Antibacterial Activity of Co(III) Complexes with Diamine Chelate Ligands against a Broad Spectrum of Bacteria with a DNA Interaction Mechanism

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.

Platinum(ii) alkyl complexes of chelating dibridgehead diphosphines P((CH2)n)3P (n = 14, 18, 22); facile cis/trans isomerizations interconverting gyroscope and parachute like adducts

The dibridgehead diphosphines P((CH2)n)3P can serve either as cis or trans spanning chelate ligands. Reactions of trans PtCl2 adducts and RLi (2 equiv.) give only cis PtR2 adducts, which upon reaction with HCl (1 equiv.) revert to trans PtRCl adducts.

Comparison of molecular structures of cis-bis[8-(dimethylphosphanyl)quinoline]nickel(II) and -platinum(II) complex cations

The crystal structures of the complexes (SP-4-2)-cis-bis[8-(dimethylphosphanyl)quinoline-κ2 N,P]nickel(II) bis(perchlorate) nitromethane monosolvate, [Ni(C11H12NP)2](ClO4)2·CH3NO2 (1), and (SP-4-2)-cis-bis[8-(dimethylphosphanyl)quinoline-κ2 N,P]platinum(II) bis(tetrafluoroborate) acetonitrile monosolvate, [Pt(C11H12NP)2](BF4)2·C2H3N (2), are reported. In both complex cations, two phosphanylquinolines act as bidentate P,N-donating chelate ligands and form the mutually cis configuration in the square-planar coordination geometry. The strong trans influence of the dimethylphosphanyl donor group is confirmed by the Ni—N bond lengths in 1, 1.970 (2) and 1.982 (2) Å and, the Pt—N bond lengths of 2, 2.123 (4) and 2.132 (4) Å, which are relatively long as compared to those in the analogous 8-(diphenylphosphanyl)quinoline complexes. Mutually cis-positioned quinoline donor groups would give a severe steric hindrance between their ortho-H atoms. In order to reduce such a steric congestion, the NiII complex in 1 shows a tetrahedral distortion of the coordination geometry, as parameterized by τ4 = 0.199 (1)°, while the PtII complex in 2 exhibits a typical square-planar coordination geometry [τ4 = 0.014 (1)°] with a large bending deformation of the ideally planar Me2Pqn chelate planes. In the crystal structure of 2, three F atoms of one of the BF4 − anions are disordered over two sets of positions with refined occupancies of 0.573 (10) and 0.427 (10).

The Coordination Chemistry of Bio-Relevant Ligands and Their Magnesium Complexes

The coordination chemistry of magnesium (Mg2+) was extensively explored. More recently; magnesium; which plays a role in over 80% of metabolic functions and governs over 350 enzymatic processes; is becoming increasingly linked to chronic disease—predominantly due to magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesemia). Supplemental dietary magnesium utilizing biorelevant chelate ligands is a proven method for counteracting hypomagnesemia. However, the coordination chemistry of such bio-relevant magnesium complexes is yet to be extensively explored or elucidated. It is the aim of this review to comprehensively describe what is currently known about common bio-relevant magnesium complexes from the perspective of coordination chemistry.