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Palladacycles are versatile organometallic compounds that show potential for therapeutic use. Here are described the synthesis and characterization of mono- and dinuclear palladacycles bearing diphosphines. Their biological effect was investigated in A2780, an ovarian-derived cancer line, and in normal dermal fibroblasts. The compounds displayed selective cytotoxicity toward the A2780 cell line. Compound 3 decreased the cell viability through cell cycle retention in G0/G1, triggered apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway, and induced autophagy in A2780 cells. Compound 9 also induced cell cycle retention, apoptosis, and cellular detachment. Notably, compound 9 induced the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our work demonstrated that compound 3 enters A2780 cells via active transport, which requires energy, while compound 9 enters A2780 cells mostly passively. The potential effect of palladacycles in angiogenesis was investigated for the first time in an in vivo chorioallantoic membrane model, showing that while compound 3 displayed an antiangiogenic effect crucial to fighting cancer progression, compound 9 promoted angiogenesis. These results show that palladacycles may be used in different clinical applications where pro- or antiangiogenic effects may be desirable.

Cyclometallated compounds have been extensively studied, in particular those with palladium and platinum. This is because of their possible applications in medicinal chemistry, as anticancer or antimicrobial agents; in some cases, with similar results as cisplatin, carboplatin or oxaliplatin. What is also remarkable is their use as homogeneous catalysts, for example, in cross coupling reactions such as Suzuki–Miyaura or Mizoroki–Heck. Herein, we report the synthesis of different thiosemicarbazone ligands, which will be reacted with a palladium or platinum salt, to give the corresponding cyclometallated compounds; in addition, their reactivity with bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) will be studied. Characterization has been carried out by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, 1c has been studied by X-ray diffraction Francisco Reigosa wants to thank the Spanish Government (AEI) for their financial support through an FPU grant (number 13/05014). The authors thank funding from Xunta de Galicia (Galicia, Spain) under the Grupos de Referencia program (GRC 2019/014) SI

The synthesis of palladium cyclometallated compounds with thiosemicarbazone ligands is described,as well as their reactivity with bidentate phosphine ligands. The synthesis of the ligands is carried out by a condensation reaction between a ketone and a thiosemicarbazide. Subsequently, metallation proceeds, and the resulting product is reacted with the bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) using the appropriate conditions to obtain the compound with phosphine in a monodentate coordination mode.

A theoretical and experimental study of tetradentate [C,N : C,N] iminophosphorane palladacycles was carried out for the purpose of elucidating their behavior as compared to the parent Schiff base analogues to determine the prospect of encountering new A‐frame structures for the iminophosphorane derivatives. The DFT calculations were in agreement with the experimental results regarding the performance of these ligands. New insights into the chemistry of the related dinuclear species have been obtained., The experimental evidence, together with the DFT theoretical calculations prove that the tetradentate [C,N : C,N] iminophosphorane ligands behaves differently compared with the analogous diimine substrates. The results obtained from NMR spectroscopy suggest the existence in solution of E and Z conformers for the dinuclear complexes bearing chelated diphosphane donors.

In the world of science, in particular the section concerning the field of chemistry, when the results encountered during the experiment do not meet our expectations, our shrewdness may play an important role to open up new unexplored fields that could be much more interesting than what we were seeking. In those cases, our research undergoes an unforeseen shift, delivering novel and challenging results that may altogether alter our point of view and our future work. We have then struck serendipity. Specifically, in our investigation linked to palladacycles we have found that the new trends in their reactivity, as well as in their structure, have been, in many cases, related to this experience, broadening our research scope within this field. Herein, we describe our most relevant findings, which have shed new light upon the reactivity of palladacycles, thus opening new routes that lead to novel unexpected structures.

A solution of compound 3 in dichloromethane produced a crystalline solid whose crystal structural analysis yielded a molecular structure with an asymmetric unit comprising two different palladacycles: the acetylacetonate complex 3 and the chloro–bridged dinuclear compound 2. The parent solution was examined by IR and NMR spectroscopy showing the conversion of 3 into 2, which may be due to traces of chloride ion in the form of acid present in the solvent, whereas an acid‑free solution of compound 3 remained unchanged. DFT calculations of the transformation have been carried out.

Herein we report on the synthesis, characterization and the ensuing chemistry of iminophosphorane palladacycles. Treatment of Ph3P[double bond, length as m-dash]N-(2-OHC6H4), 1, with sodium tetrachloropalladate gives 2 with the ligand as terdentate [C,N,O] allowing for only one μ-Cl ligand bonding the metal centers, resulting in a dinuclear complex. Treatment of 2 with PPh3 gives the mononuclear complex 3, whereas the reaction of 2 with diphosphanes Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2 in 1 : 2 ratio gives mixtures of 4 and 5 (n = 2) and 6 and 7 (n = 3). From them, the mononuclear complexes 4 and 6, and the dinuclear compounds, 5 and 7, were obtained with the parent ligand as bidentate [C,N]. The former two are of zwitterionic nature void of any counterion, with the phosphane ligand in the chelating mode. In a remarkable case of chemical serendipity, a solution of 2 left to stand produced crystals of complex 8: this is the missing link in the series of triphenylphosphane chalcogenide metallacycles. The experiment is repeatable; however, direct metallation of triphenylphosphane oxide was not possible.

Palladacycles of the type [Pd2(Ph2PCH2PPh2-P,P)2(C,N:C,N)] (C,N:C,N = bis(N-2,3,4-trimethoxybenzylidene)-4,4'-sulfonyldianiline or -4,4'-oxydianiline) can undergo a spontaneous slow chelate-to-bridging diphosphane coordination shift in solution. Following this strategy a tailor-made synthetic procedure was devised that culminates in isolation of double A-frame tetranuclear palladium complexes.

The Cover Feature shows four structures depicting (clockwise from the top‐left corner) a beautiful tetranuclear layered compound, a bis‐pseudopentacoordinated palladium moiety, the only known trinuclear thiosemicarbazone palladacycle, and the sandwiched coordination of the potassium cation by small crown ether rings attached to the metallated phenyl enclosures of a dinuclear diphosphine‐bridged palladium complex. All of these unexpected findings put forward the presence of serendipity in the reactivity of palladacycles and highlight the relevance of such an experience in their chemistry. More information can be found in the Review by A. Fernández‐Figueiras et al. on page 754 in Issue 10, 2018 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/open.201800036).