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The ligand design factors that may influence the isolation of metallosupramolecular helicates or mesocates still deserve to be investigated. In this sense, dinuclear nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) compounds were obtained by electrochemical synthesis using a family of five Schiff base ligands, H2Ln (n = 1–5), derived from bisphenylmethane and functionalized with bulky tert-butyl groups in the periphery and ethyl groups in the spacer. Six of the new complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, thus demonstrating that the helicate structure is predominant in the solid state. 1H NMR studies were performed for the zinc complexes to analyze if the helical architecture of the metal complexes is retained in solution. These studies reveal that the presence of a tert-butyl group in the ortho position with respect to the OH group is an essential factor identified for the existence of a helicate conformation in solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of artificial helicoidal molecules derived from metal ions with biological properties is one of the objectives within metallosupramolecular chemistry. Herein, we report three zinc helicates derived from a family of bisthiosemicarbazone ligands with different terminal groups, Zn2(LMe)2∙2H2O 1, Zn2(LPh)2∙2H2O 2 and Zn2(LPhNO2)23, obtained by an electrochemical methodology. These helicates have been fully characterized by different techniques, including X-ray diffraction. Biological studies of the zinc(II) helicates such as toxicity assays with erythrocytes and interaction studies with proteins and oligonucleotides were performed, demonstrating in all cases low toxicity and an absence of covalent interaction with the proteins and oligonucleotides. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the helicates was tested against MCF-7 (human breast carcinoma), A2780 (human ovarian carcinoma cells), NCI-H460 (human lung carcinoma cells) and MRC-5 (normal human lung fibroblasts), comparing the IC50 values with cisplatin. We will try to demonstrate if the terminal substituent of the ligand precursor exerts any effect in toxicity or in the antitumor activity of the zinc helicates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The first [5+5] coordination isomer of a zinc helical dimer derived from a pentadentate bisthiosemicarbazone Schiff base ligand was obtained by means of a new route. This compound was synthesised using a template procedure, spectroscopically characterised and recrystallised in a 1:1 v/v dichloromethane/acetonitrile mixture. The geometry showed by this compound is new for well-known dimer zinc complexes derived from pentadentate thiosemicarbazones and suggests that the experimental procedure could be an important factor in defining the stereochemistry of the metal atoms in such helical dimers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The neutral single-stranded monohelicate [Pd(HL)]·2(CH3CN) (1) aggregates in the solid state to give an infinite 1D supramolecular chain through either the cooperative action of hydrogen bonding and π-stacking interactions or by aromatic π-stacking alone. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]