(mpca)2(dppb)] (4), where mtz = 2-mercaptothiazoline; mmi = 2-mercapto-1-methyl-imidazole; dmp = 4,6-diamino-2-mercaptopyrimidine; mpca = 6-mercaptopyridine-3-carboxylic acid; dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane. In vitro cell culture experiments revealed cytotoxic activity for complexes 2, 3 and 4 against MCF-7 (breast, non-invasive), MDA-MB-231 (breast, invasive), A549 (lung), DU-145 (prostate) and HepG2 (liver) tumor cells, in some cases lower than the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for the reference drug (cisplatin). The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) interactions studied by viscosity measurements, gel electrophoresis and square-wave voltammetry indicated that the DNA binding affinity primarily occurs through non-covalent interactions. Only complex 2 was able to fully inhibit the DNA supercoiled relaxation mediated by human topoisomerase IB (Top IB). The analysis indicates that complex 2 inhibits the cleavage and the reconnection steps of the catalytic cycle, being both a poison and a catalytic inhibitor.

The synthesis, characterization and cytotoxic activity of cis-[Ru(dicl)(dppm)2]PF6 and cis-[Ru(ibu)(dppm)2]PF6, (dppm = 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphine)methane; dicl = diclofenac anion and ibu = ibuprofen anion), are described in this work. Complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis, 31P{1H} nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRESIMS). X-ray structure of cis-[Ru(ibu)(dppm)2]PF6 is also described. Preliminary calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) binding studies were carried out by UV-Vis and viscosity experiments, with results suggesting the existence of electrostatic interactions between ruthenium complexes and ct-DNA. Cytotoxicity assays were carried out on a panel of human cancer cell lines and a human normal cell line. Complexes displayed a high to moderate cytotoxicity with IC50 ranging from 5 to 47 µmol L-1. cis-[Ru(ibu) (dppm)2]PF6 was found to be the most active, with IC50 values lower than cisplatin. The degree of cytotoxicity was maintained for the normal cell line, although cis-[Ru(ibu)(dppm)2]PF6 exhibited a similar selectivity to that of cisplatin but with a higher activity for at least two tumor cell lines which evidences a promising anticancer candidate and selects this complex for further experiments.

Complexos de CoIII derivados da 2-acetilpiridina N(4)-R tiossemicarbazona (Hatc-R, R = alquil ou aril) foram caracterizados por análise elementar, espectroscopia na região do infravermelho, UV-Visível e ¹H RMN, voltametria cíclica (VC), medidas de condutividade e difração de raios X em monocristal. Os resultados obtidos são consistentes com a oxidação do centro de CoII para CoIII após a coordenação N,N,S-tridentada e monoaniônica dos ligantes tiossemicarbazonas, resultando em complexos octaédricos iônicos do tipo [Co(atc-R)2]Cl. Os estudos de eletroquímica mostram dois processos reversíveis, referentes aos pares redox CoIII/CoII e CoII/CoI, que são afetados pelo efeito indutivo dos grupos substituintes na posição N4 dos ligantes. Dois complexos de CoIII se mostraram satisfatoriamente ativos, com valores de concentração inibitória mínima abaixo de 10 µmol L- 1 e um deles apresentou muito baixa citotoxicidade contra células VERO e J774A.1 (IC50), conferindo-lhe altos índices de seletividade (SI > 10).

CoIII complexes derived from 2-acetylpyridine N(4)-R thiosemicarbazone (Hatc-R, R = alkyl, aryl) have been characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, UV-Visible and ¹H NMR spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry (CV), conductimetry measurements and single crystal X-ray diffractometry. The results obtained are consistent with the oxidation of the CoII center to CoIII upon coordination of the monoanionic N,N,S-tridentate thiosemicarbazone ligands, resulting in octahedral ionic complexes of the type [Co(atc-R)2]Cl. Electrochemistry studies show two reversible processes referring to the redox couples CoIII/CoII and CoII/CoI which can be modified by the inductive effects of the substituents groups at the N4 position of the ligands. Two CoIII complexes showed satisfactory activity with minimal inhibitory concentration value under 10 µmol L- 1 and one presented quite low cytotoxicity against VERO and J774A.1 cells (IC50), resulting in high selectivity index (SI > 10).

Três complexos de PdII com tiossemicarbazonas N(4)-substituídas foram preparados: [Pd(aptsc)(PPh3)](NO3)•H2O, 1, [Pd(apmtsc)(PPh3)](NO3), 2, e [Pd(apptsc)(PPh3)](NO3)•H2O, 3, sendo PPh3 = trifenilfosfina; Haptsc = 2-acetilpyridina-tiossemicarbazona; Hapmtsc = 2-acetilpiridina-N(4)-metil-tiossemicarbazona e Happtsc = 2-acetilpiridina-N(4)-fenil-tiossemicarbazona. Os complexos foram caracterizados por análise elementar, IR, UV-Vis, ¹H e 31P{¹H} NMR e tiveram suas estruturas cristalinas determinadas por difratometria de raios X em monocristal. Os ligantes tiossemicarbazonatos monoaniônicos atuam de modo tridentado, ligando-se ao metal pelos átomos de nitrogênio piridínico, nitrogênio azometínico e enxofre. A atividade citotóxica frente à linhagem de células tumorais MDA-MB231 (tumor de mama) e a atividade anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv ATCC 27294 dos compostos foram investigadas. Os complexos de PdII mostraram-se altamente ativos contra as células tumorais, com valores de IC50 em torno de 5 µmol L-1, enquanto o agente antitumoral em uso clínico cisplatina mostrou-se inativo. Os compostos apresentaram atividade anti-M. tuberculosis significante, com valores de CIM comparáveis ou melhores que aqueles referentes a alguns fármacos usados clinicamente contra tuberculose.

Three PdII complexes were prepared from N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones: [Pd(aptsc)(PPh3)](NO3)•H2O, 1, [Pd(apmtsc)(PPh3)](NO3), 2, and [Pd(apptsc)(PPh3)](NO3)•H2O, 3, where PPh3 = triphenylphosphine; Haptsc = 2-acetylpyridine-thiosemicarbazone; Hapmtsc = 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-methyl-thiosemicarbazone and Happtsc = 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-phenyl-thiosemicarbazone. All complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis, ¹H and 31P{¹H} NMR spectroscopies, and had their crystalline structures determined by X-ray diffractometry from single crystals. The monoanionic thiosemicarbazonate ligands act in a tridentate mode, binding to the metal through the pyridine nitrogen, the azomethine nitrogen and the sulfur atoms. The cytotoxic activity against the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB231 and the anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv ATCC 27294 activity were evaluated for the compounds. All PdII complexes were highly active against the studied cell line, presenting similar values of IC50, around 5 µmol L-1, while the clinically applied antitumor agent cisplatin was inactive. The compounds show remarkable anti-M. tuberculosis activities, presenting MIC values comparable or better than some commercial anti-M tuberculosis drugs.

Dois novos complexos zwitteriônicos de oxorrênio(V), [ReOCl2(Hdhp)(PPh3)] (1) e [ReOBr2(Hdhp)(PPh3)] (2) (H2dhp = 2,3-dihidroxipiridina), foram sintetizados e caracterizados por espectroscopia de absorção no infravermelho, ressonância magnética nuclear de ¹H e 31P, análise elementar e determinação da estrutura cristalina e molecular por difração de raios X em monocristais. Os complexos apresentam geometria de coordenação octaédrica bastante distorcida, com os dois ligantes haletos arranjados em posições cis equatoriais, o ligante trifenilfosfina em posição trans a um dos haletos e o ligante Hdhp- coordenado de forma bidentada através de seus átomos de oxigênio, sendo um em posição trans ao ligante oxo e o outro em posição trans com relação ao outro haleto. Este ligante tem seu átomo de nitrogênio protonado. Os compostos 1 e 2 apresentam empacotamento cristalino bastante diferente, influenciado em ambos os casos por ligações de hidrogênio intermoleculares dos tipos N-H<FONT FACE=Symbol>...</FONT>X (X = Cl, Br) e N-H...O.

Two novel zwitterionic oxorhenium(V) complexes, [ReOCl2(Hdhp)(PPh3)] (1) and [ReOBr2(Hdhp)(PPh3)] (2) (H2dhp = 2,3-dihydroxypyridine), were synthesized and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, ¹H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance, elemental analysis and crystal and molecular structure determination by X-ray diffraction on single crystals. Both complexes show distorted octahedral coordination geometry, with the halide ligands arranged in equatorial cis positions, the triphenylphosphine ligand in a trans position to one of the halides and the Hdhp- ligand coordinated in a bidentate form through its oxygen atoms, one in trans position to the oxo-ligand and the other in trans position to the second halide. The nitrogen atom of this ligand is protonated. Compounds 1 and 2 show quite different crystal packing, both influenced by hydrogen bonds of the types N-H...X (X = Cl, Br) and N-H<FONT FACE=Symbol>...</FONT>O.

As reações do ligante 2,6-diacetilpiridina bis(4-feniltiossemicarbazona), H2dappt, com R4-mSnXm (m = 2, 3; R = Me, nBu, Ph e X = Cl) resultaram na formação de quatro novos complexos organoestânicos heptacoordenados, os quais foram caracterizados por análise elementar e pelas espectroscopias no IV e Mössbauer. O derivado n-butila, [nBu2Sn(dappt)]·(Me 2CO)0.5, foi também analisado por um estudo de difração de raios X em um monocristal. O complexo cristalizou-se no sistema monoclínico e grupo espacial C2/c, com a = 36,164(14), b = 9,7050(15), c = 26,194(11) Å, beta = 132,00(2)º, Z = 8. A determinação da estrutura revelou um complexo neutro de Sn(IV), numa geometria bipiramidal pentagonal (BPP), com o plano equatoral definido pelos átomos doadores SNNNS do ligante e dois grupos n-bultila nas posições axiais. Também é discutida uma correlação entre os dados de Mössbauer e de difração de raios X, baseada no modelo da carga-pontual.

The reactions of the 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(4-phenylthiosemicarbazone) ligand, H2dappt, with R4-mSnXm (m = 2, 3; R = Me, nBu, Ph and X = Cl) led to the formation of four new heptacoordinated organotin(IV) complexes, which were characterized by microanalyses and by IR and Mössbauer spectroscopies. The n-butyl derivative [nBu2Sn(dappt)]·(Me 2CO)0.5 was also analyzed by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. It crystallized in the monoclinic system with a space group C2/c, with a = 36.164(14), b = 9.7050(15), c = 26.194(11) Å, beta = 132.00(2)º, Z = 8. The structure determination revealed a neutral complex of Sn(IV) in a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal (PBP) geometry, with the equatorial plane defined by the SNNNS donor system of the ligand and with the two n-butyl groups in the axial positions. Also, a correlation between Mössbauer and X-ray data based on the point-charge model is discussed.