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The metal cations-polysaccharides complexes play crucial roles in the process of immune cell recognitions. Here, we create simpler biomimetic ligands, which emulate binding of carbohydrates in living organisms. We present a detailed study on the interactions of Cu2+, Ni2+ and VO2+ ions with t-butyl 3-azido- and 3-amino-2,3-dideoxy-α-d-arabino-hexopyranosides. NMR, IR and UV–Vis spectroscopies as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction were used for the ligand structure determinations and showed their binding affinity of ions selected. The formation of stable complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II), VO(IV) ions and saccharides with 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 molar ratios was proved. The coordination sites proposed are N-donor (amino or azido groups), O-donor (hydroxyl group) and endo-oxygen atoms. Additionally, parameters like shape, charge density distribution, and sites of chemical reactivity of the sugars studied were obtained by mapping electron density isosurface with electrostatic potential (MESP).

Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes (1 and 2, respectively) with thiomorpholine-4-carbonitrile (TM-CN), an N-substituted thiomorpholine derivative, were synthesized from tetrachlorido precursors in water. Structural analysis has shown that 1 represents the first monomeric metal complex with this ligand type with an axial M–S bond with respect to the TM-CN ring chair conformation, while in 2 a typical equatorial M–S bond position with respect to the ring chair conformation was observed. A detailed DFT investigation revealed that axial conformers are more stable for molecular forms of both metals, while intermolecular interactions in the crystals stabilize the axial conformer for Pt(II) and the equatorial conformer for Pd(II). The magnitude of this stabilization in the case of 2 is large enough to change the most stable axial conformer in the molecular form to the equatorial conformer in the crystal. Further investigation of the strength of individual intermolecular interactions revealed significant differences of some interactions between the two structures. The likely cause of the difference in the crystal structures of experimentally obtained complexes is the fact that 1 and 2 exhibit different dominant interactions: C–H/M and C–H/S are more dominant in 1 and C–H/Cl interactions are more dominant in 2. In addition, DFT calculations have shown that while the axial position of the Pt–S bond with respect to the ring chair conformation results in a significantly shorter C–H/Pt interaction distance than that in the hypothetical equatorial conformer, there is very little difference in C–H/Pd interaction distances in conformers with axial and equatorial positions of Pd–S bond with respect to the ring chair conformation. This is the peer-reviewed version of the article: Predrag Ristić, Vladimir Blagojević, Goran Janjić, Marko Rodić, Predrag Vulić, Morgan Donnard, Mihaela Gulea, Agnieszka Chylewska, Mariusz Makowski, Tamara Todorović, Nenad Filipović, Influence of C–H/X (X = S, Cl, N, Pt/Pd) Interactions on the Molecular and Crystal Structures of Pt(II) and Pd(II) Complexes with Thiomorpholine-4-carbonitrile: Crystallographic, Thermal, and DFT Study, Cryst. Growth Des. 2020, 20, 5, 3018–3033, DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.cgd.9b01661] The published version: [https://cer.ihtm.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4028]

In this study, we exploit the anti-oxidative potential of four carnivorous plants to produce uniform and biologically active silver nanoparticles. The use of polyvinylpyrrolidone promoted synthesis of quasi-spherical nanoparticles characterized by stability and high uniformity. Their activity was tested against three human pathogens and three species of plant pathogenic bacteria. The study demonstrates the influence of synthesis method (microwave irradiation or heat radiation) and plant extract composition on nanoparticle activity. The total anti-oxidative potential of the plant extract, as well as the applied method of silver ions reduction proved to be crucial for antimicrobial activity. The highest minimal bactericidal concentration (mean value = 10 µg/mL) was obtained for silver nanoparticles synthesized with the use of water extract from Dionaea muscipula tissue. Keywords: Candida albicans, Drosera, Dionaea, Energy efficiency, Plant pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Cobalt coordination complexes are very attractive compounds for their therapeutic uses as antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, or antitumor agents. Two Co(III) complexes with diamine chelate ligands ([CoCl2(dap)2]Cl (1) and [CoCl2(en)2]Cl (2)) (where dap = 1,3-diaminopropane, en = ethylenediamine) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, an ATR technique, and a scan method and sequentially tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration results revealed that anaerobic and microaerophilic bacteria were found to be the most sensitive, the serial passages assay presented insignificant increases in bacterial resistance to both compounds after 20 passages. The synergy assay showed a significant reduction in the MIC values of nalidixic acid when combined with Compounds (1) or (2). The assessment of cell damage by the complexes was performed using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and confocal microscopy, which indicated cell membrane permeability, deformation, and altered cell morphology. DNA interaction studies of the Co(III) complexes with plasmid pBR322 using spectrophotometric titration methods revealed that the interaction between Complex (1) or (2) and DNA suggested an electrostatic and intercalative mode of binding, respectively. Furthermore, the DNA cleavage ability of compounds by agarose gel electrophoresis showed nuclease activity for both complexes. The results suggest that the effect of the tested compounds against bacteria can be complex.

Carbazole skeleton plays a significant role as a structural scaffold of many pharmacologically active compounds. Pyrazine-functionalized carbazole derivative was constructed by coupling 2-amino-5-bromo-3-methylaminepyrazine (ABMAP) into 3 and 6 positions of the carbazole ring. Multi-experimental methods were used, e.g., potentiometric, spectroscopic (ATR, UV, XRD powder,1H and13C NMR), electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry), and optical techniques, to receive the complete structural analysis, physicochemical (pKa, logP) and biological profile of a new carbazole derivative with acronym 3,6-PIRAMICAR. The interaction ability of the compound studied with potential cellular targets like Calf Thymus DNA (CT-DNA), or Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) were also taken into account. Experiments showed the existence of strong binding, but no DNA or BSA cleavage was observed. The comparative analyzes of compounds anti-Candida action clearly show pH-dependent antifungal activity of 3,6-PIRAMICAR, which was strongly stimulated in the acidic media. Surprisingly, the titled compound turn out to be much more effective (14 times by MIC50; 8 times by MIC; c.a. 4 times by MFC) against Candida krusei than fluconazole at pH 4.

Pyrazine‑2‑amidoxime (PAOX) is a prototypical sp2-hybridized amidoxime. Although, we described first time in details PAOX structure in solid state, the profile of PAOX behavior in aqueous solution still needs to be improved. While, acid-base properties of PAOX have been tried to define just once, the presented description was not complete and based only on the results of potentiometry during complexometric studies. The selection of method gives rise problems to observation the protonation or deprotonation processes of compound studied. Due to above, the presented studies show first time the complete description of PAOX acid-base properties by obtaining its pKa, solubility, partition (P) and distribution (D) coefficients using various methods. Among them, experiments: potentiometry; UV spectrophotometry by using Hammett's function and pH-metric titrations; cyclic voltammetry (CV) with glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and with GCE electropolymerized by poly‑ l ‑glycine (PGGCE); 1H NMR and theoretical calculations (DFT). Generally, combined four types of experimental and theoretical methods were used to estimate PAOX macro acidic-dissociation constants values. Moreover, log P and log D were determined spectrophotometrically and calculated also by DFT methods. No previous reports were found in the presented form regarding the complete drug-like properties, including negative together with positive values of pKa. Additionally, we proved by our electrochemical results that the quantitative analysis of PAOX do not need the special conditions of the electrode used in research. Hence, the comparison of our results to those described in the literature about analysis made for others, amidoxime derivatives.

Coordination chemistry offers much scope for the design of novel and therapeutic agents, including metallopharmaceuticals. The widespread use of metal complexes as effective pharmaceuticals, e.g. cancer therapeutic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic drugs or antimicrobial and diagnostic agents, demonstrates that the cytotoxicity of metal ions can be finely controlled via the appropriate choice of ligands. The successful targeting of radioisotopes again depends on the ligand design and metal oxidation state. The complexes of platinum, ruthenium, cobalt, copper and other d-block metal ions have been used in medicine for a long time but only recent advances have been made in understanding the molecular basis of mechanism of their action. Due to the above mentioned purpose, we decided to prepare a detailed description of target-based research, directed towards a design and application possibilities, with the known mechanisms of action of metal ion complexes in the broad sense of therapy definition. The review also covers the progress, limitations and challenges of the above-mentioned approaches and emphasizes the advantages of well known and new metallopharmaceuticals in medicine and pharmacy.

Two coordination compounds and their structural characterization of [Ni(PM) 2 ]Cl 2 and [Ni(PL) 2 ]Cl 2 have been studied. Pyridoxamine (PM) and pyridoxal (PL) denote individual vitamers of vitamin B 6 and both demonstrated bidentate nature inside the complexes. The acid-base behavior of the mentioned complexes and their possible interactions with biomolecules in solutions have been never reported. Here, UV-spectroscopic, potentiometric, cyclic voltammetric studies have been carried out on the interaction of the Ni(II)-vitamer complexes with protons as well as with calf thymus -DNA (CT-DNA) in aqueous medium. The acidity constants values of coordination compounds studied have been determined and compared. The potentiometric and pHmetric-spectrophotometric microtitrations were carried out at the same conditions of temperature and pH range, 25 °C and 1.72–11.68, respectively. The procedural decomposition temperatures of the complexes were given and considered in relation to the structures of the examined compounds to complete the structural description of [Ni(PM) 2 ]Cl 2 and [Ni(PL) 2 ]Cl 2 . The CT-DNA binding potential of Ni(II) complexes was carried out by absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry methods. Mechanism investigation has demonstrated that examined compounds could interact to CT-DNA by grooving binding mode, which was stabilized by hydrogen bond and van der Waals forces.

The stability of two cationic coordination polymers, {[Cu(NO3)(pm)2]}nNO3·H2O and {[Cu(Cl)(pn)2]}nNO3 (pm and pn denote pyridoxamine and pyridoxine, respectively), have been investigated in the solid state and solutions. The characterization of the solid precipitates has been acquired by X-ray, FT-IR spectroscopic, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric (27–900 °C) methods. The distorted tetragonal bipyramide geometry of a copper coordination sphere has been found in both compounds. In each case two bidentate vitamin B6 zwitterionic molecules (either pm or pn) are in equatorial positions while the axial ones are occupied by bridging ions (NO3− or Cl−). Interligand hydrogen bonds have been found to stabilize the polymers whereas the packing in crystals results from ionic interactions and charge assisted hydrogen bonding with terminal hydroxyl groups. In Cu-pm crystal lattice water molecules are also involved in the interchain H-bond network. The conductivity measurements and UV–Vis spectroscopy have confirmed the stabilization of the cationic coordination polymers in solutions. The redox properties of the compounds studied has been investigated by using cyclic voltammetry. The acid-base properties in aqueous solutions have been studied and the values of deprotonation constants have been determined by potentiometric and UV–Vis spectroscopic microtitration techniques. Finally, the application of the Cu(II)-vitamin B6 type complexes as sensing materials was proposed.

The results of the first structural studies (with the use of both experimental and theoretical methods) on pyrazine-2-amidoxime (PAOX) were shown and discussed. FT-IR spectra were recorded in different concentrations of the PAOX in apolar solvent to check the possibility of the inter- or intramolecular hydrogen-bond formation. All possible tautomers–rotamers of PAOX were then theoretically considered at the DFT(B3LYP)/6-311+G** level in vacuo. For selected isomers, calculations were also performed at higher levels of theory {B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) and G3B3}. Based on the results of DFT calculations, the most stable isomers were found, and their total free energies and infrared spectra were calculated. The energy variation plots for the N8C7N9O10 and N1C2C7N9 dihedral angles were also computed to find two energy barriers, one for E/Z isomerization around the C7N9 double bond and the other one for rotation of the pyrazinyl ring around the C2C7 single bond. The results show that the stability of the PAOX isomers strongly depend on their configuration and orientation of the substituents. The possibilities of inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonds were also experimentally and theoretically checked. Finally, a potential of mean force was determined in CHCl3 for a dimer of PAOX with hexamethylphosphoramide. Both, experimental and theoretical results are in agreement. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Pyrazine-2-thiocarboxamide ( PTCA ) was obtained after recrystallization and was characterised by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. Five dimers of PTCA were found in X-ray diffraction studies. These results were then compared with the known structures of a popular drug, i.e. pyrazine-2-carboxamide ( PZA ). S⋯π and π-π interactions were observed in the PTCA crystal structure as a novelty in X-ray measurements and our attention was focused on their role in stabilizing the PCTA structure. The geometry, energy and IR spectra for two conformers ( E , Z ) of PTCA and five dimers (D1-D5) were calculated for the gas phase with the DFT method at 6–311 + G(d,p) basis set. The results of calculations showed that D1 is the most stable dimer among five dimers of PTCA which were found experimentally. Thermal decomposition of PTCA was examined with the use of the TG/IR analysis (20–1000 °C) and the results were discussed. To test the antimicrobial activity of PTCA a biological assay was performed to determine its potentially pharmaceutical applications. The minimum inhibitory (MIC) and minimal bactericidal (fungicidal) concentrations (MBC) for PTCA were determined against six microorganisms.

Ru(III) complexes with pyrazine derivatives: 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine (DPP), pyrazine-2-amidoxime (PAOX), pyrazine-2-thiocarboxamide (PTCA) and 2-amino-5-bromo-3-(methylamino)pyrazine (ABMAP) have been prepared. Characterization of the compounds was acquired using UV-Vis and FT-IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, conductivity and electrochemical measurements as well as thermogravimetric studies. The ligand field parameters, Δ0 (splitting parameter), B (Racah parameter of interelectronic repulsion) and β (nephelauxetic ratio) were calculated. The stabilities of the Ru(III) complexes have also been confirmed by spectrophotometric titration methods in acetonitrile and water solutions. The data showed that the examined compounds are stable both in solution and solid states, which was also confirmed by the values of their stability constants found. Moreover, the molecular structures of the complexes have been optimized using AM1 and PM3 methods and this supported octahedral geometry around the Ru(III) ion. The minimum inhibitory (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) for synthesized complexes were studied against two Gram (+) bacteria, two Gram (−) bacteria and fungi – three reference strains of Candida albicans. The results show that [RuCl(PAOX)2(OH2)]Cl2 display antifungal activity.

Pyrazine-2-amidoxime (PAOX) is a structural analogue of a popular drug, i.e. pyrazine-2-carboxamide (PZA). The crystalline PAOX was obtained by diffusion as a method of crystallization. Various types of intermolecular interactions between the H-bond donors (CH, NH, and OH) and H-bond acceptors (hydroxyl O, imino N, aza N) were found between PAOX molecules in X-ray diffraction studies. It was observed in the crystal structure that PAOX forms not only dimers but also stable helical-like polymers, stabilized by intermolecular interactions between two neighbouring molecules. Their geometric, energetic and spectroscopic properties were also characterised by DFT methods. Thermal decomposition of PAOX was examined with the use of a TG-IR analysis (20–1000 °C), and the results were further resolved. Electrochemical behaviour of the compound studied in acetonitrile in the absence or presence of methanol was described in detail, and mechanisms of the anodic oxidation and cathodic reduction were proposed. The complexometric properties of PAOX were examined against selected d-block metal ions in acetonitrile, as well as in aqueous solution. Biological assay of PAOX was performed to determine the antimicrobial activity and potential pharmaceutical applications. The minimum inhibitory (MIC) and minimal bactericidal (or fungicidal) concentrations (MBC/MFC) for PAOX were determined against six microorganisms.

The detailed studies concerning the binding mode of bioactive ligands: pyrazine-2-carboxamide (PZA), pyrazine-2-thiocarboxamide (PTCA) and pyrazine-2-amidoxime (PAOX) have been performed by using three independent techniques: UV–Vis spectroscopy, potentiometry and conductometry. The composition and stability constants of new series Ir(III) complexes with antituberculosis drug and its structural analogues have been determined in aqueous and nonaqueous solutions. The hypsochromic shifts of bands and appearance of new peaks during UV–Vis spectrophotometric titration confirmed the interaction of Ir(III) ion with bioligands. In the studied pH range activation of pyrazine derivatives began complexation process. The sharply changed of conductimetric curves slope clearly demonstrated that the ML2 type complexes formation with relatively high stability are favored. Under the experimental conditions, it was found that metal ion interact with ligands leading to the formation of positively charged complexes. The gradual and cumulative stability constants of Ir(III) coordination compounds have been determined. The stability order of Ir(III)– PY systems studied is as follows: PAOX > PZA > PTCA. The analysis of formation equilibria revealed that mononuclear Ir(III) coordination compounds with metal to ligand molar ratio equals 1:2 are preferable with prominently high solution stability. Comparison of stability constants values showed that an increase in the efficiency of the reaction between metal ion and bioligands was observed with elongation of substituent chain. In the binary complexes, the bidentate nature of bioactive ligands and participation of amine and heterocyclic nitrogens in coordination of central ion were confirmed.