A new structural model for NiFe hydrogenases: an unsaturated analogue of a classic hydrogenase model leads to more enzyme-like Ni—Fe distance and interplanar fold

The complex cation in the title compound, (carbonyl-1κC)(1η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)(μ-2,3,9,10-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetrathiaundeca-2,9-diene-1,11-diido-1κ2 S,S′′′:2κ4 S,S′,S′′,S′′′)ironnickel(Fe—Ni) hexafluorophosphate, [FeNi(C10H15)(C11H18S4)(CO)]PF6 or [Ni(L′)FeCp*(CO)]PF6, is composed of the nickel complex fragment [Ni(L′)] coordinated as a metalloligand (using S1 and S4) to the [FeCp*(CO)]+ fragment, where (L′)2− is [S—C(Me)=C(Me)—S—(CH2)3—S—C(Me)=C(Me)—S]2− and where Cp*− is cyclo-C5(Me)5 − (pentamethylcyclopentadienyl). The ratio of hexafluorophosphate anion per complex cation is 1:1. The structure at 150 K has orthorhombic (Pbcn) symmetry. The atoms of the complex cation are located on general positions (multiplicity = 8), whereas there are two independent hexafluorophosphate anions, each located on a twofold axis (Wyckoff position 4c; multiplicity = 4). The structure of the new dimetallic cation [Ni(L′)FeCp*(CO)]+ can be described as containing a three-legged piano-stool environment for iron [Cp*Fe(CO)`S2'] and an approximately square-planar `S4' environment for Ni. The NiS2Fe diamond-shaped substructure is notably folded at the S—S hinge: the angle between the NiS2 plane and the FeS2 plane normals is 64.85 (6)°. Largely because of this fold, the nickel–iron distance is relatively short, at 2.9195 (8) Å. The structural data for the complex cation, which contains a new unsaturated `S4' ligand (two C=C double bonds), provide an interesting comparison with the known NiFe hydrogenase models containing a saturated `S4'-ligand analogue having the same number of carbon atoms in the ligand backbone, namely with the structures of [Ni(L)FeCp(CO)]+ (as the PF6 − salt, CH2Cl2 solvate) and [Ni(L)FeCp*(CO)]+ (as the PF6 − salt), where (L)2− is [S—CH2—CH2—S—(CH2)3—S—CH2—CH2—S]2− and Cp− is cyclopentadienyl. The saturated analogues [Ni(L)FeCp(CO)]+ and [Ni(L)FeCp*(CO)]+ have similar Ni—Fe distances: 3.1727 (6), 3.1529 (7) Å (two independent molecules in the unit cell) and 3.111 (5) Å, respectively, for the two complexes, whereas [Ni(L′)FeCp*(CO)]+ described here stands out with a much shorter Ni—Fe distance [2.9196 (8) Å]. Also, [Ni(L)FeCp(CO)]+ and [Ni(L)FeCp*(CO)]+ show interplanar fold angles that are similar between the two: 39.56 (5), 41.99 (5) (independent molecules in the unit cell) and 47.22 (9) °, respectively, whereas [Ni(L′)FeCp*(CO)]+ possesses a much more pronounced fold [64.85 (6)°]. Given that larger fold angles and shorter Ni—Fe distances are considered to be structurally closer to the enzyme, unsaturation in an `S4'-ligand of the type (S—C2—S—C3—S—C2—S)2− seems to increase structural resemblance to the enzyme for structural models of the type [Ni(`S4')FeCp R (CO)]+ (Cp R = Cp or Cp*).

Design, 22-step synthesis, and evaluation of highly potent D-ring modified and linker-equipped analogs of spongistatin 1

With an average GI50 value against the NCI panel of 60 human cancer cell lines of 0.12 nM, spongistatin 1 is among the most potent anti-proliferative agents ever discovered rendering it an attractive candidate for development as a payload for antibody-drug conjugates and other targeted delivery approaches. It is unavailable from natural sources and its size and complex stereostructure render chemical synthesis highly time- and resource-intensive, however, and its development requires more efficient and step-economical synthetic access. Using novel and uniquely enabling direct complex fragment coupling alkallyl- and crotylsilylation reactions, we have developed a 22-step synthesis of a rationally designed D-ring modified analog of spongistatin 1 that is equipotent with the natural product, and have used that synthesis to establish that the C(15) acetate may be replaced with a linker functional group-bearing ester with only minimal reductions in potency.<br><div><br></div>

Design, 22-step synthesis, and evaluation of highly potent D-ring modified and linker-equipped analogs of spongistatin 1

With an average GI50 value against the NCI panel of 60 human cancer cell lines of 0.12 nM, spongistatin 1 is among the most potent anti-proliferative agents ever discovered rendering it an attractive candidate for development as a payload for antibody-drug conjugates and other targeted delivery approaches. It is unavailable from natural sources and its size and complex stereostructure render chemical synthesis highly time- and resource-intensive, however, and its development requires more efficient and step-economical synthetic access. Using novel and uniquely enabling direct complex fragment coupling alkallyl- and crotylsilylation reactions, we have developed a 22-step synthesis of a rationally designed D-ring modified analog of spongistatin 1 that is equipotent with the natural product, and have used that synthesis to establish that the C(15) acetate may be replaced with a linker functional group-bearing ester with only minimal reductions in potency.<br><div><br></div>

Trifluoromethylaryl-Substituted Quinoxalines: Unusual Ruthenium- Amidininate Complexes and their Suitability for Anellation Reactions

The reaction of the 2,3-dianilino-quinoxaline 1 with an equivalent of triethyl orthoformiate results in a cyclic aminalester 2. An excess of triethyl orthoformate results in the carbene dimer 4. With the help of boron trifluoride, 2 can be transformed into the imidazolium salt 3. Reaction of 1 with KOtC4H9 leads to a quinoxaline derivative 5 under anellation of a benzene ring whereas the related pyrazino-quinoxaline 6 (formed from tetraaminobenzene tetrahydrochloride and bis-(3- trifluoromethylphenyl) oxalimidoyl chloride) does not react under similar conditions. However, 6 can be activated towards anellation by employing the complex fragment [(tbbpy)2Ru]2+, tbbpy: bis(4,4’-di-tert-butyl-2,2’-bipyridine). This generates an unusual ruthenium complex 9 which could be characterised by X-ray diffraction. Complex 9 contains a pentacene derivative and coordinates the ruthenium fragment at the amidinate moiety thus forming a four-membered chelate ring. Isolation of a second ruthenium complex 8 which contains an intact pyrazino-quinoxaline 6 in which the metal is also coordinated to an amidinato group supports the assumption that the anellation reaction occurs only after metal complexation at the amidinate group. In contrast to this, the smaller [(tmeda)2Pd]2+ fragment reacts with the pyrazino-quinoxaline 6 to form the mononuclear Pd complex 10. Its structural motif (X-ray diffraction) shows that the palladium centre coordinates at the 1,4-diamino group of the intact pyrazino-quinoxaline to form a five-membered chelate ring. This suggests that the bulkiness of the complex fragment determines whether or not an anellation reaction can take place.