Synthesis, substitution kinetics, electrochemistry and phase studies of long-chain alkylated ferrocene-containing rhodium(I) complexes with biomedical applications
Abstract
English: New alkylferrocene-containing β-diketones of the type (Cp-R)-Fe-(Cp-COCH2COCH3), where R =
C9H19, C10H21, C12H25, C14H29 and C18H37 as well as (Cp)-Fe-(R-Cp-COCH2COCH3), (Cp-R)-Fe-
(R-Cp-COCH2COCH3) and (Cp-R)-Fe-(Cp-COCH2CO-Cp)-Fe-(Cp-R) with R = C10H21 or C12H25
were prepared by Claisen condensation of acetyl-alkylferrocene derivatives and the appropriate
ester under the influence of lithium diisopropylamide. Complexation of all the β-diketones with
[RhCl2(cod)2] in DMF gave the [Rh(β-diketonato)(cod)] complexes. The pKa
/ values of the new β-
diketone derivatives were determined spectroscopically in water containing 10 % acetonitrile (v/v).
The keto-enol isomerization kinetics of all new β-diketones was studied in CDCl3 by 1H NMR
spectroscopy.
Electrochemical studies revealed that all the β-diketones exhibited an electrochemically and
chemically reversible one-electron transfer process for the Fc/Fc+ couple. The redox active centre
of all the β-diketones exhibited Eo/ values that are independent of the alkyl chain length of the
ferrocene-containing β-diketones due to the lack of conjugation between the ferrocenyl group and
the alkyl R groups. Cyclic voltammetry results of all the rhodium complexes showed that the RhI
nucleus exhibited an electrochemically quasi reversible process.
Substitution reactions of the β-diketonato ligand from [Rh(β-diketonato)(cod)] with 1,10-
phenanthroline exhibited saturation kinetics. Second-order rate constants, k2, were determined from
the linear plots of 1/kobs against 1/[1,10-phenanthroline]. The large negative activation entropy
values suggested an association mechanism. All substitution reactions had no observable
mechanistic solvent pathway.
Phase studies showed that the ferrocenyl derivatives and free β-diketones exhibited solid state phase
changes while the rhodium(I) complexes showed no pronounced melting or crystallization peaks
due to very slow crystallization kinetics.
Cytotoxic properties in terms of potential anticancer applications of selected β-diketones and their
rhodium complexes are described. Cytotoxicity of these complexes was probed with respect to
human colorectal (CoLo) and human cervix epitheloid (HeLa) cancer cell lines. All the drugs that
were investigated in this study had lower IC50 values than the rhodium complexes without long
chain alkyl substituents. Afrikaans: Nuwe alkielferroseen-bevattende β-diketone van die tipe (Cp-R)-Fe-(Cp-COCH2COCH3), waar R =
C9H19, C10H21, C12H25, C14H29 en C18H37 sowel as (Cp)-Fe-(R-Cp-COCH2COCH3), (Cp-R)-Fe-(RCp-
COCH2COCH3) en (Cp-R)-Fe-(Cp-COCH2CO-Cp)-Fe-(Cp-R) met R = C10H21 of C12H25 is
berei deur Claisen kondensasie van asetiel-alkielferroseenderivate en die toepaslike ester onder die
invloed van litiumdiisopropielamied. [Rh(β-diketonato)(cod)] komplekse is verkry deur
kompleksering van al die β-diketone met [RhCl2(cod)2] in DMF. Die pKa
/ waardes van die nuwe β-
diketoonderivate is spektroskopies in water met 10 % asetonitriel (v/v) bepaal. Die keto-enol
isomerisasiekinetika van alle nuwe β-diketone is met 1H KMR spektroskopie in CDCl3 bestudeer.
Elektrochemiese studies het gewys dat al die β-diketone 'n elektrochemies- en chemies omkeerbare
enkelelektronoordragsproses vir die Fc/Fc+ koppel vertoon. Die redoksaktiewe sentra van al die β-
diketone het Eo/ waardes getoon wat onafhanklik is van die alkielkettinglengte van die
ferroseenbevattende β-diketone weens die gebrek aan konjugasie tussen die ferrosenielgroep en die
alkiel R groepe. Sikliese voltammetrie resultate van al die rodiumkomplekse het gewys dat die RhI
sentrum 'n elektrochemies kwasi-omkeerbare proses vertoon.
Substitusiereaksies van die β-diketonatoligand van [Rh(β-diketonato)(cod)] met 1,10-fenantrolien
het versadigingskinetika getoon. Tweede-orde tempokonstantes, k2, is bepaal vanaf die lineêre
grafieke van 1/kwg teen 1/[1,10-fenantrolien]. Die groot negatiewe aktiveringsentropiewaardes dui
op 'n assosiatiewe meganisme. Tydens al die substitusiereaksies is geen meganistiese
oplosmiddelroete waargeneem nie.
Fasestudies het daarop gedui dat die ferrosenielderivate en vrye β-diketone vastetoestand
faseveranderinge ondergaan, terwyl die rodium(I)komplekse weens uiters stadige
kristallisasiekinetika geen noemenswaardige smeltings- of kristallisasiepieke vertoon het nie.
Sitotoksiese eienskappe, in terme van potensiële antikanker toepassings, van sekere β-diketone en
hul rodiumkomplekse word beskryf. Sitotoksisiteit van hierdie komplekse ten opsigte van menslike
kolorektale- (CoLo) en menslike servikale epiteloïede (HeLa) kankerseltipes is ondersoek. Al die
geneesmiddels wat tydens hierdie studie ondersoek is, het laer IC50 waardes as die
rodiumkomplekse sonder langketting alkielsubstituente gehad.