Model complexes of cobalt-substituted matrix metalloproteinases: tools for inhibitor design

The tetrahedral cobalt(II) complex [(Tp(Ph,Me))CoCl] (Tp(Ph,Me) = hydrotris(3,5-phenylmethylpyrazolyl)borate) was combined with several hydroxypyridinone, hydroxypyridinethione, pyrone, and thiopyrone ligands to form the corresponding [(Tp(Ph,Me))Co(L)] complexes. X-ray crystal structures of these complexes were obtained to determine the mode of binding for each ligand L. The structures show that the [(Tp(Ph,Me))Co(L)] complexes are pentacoordinate complexes, with a general tendency toward square pyramidal geometry. The electronic, EPR, and paramagnetic NMR spectroscopy of the [(Tp(Ph,Me))Co(L)] complexes have been examined. The frozen-solution EPR spectra are indicative of pentacoordination in frozen solution, while the NMR indicates some dynamics in ligand binding. The findings presented here suggest that [(Tp(Ph,Me))Co(L)] complexes can be used as spectroscopic references for investigating the mode of inhibitor binding in metalloproteinases of medicinal interest. Potential limitations when using cobalt(II) model complexes are also discussed.