Abstract:
The thesis entitled “Studies on new transition metal complexes and their reactivities” is
divided into seven chapters. In this report, we have presented rationally designed
compartmental ligands which were utilized for the synthesis of mononuclear, dinuclear and
tetranuclear metal complexes based on first-row transition elements viz. manganese, iron,
nickel, copper and zinc. The chemical drawings of ligands utilized in this thesis are shown
below in Figure 1.
Figure 1 Chemical drawings of ligands utilized in the present thesis report.
Chapter 1: Introduction
This chapter includes the brief introduction of basic aspects of coordination chemistry
including different metal ions and ligand employed in the thesis report. The introduction of
several metalloenzymes, catalytic reactions and biomimetic reactivity studies were discussed.
The various chemical methods and spectroscopic techniques used were comprehensively
summarized in this chapter. The role of metal ions in association with rationally designed
ligand frame in exhibiting different type of catalytic activities.
R = -CH3, HLMe
-OCH3, HLOMe
-C(CH3)3, HLtBu
LNN
Thesis Abstract
v
Chapter 2: Dinuclear μ-phenoxo and μ-hydroxo bridged compartmental copper
complexes exhibiting broad spectrum applications in oxidation chemistry of phenols
and isoelectronic compounds: Cytotoxicity and evidences for cellular apoptosis
In this chapter three compartmental pentadentate ligands HLMe, HLOMe, HLtBu have
been synthesized, characterized and utilized for the synthesis of three dinuclear hydroxo and
phenolato bridged copper complexes viz. [Cu2(LMe)(μ-OPh)(μ-OH](ClO4)2]CH3CN; (1),
[Cu2(LOMe)(μ-OPh)(μ-OH)(μ-OH2)](ClO4)2.CH3CN; (2) and [Cu2(LtBu)(μ-OPh)(μ-
OH)(OH2)](ClO4)2; (3) respectively. All the three complexes were characterized by various
spectroscopic techniques. Tyrosinase activity was studied by in situ reaction of Cu(I) and
ligands exploiting 2,4-di-tert-butyl phenol as substrate leading to radical mediated C-C
coupling reaction. The catalytic activities of complexes 1-3 on di-phenols and related
substrate molecules were investigated and all three complexes efficiently oxidize 3,5-di-tertbutylcatechol
to 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone. Treatment of copper complexes on o-aminophenol
and o-phenylene diamine resulted in the oxidative coupling of substrate molecules, leading to
the formation of phenoxazinone and diaminophenazine respectively. Furthermore, oxidative
properties of reported copper complexes were studied in relevance to their ability in inducing
apoptotic cell death. Remarkably, all three copper complexes (1, 2 and 3) exhibited excellent
cytotoxic activity towards MCF-7 cell lines (human breast cancer cell lines) with IC50 values
of 1.6 μM, 2.0 μM and 0.2 μM respectively
Self-activated DNA cleavage Cellular apoptosis
Thesis Abstract
vi
Chapter 3: Facile synthesis and crystal structure of phenoxyl radical complex of zinc:
Synthesis of benzoxazole derivatives by C-H bond activation via hydrogen atom
transfer (HAT) and oxidation of dihydroanthracene
In this chapter a tetranuclear zinc complex [Zn4(LOMe)2(μ2-OPh)2(μ3-OH)2(μ2-
OAc)2](ClO4)3.2CH3CN (4) and a dinuclear diphenolato bridged complex [Zn2(LOMe)2(μ2-
OPh)2](ClO4)2.2H2O (5) have been synthesized from compartmental ligand HLOMe (4-
methoxy-2,6-bis(-(2-phenyl-2-(pyridine-2yl)hydrazono)methyl)phenol) using zinc acetate
(Zn(OAc)2).2H2O) and zinc perchlorate (Zn(ClO4)2.6H2O) as precursor salts respectively.
Complexes 4 and 5 were characterized by spectroscopic studies and molecular structures
were determined by X-ray crystallography. Presence of phenoxyl radical in the solid state of
complex 4 was authenticated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, EPR, resonance Raman, and
UV-Vis spectral studies. Theoretical calculations were performed to investigate structural
parameters, spin density and resonance Raman spectral data. Redox properties of the
complexes were examined. Stable zinc phenoxyl radical complex 4 derived from
compartmental ligand served as a functional mimic of galactose oxidase enzyme. The
hydrogen atom abstracting tendency of phenoxyl radical complex was supported by
hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reaction of 9,10-dihydroanthracene via C-H activation and
synthesis of anthracene. This has been exploited for oxidative cyclization of Schiff base
derivatives leading to the formation of benzoxazole derivatives via C-H bond activation
under very mild conditions.
Zn1
Zn2
Zn4
Zn3
O13
O16
H16
N1
N3
N4
N6
C18
O14
O15
N12
N10
N9
N7
O17
O20
H20
O18
O19
O21
O22
C51
Thesis Abstract
vii
Chapter 4: Combined experimental and theoretical studies on selective sensing of zinc
and pyrophosphate ions by rational designing of compartmental chemosensor probe:
Dual sensing behaviour via secondary recognition approach and cell imaging studies
In this chapter ligand HLMe has been used as selective chemosensor probe for the
selective recognition of zinc ions over other transition metal ions via fluorescence “ON”
strategy. The chemo-sensing behaviour of HLMe has been demonstrated through
fluorescence, absorption and NMR spectroscopic techniques. The molecular structure of the
zinc complex [Zn2(LMe)2(μ2-OPh)2](ClO4)2.2H2O (6) derived from HLMe was determined by
X-ray crystallography. A probable mechanism of this selective sensing behavior was
described on the basis of spectroscopic results and theoretical studies by density functional
theory (DFT). The biological applicability of the chemosensor (HLMe) was examined via cell
imaging on HeLa cells. This zinc complex served as secondary fluorescent probe responding
for the pyrophosphate anion specifically over other anions. The fluorescence enhancement of
HLMe in association with Zn2+ ions was quenched due to the presence of pyrophosphate
(PPi). Thus a dual response has been established based on “OFF-ON-OFF” strategy for
detection of both cation and anion. This phenomenon was utilized in the construction of
“INHIBIT” logic gate.
Zn2+
PPi
450 500 550 600 650 700
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Fluorescence Intensity (a.u.)
Wavelength(nm)
HL+Zn
HL
HL+Zn+
PPi
(Ba2+) (Co2+) (Mn2+) (Fe3+) (Lig) (Zn2+) (Na+) (Cu2+) (Hg2+) (Mg2+) (Cd2+)
Thesis Abstract
viii
Chapter 5: Study of cytotoxic activity of mononuclear Fe(II) and Mn(II) complexes
based on bidentate ligands: Metal ions controlling catalytic performance towards SOD
activity and nuclease activity
In this chapter, mononuclear iron(II) and manganese(II) complexes
[Fe(LNN)3](ClO4)2, (7) and [Mn(LNN)3](ClO4)2, (8) derived from bidenate ligand LNN, have
been synthesised and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. The X-ray crystal
structures of the complexes revealed the tris coordination of three ligand moieties around
metal centres providing distorted octahedral coordination environment. The SOD activity of
both complexes was evaluated by following Xanthine/Xanthine oxidase assay. Complex 8
manifested efficient SOD activity with an IC50 values of 1.72 μM in contrast to the low-spin
iron(II) complex which showed some anomalous behaviour. DNA cleavage activity through
gel electrophoretic studies using pUC18 DNA were also studied revealing self activated
DNA cleavage activity of 7. The cytotoxic nature of both complexes was determined on
MCF−7 cell line. Complex 7 proved to be highly efficient in inducing nuclear deformation,
promoting the apoptosis in the cells having IC50 value of 2.97 μM while complex 8 did not
show cytotoxic activity. In situ reactive oxygen species generation has been further supported
via DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine) radical quenching studies and DCFDA images.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 lane
Cleavage of supercoiled pUC18 plasmid DNA at 37 C (100 ng) by complex 2 using 2%
DMF as a medium after incubation at 37 C for 30 min. DNA control (lane 1); DNA +
Mn(ClO4)2.4H2O (lane 2); DNA + 2 (2μM) (lane 3); DNA + 2 (10μM) (lane 4); DNA +
2 (20μM) (lane 5); DNA+ 2 (60μM) (lane 6); DNA+ 2 (100μM) (lane 7).
Form II
Form III
Form I
Form II
Form III
Form I
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 lane
Cleavage of supercoiled pUC18 plasmid DNA at 37 C (100 ng) by complex 1 using 2%
DMF as a medium after incubation at 37 C for 30 min. DNA control (lane 1); DNA +
Fe(ClO4)2.xH2O (lane 2); DNA + ligand (20μM) (lane 3); DNA + 1 (2μM) (lane 4); DNA
+ 1 (10μM) (lane 5); DNA + 1 (20μM) (lane 6); DNA+ 1 (40μM) (lane 7); DNA+ 1
(60μM) (lane 8).
M = Fe, Mn
2+
Self-activated DNA cleavage
Cellular apoptosis
SOD activity
1 2 3 4 5 6
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Concentration (M)
% Inhibition
8
Thesis Abstract
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Chapter 6: Study of cytotoxic activity of mononuclear Fe(II) and Mn(II) complexes
based on bidentate ligands: Metal ions controlling catalytic performance towards SOD
activity and nuclease activity
This chapter contains the report of synthesis and characterization of two nickel
complexes [Ni2LMe(μ−Oph)(μ−OH2)(μ-NO3)(H2O)](NO3) (9) and [Ni4(LMe)2(μ−Oph)2 (μ−
OH)2(μ-OAc)2](NaPF6) (10). Complex 9 is a dinuclear phenolato bridged, aqua bridged
complex synthesized on employing nickel nitrate tetrahydrate as precursor metal salt while
complex 10 was synthesized using nickel acetate as metal starting material. The
characterizations of both complexes have been done by different spectroscopic methods like
1H NMR, IR spectra and UV-visible spectral studies along with X-ray crystallographic
studies. Both complexes 9 and 10 were identified as paramagnetic complexes. The
complexes were testified for the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction and both 9 and 10 were proved to
be efficient cross-coupling agents under mild conditions and low catalyst loading for aryl
iodide and phenyl boronic acid leading to carbon‒carbon bond formation which ultimately
resulted in the synthesis of biphenyl. It is notable to mention here that no extra reducing
agent was added to carry out the cross-coupling reaction.
⁺
Catalysts
100 C, THF, Base
Iodobenzene
Phenyl boronic
acid
Biaryl (biphenyl)
Thesis Abstract
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Chapter 7: Synthesis, characterization and reactivity studies on dinuclear manganese
(II,II) and mononuclear iron(III) complexes
This chapter reports the rational designing and synthesis of dinuclear diphenolato
manganese complex [Mn2(LMe)2(μ−Oph)2](ClO4)2 (11) and mono nuclear bis-coordinated iron
complex [Fe(LMe)2(μ− Oph)2](ClO4).2CH3OH (12) based on compartmental ligand HLMe. The
characterization of both complexes was done by different spectroscopic methods such as IR
spectral studies, UV‒visible spectroscopy, and electrochemical studies. Molecular structures
of both complexes were determined by X‒ray crystallography. The oxidative capability of
both complexes was investigated utilizing a range of substrates including hydrocarbons,
alcohols and substituted thio ether. Both the complexes were found to be efficient as
oxidation catalysts in presence of hydrogen peroxide. The generation of intermediate species
were justified using UV-Vis spectroscopy and ESI-MS spectral analysis