Chemical Characterization and Biological Evaluation of New Cobalt(II) Complexes with Bioactive Ligands, 2-Picolinehydroxamic Acid and Reduced Schiff Base N-(2-Hydroxybenzyl)alanine, in Terms of DNA Binding and Antimicrobial Activity

Five new heteroligand cobalt(II) complexes with 2-picolinehydroxamic acid and reduced Schiff base, N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)alanine, were formed in an aqueous solution over a wide pH range. The coordination properties of ligands towards the metal ion were determined using a pH-metric method, and then the speciation model was confirmed by UV–Vis studies. A stacking interaction between the Schiff base phenol ring and the 2-picolinehydroxamic acid pyridine ring was found to improve the stability of the heteroligand species, indicating more effective coordination in mixed-ligand complexes than in their respective binary systems. The antimicrobial properties of heteroligand complexes were determined against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, as well as fungal strains. The formulation demonstrated the highest bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity (3.65 mM) against two strains of Gram-negative Helicobacter pylori bacteria and towards Candida albicans and Candida glabrata; this is important due to the potential co-existence of these microorganisms in the gastric milieu and their role in the development of gastritis. The binary complexes in the cobalt(II)—2-picolinehydroxamic acid system and 2-picolinehydroxamic acid were not cytotoxic against L929 mouse fibroblasts, neither freshly prepared solutions or after two weeks’ storage. By comparison, the heteroligand complexes within the range 0.91–3.65 mM diminished the metabolic activity of L929 cells, which was correlated with increased damage to cell nuclei. The concentration of the heteroligand species increased over time; therefore, the complexes stored for two weeks exhibited stronger anticellular toxicity than the freshly prepared samples. The complexes formed in an aqueous solution under physiological pH effectively bound to calf thymus DNA in an intercalative manner. This DNA-binding ability may underpin the antimicrobial/antifungal activity of the heteroligand complexes and their ability to downregulate the growth of eukaryotic cells.

Role of PhOH and Tyrosine in Selective Oxidation of Hydrocarbons

Earlier, we established that nickel or iron heteroligand complexes, which include PhOH (nickel complexes) or tyrosine residue (nickel or iron complexes), are not only hydrocarbon oxidation catalysts (in the case of PhOH), but also simulate the active centers of enzymes (PhOH, tyrosine). The AFM method established the self-organization of nickel or iron heteroligand complexes, which included tyrosine residue or PhOH, into supramolecular structures on a modified silicon surface. Supramolecular structures were formed as a result of H-bonds and other non-covalent intermolecular interactions and, to a certain extent, reflected the structures involved in the mechanisms of reactions of homogeneous and enzymatic catalysis. Using the AFM method, we obtained evidence at the model level in favor of the involvement of the tyrosine fragment as one of the possible regulatory factors in the functioning of Ni(Fe)ARD dioxygenases or monooxygenases of the family of cytochrome P450. The principles of actions of these oxygenases were used to create highly efficient catalytic systems for the oxidation of hydrocarbons.

Synthesis and Structure of Iron (II) Complexes of Functionalized 1,5-Diaza-3,7-Diphosphacyclooctanes

In order to synthesize new iron (II) complexes of 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctanes with a wider variety of the substituents on ligands heteroatoms (including functionalized ones, namely, pyridyl groups) and co-ligands, it was found that these ligands with relatively small phenyl, benzyl, and pyridin-2-yl substituents on phosphorus atoms in acetonitrile formed bis-P,P-chelate cis-complexes [L2Fe(CH3CN)2]2+ (BF4)2−, whereas P-mesityl-substituted ligand formed only monoligand P,P-complex [LFe(CH3CN)4]2+ (BF4)2−. 3,7-dibenzyl-1,5-di(1′-(R)-phenylethyl)-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane reacted with hexahydrate of iron (II) tetrafluoroborate in acetone to give an unusual bis-ligand cationic complex of the composition [L2Fe(BF4)]+ BF4−, where two fluorine atoms of the tetrafluoroborate unit occupied two pseudo-equatorial positions at roughly octahedral iron ion, according to X-ray diffraction data. 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctanes replaced tetrahydrofurane and one of the carbonyl ligands of cyclopentadienyldicarbonyl(tetrahydrofuran)iron (II) tetrafluoroborate to form heteroligand complexes [CpFeL(CO)]+BF4−. The structural studies in the solid phase and in solutions showed that diazadiphosphacyclooctane ligands of all complexes adopted chair-boat conformations so that their nitrogen atoms were in close proximity to the central iron ion. The redox properties of the obtained complexes were performed by the cyclic voltammetry method.

DISSOLUTION KINETICS OF GOLD IN SYSTEM THIOUREA–THIOSULFATE WITH OXIDANT OF Fe(III)EDTA

Cyanidation remains the predominant technology for the dissolution of gold from mineral raw materials. Environmental and technological disadvantages in the use of cyanides are the cause of the development of alternative systems, which include reagent-oxidant and reagent-complexant. A special place is occupied by the solvents, in which the formation of heteroligand complexes of gold is possible. Thus due to the formation of more durable compounds the rate of dissolution of the metal increases. In this work, as the ligands the thiourea and the ions of thiosulfate in the form of sodium salt were used, as the oxidant – complex of the iron (III) and EDTA. The influence of the mixed solvent composition on the kinetic characteristics and the reaction mechanism was studied by the rotating disc method. To confirm the role of different ligand complexes, the dependence of the dissolution rate of gold by the mixed system – thiosulphate and thiourea in the isomolar series, was determined. With a constant total ligands concentration, the molar ratio of reagents was changing. On the basis of the data obtained, a mathematical model of the process of oxidative dissolution of gold is proposed. A characteristic feature of the calculated results is a substantial increase in the reaction constants for the formation of heteroligand complexes, which confirms their role in the process of gold oxidation. The influence of pH and concentration of oxidant and ligand-forming substances on the kinetics of gold dissolution is established. To elucidate the mechanism of the limiting stage of the heterophase process, the experimental activation energy is calculated and the effect of the disk rotation frequency on the dissolution rate is studied. The experimental activation energy is 28.1 kJ/mol. The order by the disk rotation frequency is 0.35. Evaluation of the contribution of the diffusion and kinetic components of rate is estimated on the basis of the modified Levich equation for the mixed regime. Diffusion component of rate is almost an order of magnitude smaller than the kinetic one. Calculation of the diffusion flux of the supplied reagents showed that the only process that inhibits mass transfer is the diffusion of the reaction products from the surface of the rotating disc. The formation of more durable heteroligand complexes and a greater equilibrium constant of the oxidation reaction lead to an increase in the concentration of products at the surface and, consequently, to an increase in the rate of diffusion of the metal into the solution. An important factor affecting the oxidation of gold in the system studied is the formation of intermediate solid reaction products on the metal surface. To identify solid products, IR spectra of reflection of polished gold surface after etching in the system studied were obtained. A strong absorption band in the 808-762 cm-1 region is observed on the spectra. Absorption in this region is associated with valence symmetrical vibrations of the bond of the –C = S group adsorbed or chemically bound to the surface of the molecules of thiourea and its oxidation products. Depending on the composition of the solution and the temperature, the maximum of the peak shifts, and its intensity also changes. This can be explained by a change in the composition of the adsorbed compounds. The efficiency of regeneration of the oxidant Fe(III)EDTA by oxygen in thiourea-thiosulfate solution has been showed.