Abnormal interactions of Cu and Zn ions with the amyloid β (Aβ) peptide are proposed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Disruption of these metal–peptide interactions using chemical agents holds considerable promise as a therapeutic strategy to combat this incurable disease. Reported herein are two bifunctional compounds (BFCs) L1 and L2 that contain both amyloid-binding and metal-chelating molecular motifs. Both L1 and L2 exhibit high stability constants for Cu2+ and Zn2+ and thus are good chelators for these metal ions. In addition, L1 and L2 show strong affinity toward Aβ species. Both compounds are efficient inhibitors of the metal–mediated aggregation of the Aβ42 peptide and promote disaggregation of amyloid fibrils, as observed by ThT fluorescence, native gel electrophoresis/Western blotting, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Interestingly, the formation of soluble Aβ42 oligomers in presence of metal ions and BFCs leads to an increased cellular toxicity. These results suggest that for the Aβ42 peptide – in contrast to the Aβ40 peptide, the previously employed strategy of inhibiting Aβ aggregation and promoting amyloid fibril dissagregation may not be optimal for the development of potential AD therapeutics, due to formation of neurotoxic soluble Aβ42 oligomers.

Organometallic Pd(III) complexes have been implicated as intermediates in a number of catalytic and stoichiometric transformations. While a few dinuclear organometallic Pd(III) complexes have been characterized, no mononuclear organometallic Pd(III) complexes have been isolated to date. Reported herein is the synthesis and characterization of a series of Pd(III) complexes supported by the tetradentate ligand N,N'-di-tert-butyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)pyridinophane (N4). Chemical or electrochemical oxidation of the Pd(II) complexes (N4)Pd(II)(R)(X) (R = Me, X = Cl: 1; R = Ph, X = Cl: 2; R = X = Me: 3) generates [(N4)Pd(III)MeCl](+) (1(+)), [(N4)Pd(III)PhCl](+) (2(+)), and [(N4)Pd(III)Me(2)](+) (3(+)). These stable Pd(III) complexes were isolated and characterized by X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis, EPR, magnetic moment measurements, and DFT to confirm the presence of paramagnetic d(7) Pd(III) centers. Moreover, these Pd(III) complexes undergo light-induced C-C bond formation to give the corresponding homocoupled products ethane or biphenyl. Particularly remarkable is the observation for the first time of ethane formation from monomethyl Pd complexes.

Oxidation of the Pd(II) complex (N4)Pd(II)Me(2) (N4 = N,N'-di-tert-butyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)pyridinophane) with O(2) or ROOH (R = H, tert-butyl, cumyl) produces the Pd(III) species [(N4)Pd(III)Me(2)](+), followed by selective formation of ethane and the monomethyl complex (N4)Pd(II)Me(OH). Cyclic voltammetry studies and use of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) as a spin trap suggest an inner-sphere mechanism for (N4)Pd(II)Me(2) oxidation by O(2) to generate a Pd(III)-superoxide intermediate. In addition, reaction of (N4)Pd(II)Me(2) with cumene hydroperoxide involves a heterolytic O-O bond cleavage, implying a two-electron oxidation of the Pd(II) precursor and formation of a transient Pd(IV) intermediate. Mechanistic studies of the C-C bond formation steps and crossover experiments are consistent with a nonradical mechanism that involves methyl group transfer and transient formation of a Pd(IV) species. Moreover, the (N4)Pd(II)Me(OH) complex formed upon ethane elimination reacts with weakly acidic C-H bonds of acetone and terminal alkynes, leading to formation of a new Pd(II)-C bond. Overall, this study represents the first example of C-C bond formation upon aerobic oxidation of a Pd(II) dimethyl complex, with implications in the development of Pd catalysts for aerobic oxidative coupling of C-H bonds.

Nickel complexes have been widely employed as catalysts in C-C and C-heteroatom bond formation reactions. In addition to Ni(0) and Ni(II) intermediates, several Ni-catalyzed reactions are proposed to also involve odd-electron Ni(I) and Ni(III) oxidation states. We report herein the isolation, structural and spectroscopic characterization, and organometallic reactivity of Ni(III) complexes containing aryl and alkyl ligands. These Ni(III) species undergo transmetalation and/or reductive elimination reactions to form new C-C or C-heteroatom bonds and are also competent catalysts for Kumada and Negishi cross-coupling reactions. Overall, these results provide strong evidence for the direct involvement of organometallic Ni(III) species in cross-coupling reactions and oxidatively induced C-heteroatom bond formation reactions.

Two structurally related and photoresponsive cyanide-bridged Fe/Co square complexes, {Fe2Co2}, are reported: {[(Tp(Me))Fe(CN)3]2[Co(bpy)2]2[(Tp(Me))Fe(CN)3]2}·12H2O (2) and {[(Tp(Me))Fe(CN)3]2[Co(bpy)2]2[BPh4]2}·6MeCN (3), where Tp(Me) and bpy are hydridotris(3-methylpyrazol-1-yl)borate and 2,2'-bipyridine, respectively. Through electrochemical and spectroscopic studies, the Tp(Me) ligand appears to be a moderate σ donor in comparison to others in the [NEt4][(Tp(R))Fe(III)(CN)3] series [where Tp(R) = Tp, hydridotris(pyrazol-1-yl)borate; Tp(Me) = hydridotris(3-methylpyrazol-1-yl)borate; pzTp = tetrakis(pyrazol-1-yl)borate; Tp* = hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate; Tp*(Me) = hydridotris(3,4,5-trimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate]. The spectroscopic, structural, and magnetic data of the {Fe2Co2} squares indicate that thermally-induced intramolecular electron transfer reversibly converts {Fe(II)LS(μ-CN)Co(III)LS} pairs into {Fe(III)LS(μ-CN)Co(II)HS} units near ca. 230 and 244 K (T1/2) for 2 and 3, respectively (LS: low spin; HS: high spin). These experimental results show that 2 and 3 display light-induced {Fe(III)LS(μ-CN)Co(II)HS} metastable states that relax to thermodynamic {Fe(II)LS(μ-CN)Co(III)LS} ones at ca. 90 K. Ancillary Tp(R) ligand donor strength appears to be the dominant factor for tuning electron transfer properties in these {Fe2Co2} complexes.

New Mn(II) macrocyclic pentaamine complexes derived from the biscyclohexyl-pyridine complex, M40403 ([manganese(II)dichloro[(4R,9R,14R,19R)-3,10,13,20,26-pentaazatetracyclo[20.3.1.0.(4,9)0(14,19)]hexacosa-1(26),-22(23),24-triene]]), are described here. The complex M40403 was previously shown to be a superoxide dismutase (SOD) catalyst with rates for the catalytic dismutation of superoxide to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide at pH = 7.4 of 1.2 x 10(+7) M(-1) s(-1).(1) The use of the computer-aided design paradigm reported previously for this class of Mn(II) complexes(2,3) led to the prediction that the 2S,21S-dimethyl derivative of M40403 should possess superior catalytic SOD activity. The synthesis of this new macrocyclic Mn(II) complex, [manganese(II)dichloro[2S, 21S-dimethyl-(4R,9R,14R,19R)-3,10,13,20,26-pentaazatetracyclo[20.3.1.0.(4,9)0(14,19)]hexacosa-1(26),22(23),24-triene]], 5, was accomplished via a high yield template condensation utilizing the linear tetraamine, N,N'-Bis[(1R,2R)-[2-(amino)]cyclohexyl]-1,2-diaminoethane, 1, 2,6-diacetylpyridine, and MnCl(2) to form the macrocyclic diimine complex, 2, which then is reduced. The two other possible dimethyl diastereomers of 5 (2R,21R-dimethyl,3, and 2R,21S-dimethyl, 6) were also prepared via reduction of the diimine complex 2. Two of these complexes, 3 and 5, were characterized by X-ray structure determination confirming their absolute stereochemistry as 2R,21R-dimethyl and 2S,21S-dimethyl, respectively. The results of the MM calculations which predict that the 2S,21S-dimethyl complex, 5, should be a high activity catalyst and that the 2R,21R-dimethyl complex, 3, should have little or no catalytic activity are presented. The catalytic SOD rates for these complexes are reported for each of these complexes and a correlation with the modeling predictions is established showing that 2R,21R-complex, 3, has no measurable catalytic rate, while the 2R,21S complex, 6, is identical to M40403, and the 2S,21S- complex, 5, possesses a very fast rate at pH = 7.4 of 1.6 x 10(+9) M(-1) s(-1) exceeding that of the native mitochondrial MnSOD enzymes.

Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are experiencing a dramatic resurgence in recent years given their ability to employ a wider range of electrophiles as well as promote stereospecific or stereoselective transformations. In contrast to the extensively studied Pd catalysts that generally employ diamagnetic intermediates, Ni systems can more easily access various oxidation states including odd-electron configurations. For example, organometallic Ni intermediates with aryl and/or alkyl ligands are commonly proposed as the active intermediates in cross-coupling reactions. Herein, we report the first isolated Ni-dialkyl complex and show that this species is involved in stoichiometric and catalytic C-C bond formation reactions. Interestingly, the rate of C-C bond formation from a Ni center is enhanced in the presence of an oxidant, suggesting the involvement of transient Ni species. Indeed, such a Ni species was observed and characterized spectroscopically for a nickelacycle system. Overall, these studies suggest that both Ni and Ni species could play an important role in a range of Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, especially those involving alkyl substrates.

A mechanistic study of Ag-nanoparticle growth by reaction of [(PPh 3 ) 2 Ag(O 2 CC 13 H 27 )] and AIBN is reported. The half-life for precursor disappearance at 130.0 ( 0.1 °C under the reaction conditions is determined to be 3.65 ( 0.42 min, which defines the time scale for classical (LaMer) nucleation and growth to be within the first 15 min (4 half-lives). The nanoparticle-growth kinetics are separately determined by TEM monitoring and UV-visible spectroscopy. Fits to the kinetic data establish that the active-growth regime extends to 58 min, and that Ostwald ripening ensues shortly thereafter. Evidence for an aggregative nucleation and growth process is obtained. The quantitative data indicate that classical nucleation and growth, aggregative nucleation and growth, and Ostwald ripening occur in consecutive time regimes with little overlap, and that nanoparticle growth is dominated by the aggregative regime. Aggregative growth should be considered a potential contributing mechanism in all nanoparticle-forming reactions.