Identification by NMR spectroscopy of the two stereoisomers of the platinum complex [PtCl2(S-ahaz)] (S-ahaz = 3(S)-aminohexahydroazepine) bound to a DNA 14-mer oligonucleotide. NMR evidence of structural alteration of a platinated A x T-rich 14-mer DNA duplex.

The enantiomers of the asymmetric, chiral platinum(II) complex [PtCl(2)(S-ahaz)] (S-ahaz = 3(S)-aminohexahydroazepine) each form two stereoisomers on binding to GpG sequences of DNA: one in which the primary amine is directed toward the 5' end of the DNA and one in which it is directed toward the 3' end. Previous binding studies have revealed that the S-enantiomer forms the two stereoisomers in a 7:1 ratio while the R-enantiomer forms them in close to a 1:1 ratio. In an attempt to elucidate the reasons behind the stereoselectivity displayed by the S-enantiomer and to establish which isomer is formed in the greater amount, we report here its reaction with a 14-mer oligodeoxyribonucleotide having a single GpG site.

Synthesis, characterisation and in vitro cytotoxicity studies of a series of chiral platinum(II) complexes based on the 2-aminomethylpyrrolidine ligand: X-ray crystal structure of [PtCl2(R-dimepyrr)] (R-dimepyrr=N-dimethyl-2(R)-aminomethylpyrrolidine).

A series of platinum(II) complexes were synthesised based on the enantiomerically pure amino acid proline. Novel synthetic pathways were developed, adapted from standard peptide chemistry, to produce the 2-aminomethylpyrrolidine (pyrr) ligand and its derivatives with differing arrangements of methyl substituents at the exocyclic amine sites. The crystal structure of [PtCl(2)(R-dimepyrr)] (R-dimepyrr=N,N-dimethyl-2(R)-aminomethylpyrrolidine) is reported and the five-membered ligand ring has been shown to be in an envelope conformation.

In vivo studies of a platinum(II) metallointercalator.

An in vivo study for determining the toxicity and efficacy of [Pt(S,S-dach)(phen)Cl(2).1.5H(2)O.

Chiral platinum(II) metallointercalators with potent in vitro cytotoxic activity.

Four platinum(II) metallointercalating complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) with the chiral ancillary ligands trans-R,R- and trans-S,S-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (R,R- and S,S-dach, respectively), and N,N'-dimethyl-R,R- and N,N'-dimethyl-S,S-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (Me(2)-R,R-dach and Me(2)-S,S-dach, respectively) have been synthesised and characterised. The crystal structure of [Pt(Me(2)-S,S-dach)(phen)](ClO(4))(2)1.5 H(2)O (C(20)H(26)Cl(2)N(4)O(9.

DNA-binding and molecular mechanics modelling studies of the bulky chiral platinum(II) complex [PtCl(2)(mepyrr)] (mepyrr=N-methyl-2-aminomethylpyrrolidine).

Detailed studies were carried out on the binding of the enantiomers of [PtCl(2)(mepyrr)] (mepyrr=N-methyl-2-aminomethylpyrrolidine) to dG, d(GpG) and a 52-mer oligonucleotide. The pyrrolidine ligand structure was found to be neither sufficiently rigid nor bulky to enforce a single chirality at the exocyclic amine site in this complex, resulting in the presence of diastereomers that complicated the binding studies. Reaction of the (GpG) dinucleotide with R- and S-[PtCl(2)(mepyrr)] resulted in formation of four [Pt{d(GpG)}(mepyrr)] isomers for each enantiomer as a consequence of the existence of two orientational isomers and two diastereomers.

Synthesis and characterization of a chromium(V) cis-dioxo bis(1,10-phenanthroline) complex and crystal and molecular structures of its chromium(III) precursor.

The first structurally characterized Cr(V) dioxo complex, cis-[CrV(O)2(phen)2](BF4) (2, phen=1,10-phenanthroline) has been synthesized by the oxidation of a related Cr(III) complex, cis-[Cr(III)(phen)2(OH2)2](NO3)3.2.5H2O (1, characterized by X-ray crystallography), with NaOCl in aqueous solutions in the presence of excess NaBF4, and its purity has been confirmed by electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS), EPR spectroscopy, and analytical techniques.

Macrocyclic ligand design. Structure-function relationships involving the interaction of pyridinyl-containing, oxygen-nitrogen donor macrocycles with selected transition and post transition metal ions on progressive N-benzylation of their secondary amines.

Structure-function relationships underlying the interaction of progressively N-benzylated N(4)O(2)-donor macrocycles with cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II), zinc(II), cadmium(II), silver(I) and lead(II) have been probed using a range of techniques that include X-ray diffraction, DFT computations, solvent extraction, potentiometric stability constant determinations and competitive membrane transport experiments. Collectively, the results indicate that N-benzylation of the secondary amine donor groups of the parent macrocyclic ring results in an enhanced tendency towards selectivity for silver(I) relative to the other six metals investigated. The observed behaviour serves as additional exemplification of the previously proposed concept of selective 'detuning' as a mechanism for metal ion discrimination.

Investigations into the interactions between DNA and conformationally constrained pyridylamineplatinum(II) analogues of AMD473.

The syntheses of [PtCl(2)(amp)] (amp = 2-pyridylmethylamine) and enantiomerically pure [PtCl(2)(R-pea)] and [PtCl(2)(S-pea)] (pea = 1-(2-pyridyl)ethylamine) and the crystal structure of [PtCl(2)(R-pea)] are reported. The reactions of [PtCl(2)(amp)] and of the enantiomers of [PtCl(2)(pea)] with d(GpG) and with a 52-base-pair oligonucleotide were investigated. Each of the reactions with d(GpG) resulted in the formation of three platinated bifunctional d(GpG) species in a ratio of 1:2:1.

Stereospecificity and enantioselectivity in the binding of the platinum(II) complex [PtCl2(tmdz)] (tmdz = 5,5,7-trimethyl-1,4-diazacycloheptane) to dinucleotides and oligonucleotides.

The two stereoisomers formed on reaction of each of the enantiomers of [PtCl2(tmdz)] with d(GpG) have been identified by using one- and two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy. For both isomers formed with the R enantiomer the 3'-H8 shifts are downfield from those for the 5'-H8. For the S enantiomer the reverse is observed, showing that the bulky tmdz ligand determines the pattern of shifts.