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Carbon substituted cobalt bis(dicarbollide) alkyl halides [(1-X-(CH 2 ) n -1,2-C 2 B 9 H 10 )(1,2-C 2 B 9 H 11 )-3,3'-Co]Me 4 N (X = Br, I; n = 1-3) are prepared in high yields (>90%) from their corresponding alcohols without side skeletal substitutions. These species offer access to the synthesis of aromatic cobalt bis(dicarbollide) amines, however only for particular terminal halogen substitution, the propylene pendant arm, and under appropriately controlled reaction conditions. Thus, the compounds substituted at cage carbon atoms with a propylene linker and terminal aromatic amine groups could be prepared. In other cases, numerous irregular reaction pathways occur, undoubtedly as a consequence of the bulky anionic boron cage in close proximity to the reaction site. Among them, an unusual intramolecular hydroboration forming rigidified carbon-to-boron bridged isomeric anions with an asymmetric structure that correspond to formulae [(1,8'-μ-C 2 H 4 )-(1,2-C 2 B 9 H 10 )(1',2'-C 2 B 9 H 10 )-3,3'-Co] - and [(1,7'-μ-C 2 H 4 )-(1,2-C 2 B 9 H 10 )(1',2'-C 2 B 9 H 10 )-3,3'-Co] - is described herein and the former isomer is structurally characterized. This product with a restrained geometry is widely accessible through nucleophile and/or thermally induced decomposition of (pseudo)halides attached to the cage via an ethylene linker. Surprisingly enough, also doubly bridged isomeric species [(1,8-μ-C 2 H 4 -1,2-C 2 B 9 H 9 ) 2 -3,3'-Co] - and [(1,7-μ-C 2 H 4 -1,2-C 2 B 9 H 9 ) 2 -3,3'-Co] - are available in good yield using these methods. Furthermore, other more typical side reactions are discussed, i.e. nucleophilic reactions of propyl halides with Me 3 N formed apparently by disproportionation of Me 4 N + at higher temperatures or with pyridine used as a base.

Among non-covalent interactions, B-H⋯π and C-H⋯π hydrogen bonding is rather weak and less studied. Nevertheless, since both can affect the energetics of protein-ligand binding, their understanding is an important prerequisite for reliable predictions of affinities. Through a combination of high-resolution X-ray crystallography and quantum-chemical calculations on carbonic anhydrase II/carborane-based inhibitor systems, this paper provides the first example of B-H⋯π hydrogen bonding in a protein-ligand complex. It shows that the B-H⋯π interaction is stabilized by dispersion, followed by electrostatics. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the similar C-H⋯π interaction is twice as strong, with a slightly smaller contribution of dispersion and a slightly higher contribution of electrostatics. Such a detailed insight will facilitate the rational design of future protein ligands, controlling these types of non-covalent interactions.

In this study we explore the effect on the electrochemical signals in aqueous buffers of the presence of hydrophilic alkylhydroxy and carboxy groups on the carbon atoms of cobalta bis(dicarbollide) ions. The oxygen-containing exo -skeletal substituents of cobalta bis(dicarbollide) ions belong to the perspective building blocks that are considered for bioconjugation. Carbon substitution provides wider versatility and applicability in terms of the flexibility of possible chemical pathways. However, until recently, the electrochemistry of compounds substituted only on boron atoms could be studied, due to the unavailability of carbon-substituted congeners. In the present study, electrochemistry in aqueous phosphate buffers is considered along with the dependence of electrochemical response on pH and concentration. The compounds used show electrochemical signals around -1.3 and +1.1 V of similar or slightly higher intensities than in the parent cobalta bis(dicarbollide) ion. The signals at positive electrochemical potential correspond to irreversible oxidation of the boron cage (the C2B9 building block) and at negative potential correspond to the reversible redox process of (CoIII/CoII) at the central atom. Although the first signal is typically sharp and its potential can be altered by a number of substituents, the second signal is complex and is composed of three overlapping peaks. This signal shows sigmoidal character at higher concentrations and may be used as a diagnostic tool for aggregation in solution. Surprisingly enough, the observed effects of the site of substitution (boron or carbon) and between individual groups on the electrochemical response were insignificant. Therefore, the substitutions would preserve promising properties of the parent cage for redox labelling, but would not allow for the further tuning of signal position in the electrochemical window.

This study presents the activity of a series of 1,8-naphthalimide-carborane/metallacarborane conjugates against Rhabditis sp. The carborane conjugates were the least active. Selected conjugates with cobaltacarborane (5 and 6) showed high activity. Their lethal concentration (LC 50 ) values are substantially lower than that of the drug mebendazole.

Organoboron reagents represent a unique class of compounds because of their utility in modern synthetic organic chemistry, often affording unprecedented reactivity. The transformation of the carbon-boron bond into a carbon-X (X = C, N, and O) bond in a stereocontrolled fashion has become invaluable in medicinal chemistry, agrochemistry, and natural products chemistry as well as materials science. Over the past decade, first-row d-block transition metals have become increasingly widely used as catalysts for the formation of a carbon-boron bond, a transformation traditionally catalyzed by expensive precious metals. This recent focus on alternative transition metals has enabled growth in fundamental methods in organoboron chemistry. This review surveys the current state-of-the-art in the use of first-row d-block element-based catalysts for the formation of carbon-boron bonds.

This review describes recent progress in the design and development of inhibitors of human carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) based on space-filling carborane and cobalt bis(dicarbollide) clusters. CA IX enzyme is known to play a crucial role in cancer cell proliferation and metastases. The new class of potent and selective CA IX inhibitors combines the structural motif of a bulky inorganic cluster with an alkylsulfamido or alkylsulfonamido anchor group for Zn 2+ ion in the enzyme active site. Detailed structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of a large series containing 50 compounds uncovered structural features of the cluster-containing inhibitors that are important for efficient and selective inhibition of CA IX activity. Preclinical evaluation of selected compounds revealed low toxicity, favorable pharmacokinetics and ability to reduce tumor growth. Cluster-containing inhibitors of CA IX can thus be considered as promising candidates for drug development and/or for combination therapy in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT)., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Invited for this month's cover is a collaboration from three institutes from the Czech Academy of Sciences: Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Institute of Molecular Genetics, and the University of Pardubice. The cover picture shows a family of potent and selective CA IX inhibitors that combines the structural motif of a bulky inorganic cobalt bis(dicarbollide) polyhedral ion with a propylsulfonamido anchor group. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/cplu.202000574., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX), a tumor-associated metalloenzyme, represents a validated target for cancer therapy and diagnostics. Herein, we report the inhibition properties of isomeric families of sulfonamidopropyl-dicarba-closo-dodecaboranes group(s) prepared using a new direct five-step synthesis from the corresponding parent cages. The protocol offers a reliable solution for synthesis of singly and doubly substituted dicarba-closo-dodecaboranes with a different geometric position of carbon atoms. The closo-compounds from the ortho- and meta-series were then degraded to corresponding 11-vertex dicarba-nido-undecaborate(1-) anions. All compounds show in vitro enzymatic activity against CA IX in the low nanomolar or subnanomolar range. This is accompanied by clear isomer dependence of the inhibition constant (K i ) and selectivity towards CA IX. Decreasing trends in K i and selectivity index (S I ) values are observed with increasing separation of the cage carbon atoms. Interactions of compounds with the active sites of CA IX were explored with X-ray crystallography, and eight high-resolution crystal structures uncovered the structural basis of inhibition potency and selectivity., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The diboration of substituted propargylic alcohols has been achieved using a bimetallic Pd/Cu catalyst system. The in situ formation of a pentrafluoroboronic acid intermediate sufficiently activates the C-O bond towards dual catalysis affording (Z)-allyl, vinyldiboronates stereoselectively.

We report the first trans phosphinoboration of internal alkynes. With an organophosphine catalyst, alkynoate esters and the phosphinoboronate Ph 2 P-Bpin are efficiently converted into the corresponding trans-α-phosphino-β-boryl acrylate products in moderate to good yield with high regio- and Z-selectivity. This reaction operates under mild conditions and demonstrates good atom economy, requiring only a modest excess of the phosphinoboronate. X-ray crystallography experiments allowed structural assignment of the unprecedented and densely functionalized (Z)-α-phosphino-β-boryl acrylate products., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) is a transmembrane enzyme overexpressed in hypoxic tumors, where it plays an important role in tumor progression. Specific CA IX inhibitors potentially could serve as anti-cancer drugs. We designed a series of sulfonamide inhibitors containing carborane clusters based on prior structural knowledge of carborane binding into the enzyme active site. Two types of carborane clusters, 12-vertex dicarba-closo-dodecaborane and 11-vertex 7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborate (dicarbollide), were connected to a sulfonamide moiety via aliphatic linkers of varying lengths (1-4 carbon atoms; n = 1-4). In vitro testing of CA inhibitory potencies revealed that the optimal linker length for selective inhibition of CA IX was n = 3. A 1-sulfamidopropyl-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane (3) emerged as the strongest CA IX inhibitor from this series, with a K i value of 0.5 nM and roughly 1230-fold selectivity towards CA IX over CA II. X-ray studies of 3 yielded structural insights into their binding modes within the CA IX active site. Compound 3 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines and primary cell lines in 2D cultures. Cytotoxicity towards multicellular spheroids was also observed. Moreover, 3 significantly lowered the amount of CA IX on the cell surface both in 2D cultures and spheroids and facilitated penetration of doxorubicin. Although 3 had only a moderate effect on tumor size in mice, we observed favorable ADME properties and pharmacokinetics in mice, and preferential presence in brain over serum., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following competing financial interest(s): B. G., J. B., V. S., J. H., P. D., M. H., and P. R. are inventors of a United States Patent, Pat. No. 9,290,529 B2, issued on Mar. 22, 2016, that covers the title compounds., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The development of 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives as DNA-targeting anticancer agents is a rapidly growing area and has resulted in several derivatives entering into clinical trials. One of original recent developments is the use of boron clusters: carboranes and metallacarboranes in the design of pharmacologically active molecules. In this direction several naphthalimide-carborane and metallacarborane conjugates were synthesized in the present study. Their effect on a cancer cell line - cytotoxicity, type of cell death, cell cycle, and ROS production were investigated. The tested conjugates revealed different activities than the leading members of the naphthalimides family, namely mitonafide and pinafide. These derivatives could induce G0/G1 arrest and promote mainly apoptosis in HepG2 cell line. Our investigations demonstrated that the most promising molecule is N-{[2-(3,3'-commo-bis(1,2-dicarba-3-cobalta(III)-closo-dodecaborate-1-yl)ethyl]-1'-aminoethyl)}-1,8-naphthalimide] (17). It was shown that 17 exhibited cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells, activated cell apoptosis, and caused cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells. Further investigations in HepG2 cells revealed that compound 17 can also induce ROS generation, particularly mitochondrial ROS (mtROS), which was also proved by increased 8-oxo-dG level in DNA. Additionally to biological assays the interaction of the new compounds with ct-DNA was studied by CD spectra and melting temperature, thus demonstrating that these compounds were rather weak classical DNA intercalators., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) is a transmembrane enzyme that regulates pH in hypoxic tumors and promotes tumor cell survival. Its expression is associated with the occurrence of metastases and poor prognosis. Here, we present nine derivatives of the cobalt bis(dicarbollide)(1-) anion substituted at the boron or carbon sites by alkysulfamide group(s) as highly specific and selective inhibitors of CAIX. Interactions of these compounds with the active site of CAIX were explored on the atomic level using protein crystallography. Two selected derivatives display subnanomolar or picomolar inhibition constants and high selectivity for the tumor-specific CAIX over cytosolic isoform CAII. Both derivatives had a time-dependent effect on the growth of multicellular spheroids of HT-29 and HCT116 colorectal cancer cells, facilitated penetration and/or accumulation of doxorubicin into spheroids, and displayed low toxicity and showed promising pharmacokinetics and a significant inhibitory effect on tumor growth in syngenic breast 4T1 and colorectal HT-29 cancer xenotransplants.

Metallacarboranes are a class of inorganic boron clusters that have recently been recognized as biologically active compounds. Herein, we report on the host-guest complexation of several cobalt bis(1,2-dicarbollide) anions (COSANs) with cyclodextrins (CDs) in aqueous solution. The binding affinities reach micromolar values, which are among the highest known values for native CDs, and exceed those for neutral hydrophobic organic guest molecules. The entrapment of the COSANs inside the cavity of CDs was confirmed using NMR and UV-visible spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, and isothermal titration calorimetry. Complexation by CDs greatly influences the photophysical and electrochemical properties of COSANs. In combination with indicator displacement assays, a label-free fluorescence-based method was developed to allow real-time monitoring of the translocation of COSANs through lipid bilayer membranes.

Polyhedral carboxymethyl carborane (C 2 B 10 H 12 ) derivatives, including mono- and disubstituted o-, m-, and p-isomers, have been synthesized. Supramolecular host-guest complexation of these derivatives with cyclodextrins (CDs; namely, α-, β-, and γ-CD) has been investigated in water. The globular structure of the carborane binding moiety and its hydrophobic character qualify it as an ideal recognition site to form stable inclusion complexes with macrocyclic host molecules in aqueous solution. The measured binding affinities for the carborane derivatives were in the millimolar range (K a =10 3 -10 4  m -1 ) with differently sized CDs, and preferential binding to β-CD., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Low temperature reactions of lithiated cobalt bis(1,2-dicarbollide)(1-) (1⁻) in DME with carbon dioxide leads to the substitution of 1⁻ at the C-atoms by carboxy function(s). This results in a good yield formation of monosubstituted and disubstituted products of formulations [(1-HOOC-1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)-3,3'-Co)](-) (2⁻) and [(HOOC)2-(1,2-C2B9H10)2-3,3'-Co](-) (3a,b⁻), respectively. Indeed, the latter compound is in fact a mixture of two diastereoisomers, denoted here as 1,1'-anti (3a⁻) and 1,2'-syn-isomer (3b⁻), from which only the former major species (3a⁻) could be isolated in pure form. Considerations about stereochemistry of these species are supported by geometry optimizations and calculations of (11)B NMR shifts at the GIAO-DFT level. In addition, three monocarboxylic acids with three different linear spacers between the carboxy groups and the cage are reported. The first one of the formula [(1-HOOC-CH2-1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)-3,3'-Co](-) (5⁻) results in a lithiation followed by reaction with BrCH2COOEt and hydrolysis of the respective ethyl ester (4⁻). Another one with ethylene chain [(1-HOOC-(CH2)2-1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)-3,3'-Co](-) (6⁻) was prepared by the oxidation of a hydroxypropyl derivative of the ion 1⁻. The sole representative of B-substituted species of the formulation [8-(HOOC-CH2-O-1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)-3,3'-Co](-) (7⁻) is prepared by alkylation of the known 8-hydroxy derivatives of the ion 1⁻ by BrCH2COOEt and alkaline hydrolysis. A synthetic route to active nitrofenyl esters (8⁻, 9⁻ and 10⁻) is described here based on the respective acids 5⁻ to 7⁻. As verified, the nitrophenyl esters provide easy access to the formation of amidic bonds between the boron cage and organic primary amino functions. Examples of compounds containing butylamide or benzylamide [(1-RNHOC-(CH2)n-1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)-3,3'-Co](-) (n = 1,2; R = Bu 11a,b⁻, R = Bn: 12a,b⁻) end group are described. Also the possibility of inter-connecting two clusters of the anion 1⁻ via the amidic bond is shown in derivative (13⁻). These methods are applicable in the synthesis of a variety of functional molecules, particularly those applicable in drug design, surface modifications, and material science.