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While best known for its toxic properties, thallium has also been explored for applications in nuclear diagnostics and medicine. Indeed, [

Radiolabelled lipophilic cations can be used to non-invasively report on mitochondrial dysfunction in diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cardiotoxicity and cancer. Several such lipophilic cations are currently used clinically to map myocardial perfusion using SPECT imaging. Since PET offers significant advantages over SPECT in terms of sensitivity, resolution and the capacity for dynamic imaging to allow pharmacokinetic modelling, we have synthesised and radiolabelled a series of NODAGA-based radiotracers, with triarylphosphonium-functionalisation, with gallium-68 to develop PET-compatible cationic complexes. To evaluate their capacity to report upon mitochondrial membrane potential, we assessed their pharmacokinetic profiles in isolated perfused rat hearts before and after mitochondrial depolarisation with the ionophore CCCP. All three tracers radiolabel with over 96% RCY, with log

We report the design, preparation and characterisation of three small-molecule, Formyl Peptide Receptor (FPR)-targeted lanthanide complexes (Tb·14, Eu·14 and Gd·14). Long-lived, metal-based emission was observed from the terbium complex (τH2O = 1.9 ms), whereas only negligible lanthanide signals were detected in the europium analogue. Ligand-centred emission was investigated using Gd·14 at room temperature and 77 K, leading to the postulation that metal emission may be sensitised via a ligand-based charge transfer state of the targeting Quin C1 unit. Comparatively high longitudinal relaxivity values (r1) for octadentate metal complexes of Gd·14 were determined (6.9 mM−1 s−1 at 400 MHz and 294 K), which could be a result of a relative increase in twisted square antiprism (TSAP) isomer prevalence compared to typical DOTA constructs (as evidenced by NMR spectroscopy). In vitro validation of concentration responses of Tb·14via three key neutrophil functional assays demonstrated that the inflammatory responses of neutrophils (i.e. chemotaxis, transmigration and granular release) remained unchanged in the presence of specific concentrations of the compound. Using a time-resolved microscopy set-up we were able to observe binding of the Tb·14 probe to stimulated human neutrophils around the cell periphery, while in the same experiment with un-activated neutrophils, no metal-based signals were detected. Our results demonstrate the utility of Tb·14 for time-resolved microscopy with lifetimes several orders of magnitude longer than autofluorescent signals and a preferential uptake in stimulated neutrophils.

Ferrocene-based Lewis bases have found utility as metalloligands in a wide variety of applications. The coordination chemistry of cyanoferrocenes however, is underexplored. Herein, we describe a new synthetic protocol for the generation of cyanoferrocenes. The coordination chemistry of these metalloligands to [Cu(NCMe)4][PF6], [(PPh3)2Cu(NCMe)2][PF6] and [(dppf)Cu(NCMe)2][PF6] salts has been explored, providing crystallographic evidence of cluster and polymeric forms of 1,1′- and 1,2-dicyanoferrocene complexes. The stability of the complexes and ligand dissociation were found to be strongly solvent-dependent.

The preparation and reactivity of a novel molybdenum dinitrogen complex supported by a nitrogen-centred tripodal phosphine ligand (N-triphos, N(CH2PPh2)3, NP3Ph) are reported. Reaction of N-triphos with [MoX3(THF)3] (X = Cl, Br, I) gave the Mo(III) complex [MoX3(κ2-NP3Ph)(THF)] (1), where bidentate N-triphos coordination was observed. Reduction of this complex in the presence of dppm (bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) gave the dinitrogen complex [Mo(N2)(dppm)(κ3-NP3Ph)] (2), which exhibits moderate dinitrogen activation. An additional hydride complex, [Mo(H)2(dppm)(κ3-NP3Ph)] (4), was produced either as a minor side product during the reduction step, or as a major product by direct hydrogenation of the dinitrogen complex 2. The reactivity of the dinitrogen complex 2 with a range of Lewis acids was also investigated. At low temperatures, protic or borane Lewis acids (H+, BBr3 and tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (BCF)) were found to coordinate to the apical nitrogen atom of the N-triphos ligand, with no conclusive evidence of any functionalisation of the dinitrogen ligand. Alkali metal Lewis acid addition to 2 resulted in the unexpected rearrangement of the N-triphos ligand to form [Mo(dppm)(PMePh2)(PCP)][B(C6F5)4] (7), where PCP, [Ph2PCNHCH2PPh2] is the carbenic ligand formed upon rearrangement from the reaction of 2 with M[B(C6F5)4] (M = Li, Na or K). Single crystal X-ray diffraction of complexes 1, 2, 4 and 7 provided structural confirmation of the N-triphos molybdenum complexes described.

pH homeostasis is strictly controlled at a subcellular level. A deregulation of the intra/extra/subcellular pH environment is associated with a number of diseases and as such, the monitoring of the pH state of cells and tissues is a valuable diagnostic tool. To date, only a few tools have been developed to measure the pH in living cells with the spatial resolution needed for intracellular imaging. Among the techniques available, only optical imaging offers enough resolution and biocompatibility to be proposed for subcellular pH monitoring. We present herein a ratiometric probe based on upconversion nanoparticles modified with a pH sensitive moiety for the quantitative imaging of pH at the subcellular level in living cells. This system provides the properties required for live cell quantitative imaging i.e. positive cellular uptake, biocompatibility, long wavelength excitation, sensitive response to pH within a biologically relevant range, and self-referenced signal.

The preparation and characterization of a series of 8-hydroxyquinoline ligands and their complexes with Ti(IV), Al(III) and Zn(II) centres is presented. The complexes are characterized using NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and, in some cases, by single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. The complexes are compared as initiators for the ring-opening polymerization of racemic-lactide; all the complexes show moderate/good rates and high levels of polymerization control. In the case of the titanium or aluminium complexes, moderate iso-selectivity is observed (Pi = 0.75), whereas in the case of the zinc complexes, moderate hetero-selectivity is observed (Ps = 0.70).

Non-invasive imaging of the inflammatory process can provide great insight into a wide variety of disease states, aiding diagnosis, evaluation and effective targeted treatment. During inflammation, blood borne leukocytes are recruited, through a series of activation and adhesion steps, to the site of injury or infection where they migrate across the blood vessel wall into the tissue. Thus, tracking leukocyte recruitment and accumulation provides a dynamic and localised read out of inflammatory events. Current leukocyte imaging techniques require ex vivo labelling of patient blood, involving laborious processing and potential risks to both patient and laboratory staff. Utilising high affinity ligands for leukocyte specific receptors may allow for injectable tracers that label leukocytes in situ, omitting potentially hazardous ex vivo handling. Formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) are a group of G-protein coupled receptors involved in the chemotaxis and inflammatory functioning of leukocytes. Highly expressed on leukocytes, and up-regulated during inflammation, these receptors provide a potential target for imaging inflammatory events. Herein we present the synthesis and initial in vitro testing of a potential Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) leukocyte tracer. The FPR1 antagonist cFLFLFK-NH2, which displays high affinity with little physiological effect, has been linked via a PEG motif to a (99m)Tc chelate. This tracer shows in vitro binding to human embryonic kidney cells expressing the FPR1 receptor, and functional in vitro tests reveal cFLFLFK-NH2 compounds to have no effect on inflammatory cell functioning. Overall, these data show that (99m)Tc.cFLFLFK-NH2 may be a useful tool for non-invasive imaging of leukocyte accumulation in inflammatory disease states.

A series of new upconversion nanoparticles have been functionalised with tumour-targeting molecules and metal chelates, prepared following standard peptidic and thiol chemistry. The targeting strategy has been delivered via the αvβ3 integrin, which is a heterodimeric cell surface receptor that is up-regulated in a variety of cancers, such as melanoma and breast cancer. The well-known DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid) motif allows coordination to the radionuclide (68)Ga. Radiolabelling experiments were optimised under relatively mild conditions, and are rare amongst nanoparticulate materials. In vivo application of these probes in mouse tumour models revealed their potential as specific cancer contrast agents for PET imaging.

Several first-row transition metal complexes of the formulation [M(1)(2)](X)(2) {where 1 = Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)S(2-C(6)H(4)NH(2)); M = Fe(II), X = BF(4)(-) (2); M = Co(II), X = BF(4)(-) (3), Ni(II), X = ClO(4)(-) (4)} have been prepared by reaction of two equivalents of the new P-S-N ligand Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)S(2-C(6)H(4)NH(2)) 1 with one equivalent of the appropriate [M(OH(2))(6)](X)(2) precursor in acetonitrile. In the solid state, complexes 2-4 exist as distorted centrosymmetric octahedral structures featuring facially capping ligands in an all-trans arrangement. Reaction of 2 and 3 with a stream of carbon monoxide (1 atm.) for 5 min in acetonitrile generates iron(II) monocarbonyl species of formulation [Fe(CO)(1)(2)](BF(4))(2)2a, and a cobalt(II) dicarbonyl complex, [Co(CO)(2)(1)(2)](BF(4))(2)3a, which can be isolated in the solid state. Complete removal of CO is achieved by either heating to reflux samples of 2a in acetonitrile for 5 min or by heating solid samples of 3a at 120 °C in vacuo over a period of 4 h. The binding of carbon monoxide is fully reversible for 2 and 3 and can be repeated over multiple cycles. When the same trapping reactions were carried out with very low radiochemical (11)CO concentrations, metal carbonyl species were no longer formed. It is likely that the kinetics of (11)CO adduct formation are too slow to allow for effective trapping under the applied radiochemical conditions.

A new tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligand bearing phosphine donor groups appended to the 3-position of the pyrazolyl rings is reported, and the hemilabile behaviour of this tris-N,P ligand in coordination with K+, Tl+ and Cu+ ions is investigated.

Complexes of the ligand 2,3-dioxo-1,4,8,11-tetraaza-cyclotetradecane (exoO(2)-cyclam) have been prepared of formula [M(1){M(2)(exoO(2)-cyclam)}(2)][BPh(4)](2) where M(1)M(2) = CoCo (3), ZnZn (4), MnCu (5), FeCu (6), CoCu (7), NiCu (8), ZnCu (9), and [(bipy)(2)Ru{Cu(exoO(2)-cyclam)}][NO(3)](2) (10). Complex 10 crystallised in the space group C2/c and shows Jahn-Teller distorted Cu(II) with axial nitrate ligands. The {Cu(exoO(2)-cyclam)} moiety chelates to the Ru with Ru-O distances of 2.082(5) A. Complexes 5-10 show a Cu(II)/Cu(III) redox process and additional metal-centred (6, 8, 10) processes and ligand-centred (10) processes. The electrochemical and UV-Vis spectroelectrochemical study of suggested two closely-spaced oxidations based on the Cu and Ru centres which suggests that substituted derivatives of will be of interest for enhanced charge separation in dye-sensitised solar cells. Magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed dominant antiferromagnetic coupling within the trinuclear species 3, 5-8. Complex 10 showed Curie-Weiss behaviour with weak intermolecular interactions.

Three bidentate, mixed-donor ligands based on a triphenylphosphine unit bearing a pyrazole group in the ortho-position of one phenyl ring have been synthesised; the N,P ligand [2-(3-pyrazolyl)phenyl]diphenylphosphine pzphos has been synthesised and transformed into new N,P(O) and N,P(S) derivatives, [2-(3-pyrazolyl)phenyl]diphenylphosphine oxide pzphos(O) and [2-(3-pyrazolyl)phenyl]diphenylphosphine sulfide pzphos(S), respectively. The coordination chemistry of pzphos and pzphos(O) towards palladium(II) has been investigated. Depending on the ligand to metal molar ratio employed in the reactions of palladium(II) with pzphos, either the 1 : 1 chelate [Pd(pzphos)Cl2] 1a or the 2 : 1 N,P chelate [Pd(pzphos)2]Cl2 1b was obtained. 1b contains two six-membered chelate rings in which the chlorides have been displaced from the inner coordination sphere of palladium. Exchange of the chloride anions in 1b for perchlorate anions was achieved using AgClO4 to give [Pd(pzphos)2][ClO4]2 1c. Reaction of pzphos(O) under the same conditions forms the 2 : 1 adduct [Pd(pzphos(O))2Cl2] 2b regardless of the metal to ligand ratio or the order of addition of reactants. Unlike the N,P chelate 1b, the N,P(O) ligands in complex 2b bind in a monodentate fashion through the N-donor atoms of the pyrazole rings. Abstraction of the chloro ligands in compound 2b using AgClO4 gave the 2 : 1 N,P(O) chelate [Pd{pzphos(O)}2][ClO4]2 2c, in which entropically unfavourable 7-membered chelate rings are formed. X-Ray diffraction has been used to confirm the solid-state structures of the pzphos(O) ligand and the complexes 1b, 1c, 2b and 2c.

A comparative DNA scission activity study of azaferrocene, N-methyl-azaferrocene iodide and 3,3′,4,4′-tetramethyl-1,1′-diphosphaferrocene (featuring iron in a +2 oxidation state), along with ferrocene (iron +2) and ferrocenium (iron +3) cation is described. Experiments indicate a high cleavage activity of azaferrocene and its N-methyl derivative in DMSO. DNA cleavage activity can be slowed down by addition of a free radical scavenger (thiourea) or triggered by addition of a reductive agent (dithiothreitol, DTT). The X-ray crystal structure of the N-methyl-2,5-dimethylazaferrocene cation (iron +2) with hexafluorophosphate as counter anion is also reported.

The reaction of lithiated 2,5-dimethylazaferrocene 1 with diethyl chlorophosphate proceeds to give lateral and ring phosphonate products. The products 2 and 3 were characterized by spectroscopic (1H, 31P{1H} NMR, MS, IR) methods and 3 was treated with W(CO)5(thf) to form a crystalline W(CO)5-complex 4 which was characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The new 2,5-dimethylazaferrocenyl phosphonates were transformed into the corresponding N-methyl iodide salts 5 and 6 in quantitative yields. Both salts are water soluble and stable compounds and an analysis of their cytotoxic and anti-proliferative activity was carried out. Compound 6 possesses anti-metabolic activity which exhibited some preference towards the cancerous HeLa cell line over the non-cancerous NIH 3T3 cell line. These new compounds are the first examples of azaferrrocene (i.e. non-ferrocene) derivatives featuring biologically important phosphonate groups. The preliminary studies into cytotoxic activity indicates that as with ferrocene, azaferrocene can also be regarded as a potential source for organometallic anticancer agents, featuring the iron centre in the +2 oxidation state rather than the often utilized ferrocenium +3 species.

Two new unsymmetrical 1'-substituted hydroxyferrocene ligands featuring either phosphine or phosphine oxide substituents have been synthesised and the phosphine oxide derivative has been structurally characterised. A nickel complex of the hydroxyl/phosphine ligand has been formed, along with preliminary evaluation of the complex for catalysis of ethylene polymerisation.